Classic of literature, perverted beyond recognition
The film is an extremely free adaptation of the novel by Choderlo de Laclo “Dangerous Liaisons” in 1782, which tells about the mores of the French aristocracy of the time.
In the original version, the conflict was based on the fact that one count is discharged a bride (Cecile, played by Selma Blair) from the monastery, which is very unhappy with his former mistress Marquise de Murteille (played by Sarah Michelle Gellar), who decides to take revenge and asks his former lover Viscount de Valmont (played by Ryan Philippe) to debauch and make a mockery of an innocent girl, but he does not fit into this case very willingly, because he is passionate about the married lady Mrs. de Tourvel (played by Rispoise Withers).
In the original novel, the emphasis is on revealing the life philosophy of the heroes and he copes with this case very well, for which he is deservedly considered a classic of world literature.
This film adaptation, transferring the action to the pseudo-elite youth society of modern New York, unfortunately, completely destroys the original concept of the source, in particular, philosophy is in principle deleted from the plot, and the remaining empty outer shell is distorted beyond recognition.
All the characters, just as their motivations turned out to be completely flat, which is why the plot at best works on the principle of “because”.
The main characters are not bored from idleness and permissiveness spoiled aristocrats, who have nothing to surprise, but sexually concerned teenagers, whose debauchery is the only purpose of existence.
Innocent girl Cess is more like an oligophrenic who stupidly does not understand what is happening.
The heroine of Reese Witherspoon, again, is not a decent married woman, which the main character is trying to conquer, but some kind of windy person, whose thoughts and actions change 5 times a day.
Because of all these changes, nothing remained of the spirit of the source material, and what is happening more resembles an almanac of cheap youth skates and divorces than a conscious artistic work.
Yes, the tape feels a good general level, most of the actors got used to their roles well and for those who still have youthful maximalism in their blood and stupid jokes about sex come in, of course you can see it as a cynical drama, but if the brain is already trying to add 2 + 2 and analyze cause-and-effect relationships, the plot literally falls into a series of incoherent gags who are trying to mimic serious drama, but it turns out they are frankly bad.
6 out of 10
Moms and dads, please don't leave your kids, educate them.
It hurts to see Catherine and Sebastian. They have a volcano of pain from loneliness, shame, lack of proper love and acceptance.
How often it seems to us that having a child, we are sure to close all the holes in his soul with money. Money is very cool, it is cool to give a child travel, a great university, good clothes, but even cooler - to give love, warmth, acceptance. Love heals.
And without love, we are bad, we try to get it by any means. Unfortunately, Catherine and Sebastian only know how to do it by manipulation, games. They receive admiration from others, minutely, and are content with them, collecting millions of such "others" in the piggy bank. It's an unequal equation. You can’t admire someone and get nothing in return. Recognition and love should be mutual in close relationships.
Thank you for having Anne in the picture. Such a wise beyond her years is a great compensation for people like Sebastian. Young people who are willing to be loved face this vulnerability and surrender to it. Thank you for showing me that side.
Well shot, sitting in my 2023 and watching a movie from 1999, I'm absolutely thrilled. Thank you! It is very interesting how the picture was created, what types of people the director was inspired by, whether he relayed his personal story, what real stories he knows. I want to say: Affero, write to me! You're very cool.
I love old movies, looking back at 1999, not only to tickle feelings of nostalgia for a bygone world, but also looking at the details of everyday objects and things when the Internet was not so much. Look at how much more censorship has become.
As for the picture itself: well, let’s say the deep meaning is a bit, according to the plot they are 18-19 years old and before entering the university they turn such romantic combinations? It is clear that based on “dangerous connections”, but in the 19th century, as it were, Pushkin wrote “an elderly woman 30 years old entered the room”, but still, initially, the core well, for those who watch movies a little more attentively than the mannequin, it is like 25-year-old schoolchildren in various other films.
A couple (Phillips Gellar) came to me. Gellar is pulling a picture at me. I didn't like Witherspoon. I don't. Surprisingly, they were married and married. Depth of images? as such and not. It is unclear what they live on and what they want. They can lie a little and that’s enough. If you take the same Hitch "rules of removal" there it is much deeper, and by the way, a similar moral message about eternal values is presented much more elegant and better.
And speaking of moral dilemmas, what in the finale is flaunted by "good" characters to "denounce" a bad character, it is very debatable, what is good here and what is bad. That the top in the movie is the music and the music is all right.
The first half of the film is fun to watch this couple mocking others. But then the writer's bullshit started. Handsome, successful with women, smart, communication genius and falls in love with a ridiculous stupid cow. How's that??? But let's say. Next, he's a womanizer who couldn't fuck her. Why is that??? In general, delirium began from the middle and it became not interesting to watch.
“Cruel Games” is a cult melodrama by Roger Kumble. The film is a modern adaptation of Choderlo de Laclo's classic novel Dangerous Liaisons. I put off watching this movie for a long time because I hate the genre of melodrama. Yes, there are exceptions ("Madison County Bridges" and "La La Land," for example), but mostly all the melodramas annoy me. Therefore, I am glad that this film was included in the honorary list of melodramas that I liked.
The plot is simple. There is a womanizer Sebastian Velmont, who is already bored with ordinary affairs. He also has a depraved step sister, Catherine, who is also tired of ordinary cat and mouse. Therefore, the latter offers Sebastian a bet - he must seduce the hard-to-touch Annette, who wrote an article that you should not rush to lose your virginity. If Sebastian loses, he'll give his half sister his car, and if he wins, he'll get Catherine for one night. In parallel, the latter is trying to make a stupid Cecile the last girl of easy behavior. The game has begun.
