Cruel
Intentions
Written
and directed by Roger Kumble
Based
upon the novel
Les Liaisons Dangereuses by Choderlos de Laclos
Starring
Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, Reese Witherspoon, Selma Blair,
Louise Fletcher, and Joshua Jackson
95
minutes. Rated R. Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1. 1999
Now, the first thing most people probably think when they hear Cruel
Intentions is "oh, that's that trashy teen flick where Buffy slips
another chick the tongue." Well, those people are depriving themselves
of a clever, wicked, fun, and most of all, brilliantly tragic film from
first-time writer/director Roger Kumble. This is actually a very grown-up
movie -- if you insist on drawing a line between teenage films and adult
films, that is. Myself, I like to think that a good film can be enjoyed
and appreciated by all, but some people are so closed-minded that they
shut themselves off to certain things. I fear that is what is going to
happen with Cruel Intentions; people won’t see it because they’ll
figure it’s a teenage movie. But it’s not a teenage movie, or an
adult movie. It’s simply a good movie.
First: the cast. Sarah Michelle Gellar (I Know What You Did Last Summer,
TV's
Buffy
the Vampire Slayer) is simply brilliant in the role of Kathryn. She
brings a lot of credibility to both the role and the film. Her performance
is wonderful evil, and brings a lot of the wickedness to the film, but
it's also a multi-faceted performance that brings depth to the character.
Most teen actresses (Gellar is 21, but she's playing a teen, okay?)
probably couldn't have pulled it off, but Gellar makes it look natural
(it's especially shocking after seeing her stake vampires for four seasons
on TV).
Playing opposite Gellar is Ryan Phillippe (also of I Know What You Did
Last Summer fame, 54), an extremely talented young man whose
role, that of Sebastian Valmont, is just as challenging as Gellar's. While
Gellar must play someone who plays the cards close to her vest, Phillippe
plays someone who undergoes a transformation throughout the course of the
film. Not an easy thing to do, especially in a film as short as this one.
The virginal
Annette is played by Phillippe's real-life fiancee (sorry, Alyssa) Reese
Witherspoon (Pleasantville). Witherspoon has just as much of a challenge
bringing her character to life as the other two leads, because she had
to make Annette a likable character, while addressing her decision to remain
a virgin in a way that didn't make her seem preachy, or simply a prude.
Now,
the story: You probably know it already: Kathryn and Sebastian are step-siblings
who enjoy using sex as a game and as a weapon. Sebastian has decided that
a challenge worthy of his talents and his reputation would be to deflower
the publicly virginal Annette, who is conviently staying with his aunt
(Louise Fletcher) for the summer. Kathryn bets him he can't do it -- if
she wins the bet, she gets his car (a very nice car, I might add).
If he wins, then she'll "fu-- [his] brains out."
Let the
games begin.
Now,
I know that synopsis doesn't lend any credibility to the statement I made
above. But trust me; this film is a lot smarter than it looks. I
was expecting an intelligent movie, but even I was surprised at
how thoughtful the movie was. The transformation of Sebastian (he falls
in love for Annette, for those of you who didn't see the trailer) is credible
and realistic, and Kathryn's reaction is one of the more fascinating points
of the film, a reaction that will raise questions at the film's conclusion.
Now,
for those of you who have seen the film, I'd like to discuss the end of
the film. Just highlight the text below to read. But please, people,
those of you who haven't seen the movie, wait before reading the
spoiler below! Just scroll down to the end. I really mean it, okay? Please?
No, really, I mean it. Stop it.
Last chance, damnit!
Okay, now that we're alone, I can ask you: why did Kathryn cry when she
saw Sebastian's journal at the end? Was it simply because her secrets were
out, and her reign of terror was over? Was it because she finally realized
what a malicious, evil person she was? Or was it because she saw how Sebastian
saw her, and that hurt her more than anything else could, because she felt
like Sebastian was the only one who understood her. That's what I was making
reference to above, when I was talking about Kathryn's reaction to Sebastian
falling in love with Annette. She told him that they were "two of a kind."
Yes, she also told him later that he was "just a toy," but I think that
was her self-defense mechanism kicking in, reacting to his feelings for
Annette and his earlier rebuttal of her sexual advances.
Also: what was behind Annette's transformation at the end of the film?
It seems that as good an influence as Annette was on Sebastian, he was
just as bad an influence on her. Her casual manipulation of Kathryn in
the bathroom, using the same line that Kathryn used on Cecile's (Selma
Blair) mother in one of the early scenes made me blink, but then the final
shot, with her in his car, wearing his sunglasses, his journal on the seat
beside her, and the camera pulling back to mimic the opening shot? Annette
becomes Sebastian? I understand the symbolism, but my question is why?
Was Kumble simply trying to say something about the influence one person
can have on another, or how pliable a person's personality is?
ADDENDUM: On the DVD, Roger Kumble states that he didn't intend people
to think that there was some sort of transformation on Annette's part at
the end; that was why he cut in the flashbacks of her and Sebastian. But
I think the flashbacks just reinforce my "Annette becomes Sebastian" theory,
don't you?
Okay, we're
back. Don't feel left out, just consider it one more reason to see this
great movie.
Bottom line: Intelligent, witty, clever, wicked, fun, and brilliant.
My grade:
A
My advice:
Have an open mind, please. See Cruel Intentions.
Get the movie
poster!