The plot is very cool. Yes, there are no complex intricacies in it, but all the lines lead to interesting moments and it is difficult to guess what to expect from insidious ladies. Yes, in some places the tape still slides into a small banality (in particular, the very melodramatic last 30-40 minutes), but the script is written so well that it is difficult to break away from viewing.
The actors are another undeniable aspect of the success of Cruel Games. Sebastian, played by Ryan Philip, came out as an insidious and insensitive intriguer. Philip came into the role perfectly, and his charisma and fitting appearance made the character truly memorable. Also, it is impossible not to note the perfectly shown changes of his character closer to the middle of the narrative, in which you really believe, unlike other melodramas. Sarah Michelle Gellar played simply chic, her confrontation with the hero Phillip to watch a pleasure. Again, Gellar’s “bitchy” charisma made her character as memorable as Sebastian’s. The third most important character is Annette performed by Reese Witherspoon. The character came out convincing, but of all the three main characters, I liked the least, since it directly smelled like a standard heroine of melodramas, confident and pretending that she does not succumb to the charms of the main character, but in fact everything is clear to the audience from the first meeting. It remains to mention Selma Blair, but I did not like her character very much because of the script, she is too stupid.
Picture of the film at a height: beautiful views of New York, old mansions, cool cars. In general, this is a classic example of a successful show of glamorous life in cinema in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It is impossible not to mention the style of the main characters: everyone is dressed with a pin and looks just amazing. The only thing, however, in some moments Sebastian in glasses and a cloak Neo from The Matrix looked slightly inappropriate and therefore funny, but there are few such moments. And, of course, classically high-quality Hollywood soundtrack.
As a result, a great and intriguing drama came out, in the second half flowing into a more trivial melodrama, but the final picture definitely saves (although there is one flaw). In any case, I advise everyone to watch this undoubtedly outstanding example of melodrama, distinguished by style, characters and acting.
I'm looking into your faces and trying to figure out who are you weird people who gave this cock a positive rating? What did you see among the folds of this flat, dull, sticky and rough comedy with a corpse at the end? The film has a high rating. Smart movie search algorithms told me I was 91% likely to like the movie. I haven’t been so disappointed in a while.
I don't even know what to cling to. For not talking like the characters in this movie? For the fact that the ridiculous attempts of the characters to play only cause nervous laughs and bouts of Spanish shame? For cheap moralizing, which would be a little more appropriate if there was at least one character in the film who would like to sympathize with or empathize with for a few minutes? It may not even be the actors’ fault. Maybe they could play the characters better if they had something to play. But the writers and directors have created such empty and thoroughly false images that the sex scenes in the film seem in principle the only meaningful scenes in an hour and a half, as if for the directors sex is the only human activity and emotion that they somehow understand, familiar and accessible.
Perhaps if the character 'Sebastian' was really inclined to any introspection and was able to experience any feeling other than an erection, and the actor could convey it; perhaps if the character Witherspoon had any depth, if she even an iota believed in its widely demonstrated foundations, you would believe in at least some conflict between the characters. But GG doesn't even try to look decent or behave decently; none of the characters around him feels the slightest discomfort when GG tries to break him down or get him into action. The reaction of none of the heroes around GG to his actions is absolutely impossible to believe. They succumb to it without the slightest pressure. They betray their friends and acquaintances without any resistance. They descend in front of him and the viewer not for a lofty purpose, not for a love that is not on the screen, not even for a desire that no one on the screen experiences. Just for the picture. And this picture is absolutely not convincing.
After watching this movie, I really want to wash my hands, eyes and even mouth with soap.
An extraordinary adaptation of the psychological novel by Choderlo de Laclo “Dangerous Liaisons”
Sebastian Valmont and his half-sister Katherine Murthay are cynical and wealthy teenagers. They come up with increasingly difficult tasks to once again amuse their vanity. The plot begins to unfold when Katherine offers an argument over whether Sebastian will manage to seduce the daughter of their new school principal, Annette Hangrove. Annette once admitted in an interview that she was going to keep her virginity until the wedding, and it became a kind of challenge.
The novel has been repeatedly filmed. The most famous are “Dangerous Liaisons” in 1988 (with John Malkovich and the very young Uma Thurman and Keanu Reeves) and “Valmon” in 1989 from Milos Forman (author of the Oscar-winning “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” and “Amadeus”) with Colin Firth. I like this version much more, despite the seeming simplicity at first.
Elegant, emotional and instructive teenage drama, one of the best in its genre. The scene is very resourceful transferred from France of the XVIII century to modern Manhattan, and the main characters-aristocrats are successfully replaced by rich and spoiled teenagers, wagging from idleness and permissiveness.
Beautiful actors, and they play beautifully: Ryan Philippe and his future wife and Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon, Sarah Michelle Gellar (who was at the peak of popularity after the cult series “Buffy”) and perfectly portrays a complete fool Selma Blair. The untidy bitch Gellar, the naive and sensual Witherspoon is a beautiful tandem, by the way, appearing together in only one scene.
The coolest soundtrack from Craig Armstrong (composer of Love Actually, Moulin Rouge and The Great Gatsby), as well as Placebo, Blur, Fatboy Slim, Skunk Anansie, Counting Crows and, of course, Verve with the iconic Bittersweet symphony.
The beautifully shot entourage of Manhattan adds even more color.
In the end, we got a great movie about false values, the corruption of rich teenagers, the mistakes of youth and, of course, about the first and so important, sincere love.
In art, the plot is widely known, describing the numerous victories of the seductive Casanova on the way to seduce countless beauties. It may be during the Renaissance or the Middle Ages, or it may be in the modern world, but the basic composition remains the same. American director Roger Cumble decided to move the action of the French novel of the 18th century in the 1990s in the United States. And he almost succeeded.
Sebastian (Ryan Philippe) is used to living for his own pleasure, winning the hearts of girls. He doesn't even pursue any gain - he just likes to feel welcome and seduce new beauties. He had no feelings for anyone until he met Annette (Reese Witherspoon). But here, Sebastian’s half-sister Catherine (Sarah Michelle Gellar), perhaps an even more spoiled person, offered his brother to play a very cruel game with the girl’s feelings, and the guy agrees to this.
Let’s forget about the last 15 minutes and focus on the rest. The script is really good. In many ways, this is the merit of the original, but now there are many films that successfully twist the original until complete unrecognition. Some find the motivations of individual characters very controversial, but in general, the behavior of Catherine does not raise questions. Again, there have always been both girls who give themselves easily at the first call, and all sorts of alpha females and males who simply get high from more and more victories on the love front. Even Cecile (Selma Blair), who is ridiculously stupid, is not annoying, since naive fools have met almost everyone.
It would be almost perfect tragicomedy if it weren't for the finale. Unfortunately, at some point, the director either exhausted the desire to shoot this story, or began to tighten the deadlines, or was running out of money (or other) resources. There is no other way to explain the final part. For example, until the last time I believed that what was happening was a talented staging of Sebastian and Annette. But it was much more trivial.
Nevertheless, 'Cruel Games' is a quality film, from which modern talentless copies still take an example (remember at least the recent sequel 'After'). It should be seen by all lovers of good melodramas. Well, girls in general should get acquainted with this picture, without exception.
8.5 out of 10
When adolescence comes, the power of hormones rages, many during this period are in turmoil, do not always the right things, for which you have to regret.
This film is a youth film 'Cruel Games' can teach you to understand how to firmly make the right choice.
In the center of the film are half-brothers and sisters: Sebastian (Ryan Philippe) and Catherine (Sarah Michelle Gellar). Beautiful, attractive.
Sebastian is a modern Casanova. He can successfully seduce any girl, time after time honing his skills. He is as handsome as the Prince of a fairy tale read as a child, as the man on the cover of a fashion magazine. His charm, charm can make an irresistible impression on the girl. And many people get online. And then... He achieves his goal - another victory, another & #39; report & #39; in his personal diary. But what can such a beautiful young man, driving around in an elite car, give? Nothing, he'll play and leave. There will be no offer of marriage, living together, starting a family. And it is difficult to imagine that in the head of this charming young man, who seemed a beautiful prince in the head of one calculation. And then he mercilessly throws, leaving broken hearts behind.
Katherine is also experienced, self-serving, cunning. External decency, correctness, insidiousness, deceit. The symbol of this is a cross on her chest. The cross, which at first glance brings her closer to faith, leads the right way of life. It's inside the cross. . .
The insidious and cunning plan of Sebastian and Catherine: seducing the innocent Annette for a vicious fee between themselves.
And Annette is the director's daughter.
And that Sebastian, that Catherine would be charming. But they have the appearance of an angel, and the inner true essence of a demon.
And many are able to be deceived by the external gloss, charm. And then go too far, tarnishing your honor, your reputation. You can't bring it back!
The film of such innocents as Annette, of which there are many, teaches to look not only at external beauty and charm, but to try to see in a person the inner world, the soul, the ability for spiritual love. In order not to be disappointed later, being not the only one, but the next in the list of victories of Casanova.
The film of Kazans like Sebastian teaches that there is not only carnal love, but also spiritual love, which is pure and blameless. And after so many victories, meeting with such a feeling suddenly and unexpectedly can become not a healing source, but a poison, because everything is distorted.
And if Catherine also has to go through the test: look in the mirror and see your true face in the presence of other people?
Youth is a beautiful, at the same time difficult period. And Alexander Pushkin taught to cherish honor young.
It is not an easy task to transfer some history to a completely different age or a different country, when mentalities and rules in society are very different. It is difficult, but most often real. And we know a few examples that are very exciting.
Unfortunately, the film 'Cruel Games' (or 'Cruel Intent') does not apply.
The actors are trying very hard, but there is a failure at the level of the script.
First, a number of plot plots, transferred from the noble society of the 18th century to the society of teenagers of the late 20th century, are simply ridiculous. The analogy of the episode in the novel, where Madame Volange entrusts her young daughter to the patronage of the Marquise de Mertay, looks very ridiculous. I can imagine how it would have been better if the writer had tried. Even more ridiculous is some strange motivation of the heroine Gellar in her intrigue with the seduction of Cecil.
Secondly, even if you close your eyes to all this, the script of the film turned out ' torn'. The film simply does not give an opportunity to mature some relationship, develop some feelings. Both Valmont’s novel with the analogue of Madame Tourvel, and Cecile’s relationship with her teacher jump ' gallop through Europe' Everything is happening too quickly.
Sarah Michelle Gellar plays very well (although I will make a reservation right away that the role of "Bullets" is often one of the easiest roles). Philip manages to create on-screen 'chemistry' with Witherspoon, to show that these teenagers are really drawn to each other. But all the efforts of young actors are broken about the script written with the back left heel, without thoughtfulness.
For the acting, as well as for the funny very first episode with a psychotherapist, I will rate.
6 out of 10
We love cheap dramas, with ill-conceived dialogues, where the actors a little overplayed, with sighs, screams, groans. Valentine Strylo
And don’t be embarrassed by such a seemingly banal epigraph. In the 90s, many similar films were shot, designed for the MTV generation. The plot is weak, the actors are sometimes inconclusive, but everything is served on a beautiful dish and with allegedly “high moral values”. It all looks like a farce.
Judge for yourself: what only deserves the contrast of heroes, torn from the era of enlightenment, and manneristically living in such orders and modernity, in which they, to put it mildly, do not fit. Well, it looks ridiculous, and very flat.
The movie turned out well. Good actors are selected, the musical accompaniment is also at the level. However, this creation will appeal to sentimental girls who do not really understand anything in building relationships or other “bewitched critics”, bought on a beautiful shell. It's a little empty inside. Excuse me.
5 out of 10
Please don't throw tomatoes at me. This is my first review... I watched the film for the first time and decided to try to express my thoughts.
I repent, I didn’t read the book, but I watched a theatrical production – from where I am aware of the storyline. I think, better than the director of this film, no one has conveyed the tragedy of this story to the modern generation. Theatre isn't for everyone. It's almost theater, but for everyone.
I may not have experienced such feelings in my life, but every time I look at the tears of Annette and shaking Sebastian, it just shudders at the thought of the feelings and experiences of the heroes of the story. Every time I know the plot from the first to the last frame, there are still tears in my eyes.
The plot of the melodrama was written in the 18th century, but, as Maestro Roger Cumble showed - relevant to this day, although the manners have changed greatly - people feel the same. And that's good.
The film is recommended for viewing lovers of classical melodrama, and romantics (are they not the same people?).
I love it when movies are entertaining and teach at the same time. And this movie just teaches kindness in the most entertaining form.
Given the main theme of the film, around which the plot is built, I want to note the cultural component of this picture – there will be no “pakhabism” and a large number of explicit scenes. No, on the contrary! There will be a lot of exciting dialogue, sweet and kind moments, and there will be plenty of really good acting.
If you haven’t seen this movie, watch it! It will not disappoint you and will certainly entertain you. I'm sure a lot of people will want to review it.
I've been thinking about making an 8 or 9 movie. If I wasn’t very picky about the movies, I’d give my best estimate right away. But I tend to see the film as the whole work, the actors and the main moral/spiritual component, plus there are genres that I like more than others. It’s a movie about a kind of crime with a human face. You'll say, "Oh, come on!" They don't kill anyone! You're wrong. They play with feelings and play big. For some people like me, it's like murder, I don't like people like that. I despise them, they do not respect women and do not respect themselves. Nevertheless, they are like movie characters - attractive, intelligent and elegant.
8 out of 10
If you are a girl and you are 15 to 23 years old, you should watch.
I like Reese Witherspoon. The first time I appreciated her acting as a child, when I watched the movie “Legally Blonde”. And later she was repeatedly convinced that this is a talented actress, who is well suited to her roles. Annette Hangrove in The Cruel Games is no exception. The film from beginning to end retains intrigue, and the denouement is bright and unexpected (unless you read spoilers on this and other sites before watching). Of course, it's not just Witherspoon's credit, but also Ryan Philippe (Reese's ex-husband), and Sarah Michelle Gellar. I haven’t watched any other movies or TV shows with these actors to fully appreciate their performance, but in this film it was definitely a success.
What's the movie? Not everyone has to believe. Friendship, like love, can be fake, so you should always choose the people you spend time with carefully. Parents who do not understand their children. And, of course, love. All the characters are very bright, the images are memorable, the actors play at a height. In addition, the themes in the film are relevant at all times, it was shot in the late 90s on the novel of the 18th century, and looks with interest in our days. And, as I noted earlier, it is especially worth watching for women of a certain age category, as the film will help to avoid similar mistakes in the future and make you look at your “girlfriends” from the outside.
I don’t know what prompted me to revise this picture, but its observable relevance is clearly in the past. And the case here is only at the age of the beholder, because the film is openly designed for a teenage audience. Necessarily problematic first love, the first sexual experience, endless small lovers, uninteresting flirtation and completely vulgar intrigues - all this is the paraphernalia of unbridled youth.
The cast was also not impressed. If Philip was quite convincing, and most importantly really cute, which made his character even more whole, the female half of his appearance caused only one bewilderment. Gellar does not look like a fatal beauty at all, and her sexuality is so clumsy that it gives a rude vulgarity. Blair and Witherspoon got cardboard characters and served as a small detail in another intrigue. Superficially written characters, this is the main drawback of the picture.
The film can be recommended for viewing, but only especially impressionable and necessarily not yet reached full spiritual and moral maturity. But if there are doubts, then do not waste your time, what you see will only make you laugh.
I wish someone a good viewing experience!!
Sebastian Valmont, who is a womanizer, easily uses girls and changes them. How many are there? 40? 60? 100? His half-sister Katherine is a brilliant manipulator. Together they created a real puppet theater, where the girls in their hands only suffer. But one day they get bored of the same thing. And here they come across an innocent Annette...
There's a lot of morality in the movie. He teaches a lot, you should not play with other people's fates and so immorally treats extraneous feelings. I believe that before you judge a person or laugh at him, put yourself in his place and see how you feel.
Sarah Michelle Gellar (Katherine) is a cold, calculating, treacherous girl. Who will not be able to do his will. The character is perfect, Gellar managed to 5+. A callous and soulless heroine turned out. I was delighted with her!
Ryan Philippe (Sebastian) - The role of a don Juan, came out well. A sly smile and an attractive look. Still, it is great that the main characters at the time of the film met, and then married. There are kids too. But then they got divorced. What happens? It's not always good, is it?
Reese Witherspoon (Annette) is a good girl, innocent. I don't really want to highlight her role. Nothing special. Just the film itself is clean, it is not surprising that Sebastian fell in love (opposites attract).
Epilogue: The end struck me, I didn't expect that. Good thing Annette did that, maybe if I were her, she did the same. And so, friends, love like never before. And you'll all have class! The music is great!
It's the beginning of the movie. Such a seriously concerned about his own hormonal changes, the young man heartfeltly pours out his soul at a psychoanalyst session. And after 5 minutes, laughing, walks away from the furious psychic under the handle with another victim (which once again proves that Western psychologists are a complete misunderstanding) But it's not about them.
After such a cool set-up, I naively waited for an equally original and intriguing sequel, but expectations were not met. So famously began the plot with every minute faded, lost colors and style and in the last 30 minutes turned into a banal teenager gum.
The bet of bored “relatives” makes a bet that, according to the plan, should destroy Annette’s value system, and at the same time raise the rating of the Main Hero to an unprecedented height (within the college, of course). But that's in words.
And the implementation of the action is as follows: half-brother and sister too delayed the moment of a more “kinship merger” and that would somehow justify it, decided to argue on it.
And such scenes in the picture, where they assume one thing, and play it completely different - at least extra.
Reese Witherspoon, with all due respect to her, the role of a well-behaved girl somehow failed, she is not convincing in her, after the scene of seduction - everything fell into place.
Even worse was Salma Blair. In the scenes between the virgin Cecil and her mentors, it is not at all clear who teaches whom and what.
I apologize to everyone from 12 to 20, but I can’t take this film seriously. Teenage melodrama, nothing more.
Only two tragedies are possible in life: the first is to get what you dream of, the second is not to get. (c) Oscar Wilde
This is my favorite movie of the last 10 years. The strange thing is that I haven’t written a review of it yet.
How cynical are you? The main characters of the film Sebastian Valmont and his half-sister Katherine Murthey are rich, young, beautiful, intelligent and cynical so that they can not be admired. Their intrigues have long gone beyond: Sebastian does not seduce for the sake of reinforcing his own sense of irresistibility: these masterfully played multi-stage stories that beat the vanity of the girls abandoned by him much more painful than usual breakups. He is no longer interested in just victories over the hearts of girls, there were too many of them and he does not feel the slightest satisfaction from them. It is much more interesting to break the life of the daughter of her psychologist, who considers herself the smartest, and her daughter the perfect. It's played to the notes. When you start watching a movie, you wonder if there’s anything good about him and his sister. And as the story progresses, the only answer is: no. Further events become more important. So, in Sebastian’s life, there is only one woman whom he can not win: step sister Catherine. He idolizes her: she is more cynical than he is (although, it would seem, much further?) and in their relationship, undoubtedly, she is invisibly dominant. She acts more cautiously and has a good reputation both in school and in society. Sometimes I think that Sebastian is emulating Catherine, thinking that this is the only way to win her over. And I think that if, before Annette came along, Katherine had reciprocated with him, they might have succeeded. People are very much united by the same inner demons. A relationship with Annette, in my opinion, would be doomed. They are too different, she would never understand him and would always judge him. By and large, she never recognized him in her lifetime. And she fell in love with another man. For people like Catherine and Sebastian, the boundaries of what is allowed are in a completely different range, and it is difficult to believe that they will be satisfied with any constancy for a long time. As for Annette, why is she? Because she saw the good in him. Something no one saw. Because she's different: not like everyone else. Because she overstepped her principles for him. She cheated on herself for him. She showed him that small things can be important. If before that to sleep with a girl for him was a small thing, then with Annette he noticed that she knows how to laugh. That's weird, right? How small things associated with loved ones for us are superior to quite large events with unloved ones. Sebastian is angry with himself and her for not being able to control his life and his thoughts. It harasses him and makes him angry. At some point, trying to prioritize correctly, he gives Annette a diary, which describes all his victories, and decides to break with his former life. But it's not just true? Love has many possibilities: to change us, to change our future, but unfortunately it cannot take away our past, change it or make it insignificant.
As a result, these relationships never develop and it is very difficult to say that they could be happy all their lives. I think not. But this is not the point, which is why their history does not get its continuation and development. The fact is that a person who seems bored with everything and nothing interesting changes love. She falls on him with the weight of a freight train, knocks him down and teaches him to re-understand the world and himself. The irony of our lives is that it is those who live by reason and neglect them who are most affected by emotions. They beat under the breath and turn the world upside down. People who live in love and for love's sake will never understand how it changed them, because they didn't know themselves as other people. Perhaps that is why for cynics, love is more significant, because it changes their foundations, destroys internal supports, mocks everything that was important before. And Annette is a mockery of Sebastian. She just gave up her manifesto and he gave up himself.
I love this movie, although sometimes it tears me apart.
10 out of 10
Themes of good and evil, good and bad, how many shades have white and black in life, not uncommon in literature and cinema, all because it is in every person, in every soul, it will be close to every reader or viewer. The work on these topics is doomed to success, it is only necessary to make it a good packaging: how else to reveal them more clearly and clearly, as not on the example of boys and girls who have everything as if for the last time? If friendship is fraternal, if resentment, then to revenge, if love is unearthly, and if suffering, then unbearable. On the example of those who did not fully understand where the limit is permissible, where the very facet of good and evil, on the example of people who did not look deeper into themselves ... In the film “Cruel Games”, the places of villains are reserved for Sebastian Valmont and his half-sister Catherine Murthay. They are rich, beautiful and intelligent just as they are ruthless and cynical. They laugh at others, play and use them. And it seems that nothing can satisfy their growing ambitions and appetites, to disperse some exorbitant darkness, which from something firmly settled in their hearts. Brother and sister, like cruel gods, having made fun of old toys, breaking them, throwing them into a corner and taking on new ones. So this time they started another cruel game, in which the new toy should be Annette Hangrove. Immaculate, kind girl, like an angel descended from heaven, she is the complete opposite of Sebastian and Catherine. And she has the main place of the trophy on the long shelf of victories of Valmont. The game begins, and the black figures make the first move, the second, but the closer the denouement, the harder it is to distinguish the colors of the figures. Who won? No one, because it's not a game, it's a life, though drawn and played by actors. And yet... Pawns are mixed, horses with a developing mane gallop in the opposite direction, the crown of the king is lost when retreating, the color of the cells on the field is no longer distinguishable and it is not clear where to go. The reward for party members is the realization that there is only black and white, there is no good and bad, everything exists at once, at the same time, and for each action you have to pay a price.
“Cruel Games” is one of the most memorable films I’ve seen in recent years, it dates back to 1999 and is based on the French novel of the late 18th century “Dangerous Liaisons”, which makes an even stronger impression.
Evaluation: I didn’t rewind a minute of the movie.
"I choose a gift of child love"
I don't need any other gifts.
I don’t think I’d care about another love like that.
No circumstances could justify this.”
"Every Me, Every You" by Placebo
sound at the beginning of the film.
The erroneous opinion is common among pensioners that modern youth do not like sensual melodramas, because they hate their favorite series, and that young people are obsessed with soulless action films and horror films. Melodrama melodrama discord, there are films of this genre, recognized by everyone from small to great, such as “Titanic”. But this film has opponents, accusing him of “excessive sweetness”. For some critics, a purely youthful melodrama was filmed, for such young people who perceive modern life as it is, with all its depravity and glamour. The story described in this film strikes with its shamelessness, but thereby conquers and arouses delight in the candid story built on the cynicism and ambition of American young people (although the film itself is based on a classic French novel of the XVIII century!) But the events of the novel are very skillfully transferred to the realities of 1999, the film deservedly became a hit, and even was awarded to become one of the parodied films in the popular comedy "Nestren's Cinema" - that's why I learned about this film and decided to watch it. And I loved the original much more than parody.
The older generation is unlikely to appreciate such a candid film, since it describes and details of sexual life, and even there is a hint to some extent incest: after all, in the center of the plot, albeit half, but still brother and sister, which, in fact, arrange what is brought out in the title of the film. The cruelty of their games lies in the fact that the guy must deprive the virginity of a young woman who has sworn to keep her virginity until the wedding, and if he manages to get an innocent beauty, then the half sister will give herself to her stepbrother. Each of them had previously arranged violent games: they organized non-binding affairs, and then abandoned those who were conquered. This time they work together. It is not difficult to guess that the unsavory womanizer will fall in love with his alleged victim, which is reminiscent of the youth melodrama-comedy “It’s All Her”, in which there was also a bet, only more innocuous – so these two films were successfully parodied in one comedy. Only here in “Cruel Games” the plot will turn so that neither the heroes themselves nor the grateful viewer expect such life turns. Where's the harmless comedy in which everything goes in turn to the prom, and the whole question is who is recognized as the queen of the ball. Here the plot is so filled with a variety of events that the viewer only has time to admire the brilliant production. In a similar film “Wildness”, related rather to the genre of erotic thriller, there was a similar plot, also filled with events, and there it was also very well staged, but not in the upper class, and the viewer simply does not have time to “digest” what is happening. "Cruel Games" in this regard is the leader among all the films I mentioned in the review. The ending of the film is shocking and leads to sad thoughts. After all, behave such loose characters in this situation differently, everything could have happened quite differently.
9 out of 10
I’m not going to hide it, I decided to watch this movie because of the beautiful Sarah Michelle Gellar, and as a fan of Buffy, I decided to appreciate it. He left a rather ambiguous opinion, and Sarah played not the last role in this. But everything in order.
The plot revolves around two representatives of the “golden youth” of America Sebastian and Catherine. They are young, rich, beautiful and they are very bored. Sebastian, using his beauty, seduces girls, and having received from them the desired throws, not forgetting to cruelly humiliate. Catherine is a two-faced intriguer and hypocrite, loves to build behind-the-scenes intrigues, but unlike her brother Sebastian, she always remains in the shadows. And when they get bored of their usual entertainment, they decide to make an argument in which they will demonstrate everything they know how. The stakes are high, no one is going to lose. This is where the main problems of the film begin. Intrigue and intrigue is the best thing in the film. But according to the plot in Sebastian there is a metamorphosis, because of which his character completely, literally in an instant changes. At first, it's unclear if that's part of his game or if he's really changed. And after realizing that the second option had happened to him and he would not bring anything new to the film, the last thirty minutes of the film up to the end became boring and uninteresting for me. Only the intervention of Catherine in this sleepy realm does not let you get bored completely. So the story that pleased me at the beginning almost disappointed me at the end.
With the actors and their characters almost the same trouble as with the plot. About Ryan Philippe as Sebastian I have already told almost everything. It is interesting at the beginning and uninteresting towards the end. With Reese Witherspoon as Annette, it’s the same thing, just the opposite. Her character is actually the embodiment of the ideal. Pure, innocent, kind, virtually uncut diamond. And she's incredibly boring. But in the end, my interest in her increases significantly in the end. But Sarah Michelle Gellar as Catherine is always interesting. Sarah had a difficult job to do to create Catherine. In 1999, Sarah still played in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and from the role of a sweet, kind and sensitive Buffy, she needed to dramatically turn into a bitch Catherine. And she did so well that her rare but spectacular appearances, in my opinion, saved this picture from failure. So I'm not too humble to say Sarah Michelle Gellar is the best thing about this movie. As secondary characters, I liked Selma Blair the most as a slightly clumsy simpleton. Her character brings a certain charm to the film, and a kiss with Catherine was beyond praise. It is better to see him once than to tell him a thousand times. You could talk about a good actor Joshua Jackson, but his character is not very interesting, and after he played the role, he does not appear again.
The last thing I want to mention is the ending. After the boring thirty minutes I mentioned, the ending was so great that it even made up for the half-hour wait. A little predictable, but incredibly spectacular, better than any happy ending. I couldn’t think of a better ending.
The verdict. Incredibly well started, but almost poorly finished film will not suit everyone. But this double-edged sword still deserves attention, since the positive aspects still exceed the negative ones.
There are movies that are made to love them at a certain age. I used to love "Cruel Games." But as time goes on, tastes, views change, and most importantly, you yourself evolve, and learn to distinguish between good and bad movies. Seriously, nothing. And also a masterpiece, from overrated.
I remember when I was in college, I had a Twilight fan with me. How she adored this “film”, just had to see, madly waiting for the premiere of all its sequels. We got on the phone the other day and she was like, ‘You know, I was 16 or 17 years old and I didn’t even know Oldboy existed.’ Of course, even now reading this novel, I come in shock at myself. Where are we going if today’s teenagers are craving 50 Shades of Grey?
I told her that teenagers would grow up like her. And let’s hope they learn about the existence of Oldboy, Difficulties of Translation, Dogville, etc.
Cruel games I refer to overrated, “age” (aimed only at a certain age category) films.
Of course, this kind of cinema does not apply, for example, "Fight Club", "Escape from Shawshank", "Schinder's List", and many other famous Hollywood masterpieces that will be relevant and loved by you at any age.
It’s not that the film is about students. “Stuffed”, “Breakfast Club” also tells about schoolchildren. But adults watch it too. It's about scripting and pitching.
As experience shows, "Cruel Games" is no longer interested in adults.
The story of getting this film into the category of Hollywood masterpieces, which are constantly on hearing, is clear as day. There are good, beautiful actors, (at that time they were also very relevant) able to attract attention, an intriguing story (at least until the middle of the film), well, and of course, the move that was used in Gossip Girl and in many other films and TV series about young people. Playing on instincts, hormones of girls and boys, aesthetics, in the form of luxury.
After all, many people wonder how they live there representatives of the golden youth, the cream of the Beverly Hills society, so to speak. Therefore, there are the most luxurious houses, cool things, cars, which everyone dreams of, and everything like that.
The film is beautiful, but this beauty is nothing more than dust, which is allowed in the eyes, so that the viewer does not bother with the flaws of the script. I didn’t go into much detail or analyze it. Here Sarah Michelle Gellar opened the door of a posh car, walked the gait of a sexy panther, and no one cares what happened to the plot. Is it original, and most importantly, is it interesting to develop?
About playing hormones. Take the beautiful, charming guy Sebastian, whose lips and eyes will deprive any girl's heart of peace and sleep, add to him a bitchy, sexy young woman, just a Femme fatal walker named Catherine. It's for guys.
Let them be partners in their villains and “cruelty”, and in fact the usual anger from boredom. It’s so meaningless and merciless.
Let's make a guy a great scumbag, breaking the hearts of girls with special ease. Yes, so that we're all shocked by his "sophistication." But, we also note that you do not need to be “easy” either. This move is needed so that we don't hate Sebastian, and somehow even understand him. And when you're 16, it's impossible to hate. Because, "" Well, he's got his eyes, his lips, his body. Who will stand?” Of course, for the sake of this, it is also necessary to introduce the image of tender, reasonable, kind and far from easily accessible beauty Anette, who for the first time will awaken in the guy something human, some semblance of reason, and the desire to win the heart, not the body.
For some reason, looking at the image of Anette, I recall immediately how Britney Spears once exploited the image of a virgin. Why? Not bad propaganda for 16-year-old girls. Oppose beauty, another beauty, the one that is fatal, sexually liberated and bitchy, but again a special point to note that such guys do not need. As a condiment, there is another innocent but stupid girl whose character is simply necessary. He should be funny. And without him. Otherwise, how do we know that Catherine is evil? That’s where she will put her experiments.
And in fact, Catherine is nothing more than a spoiled, bored, capricious, rich, spiteful, arrogant dummy. It was anger combined with boredom that made her such a villain.
The villain is attractive, but absolutely not charismatic, not interesting. And it's not even that she's rich. Fincher, too, had a bored, cruel rich woman in Amy Dunn. (Gone) But, interesting after all, charismatic, talented, immediate, cold-blooded (but at the same time wounded) sociopath, in principle understandable to the public.
In the character of Kat there is no depth, some spelling, and the so-called mind, which allows her to create all sorts of meanness, nothing more than cunning, and pretended artistry, born again boredom and permissiveness.
Take away her heroin, the crowd of fanatics, and the fans that fuel her sense of importance, and the vanity, the posh house, she will quickly turn into nothing. Same with Sebastian. So that the film does not slide into the swamp of stamping and monotony, we add an ending that is not typical for such films. So here’s food for thought and thought.
And of course, it's always funny when adult actors play 17-year-olds. I was always amazed at the accelerators they had. No different than 25-year-old women and men.
To be honest, the whole story is not interesting at all. It can be interesting only for those who like to admire luxury houses, and the “difficult” life of golden youth. It's not original. Only the ending is original here. Watching 90 minutes of stamped consumer goods to be surprised at the end, and it's definitely not for me. Young viewers are aghing and aghing, crying, and holding onto their hearts. How so? I'd rather watch Hitchcock.
Of the pluses. The acting was good. Despite the considerable amount of playfulness, it is possible to believe that Sebastian is suffering. Reese Witherspoon is good in one of the scenes when she realizes that she was cheated. That's an important thing. I mean being able to create a dramatic mood. Sarah perfectly demonstrated anger and hypocrisy. Philip is charming. Selma Blair managed to laugh. But nothing more.
It just so happened that I watched the film 16 years after its release and the stars were so formed that just before it I watched the recently released in theaters Fifty Shades of Grey. The first film is an example of a beautifully shot and played movie about love, with a considerable amount of eroticism. The second is a manual on what to remove never is not necessary.
So, "Cruel Games." Definitely deserves the highest praise. There is a non-banal plot (especially considering the time when the film was shot) and excellent acting. Everything is beautiful and tasteful.
Actually, about the main characters. Katherine. An insidious seductress, ready to do anything for the sake of her interests. Sarah Michelle Gellar masterfully handled her role. She used to be associated with Daphne from Scooby Doo, plus flashing in a couple of horror movies, playing inexpressive heroines. But she really liked it here, she was sexy, she didn't go at all, you just believe that she can seduce anyone. Sometimes it was even scary from the realization that she would stop at nothing just to get what she wanted.
Annette. No complaints, either. She is kind and naive, but at the same time not stupid, she does not have the plastic stupidity that is inherent in almost all actresses who play such heroines. I’ve never loved Reese Witherspoon, but there’s nothing to complain about in this movie.
And, of course, Sebastian. That's who handed over his character. Such a vicious insidious heartthrob, using girls as he wants (although somewhere in the middle we see that some rudiments of conscience, unlike the stepsister, he has). But as the film progresses, we see it changing. No, he didn't get better all of a sudden, but he's in the process, and you can see that Annette is so dear to him that he's not going to stop there.
In general, I will not say that the plot shines with originality, of course, the basis is laid love, as in almost any film. But how it was played! There was electricity from the screens, and the tension between Sebastian and Annette, Sebastian and Catherine was felt almost physically. Sebastian came to Annette and said he didn’t like her, that she was just a toy. All their emotions, their tears, they seem so real that for a moment it seems that you are not watching a movie, but watching someone else’s life. Definitely one of the most powerful and beloved scenes, not only in this film, but in all the films I watched.
The film has enough and, at the same time, there is nothing superfluous in it. This is a really decent, respectable movie. I won’t recommend him to everyone, because in any case there will be those who will not like him, but for me personally he moved to the shelf of his favorite films. It’s no wonder that I’m evaluating this.
10 out of 10
Do you like roses? I shit on them. The country needs locomotives, the country needs metal.
In time immemorial, when playsibo was not yet written off as a reserve, and doshirak on his head was the most faithful tool of sexuality, the hearts of girls and boys sounded notes of various rockopops, which in turn were filled with cruel “cruel games”, telling about the plot of the once scandalous novel, in which concerned people broke each other’s hearts and faces, wrapping up intrigues worse than Kazbek wraps meat in lavash, in general dark times stood in the courtyard.
Although everything begins relatively fervent and even cheerful, because the noodle head with humor and enthusiasm tears up templates of various kinds of nerds, inviting them to a barbecue to his bed, but deep down wanting one and the only one, the one that was with him in the Chinese fake for “The Scream”, wishing, however, for the reason that “ta” turned out to be greedy and the only one who did not give, and also Sarah-Michel Gellar, a rare but charming incompetence.
It is worth noting that from idleness, Sarah regularly gives everyone else who will not mind, but this is boring over time, and therefore Sarah makes a bet with Ryan and Philip, according to which the last two must seduce an epic fool in the chic performance of Salma Blair, and at the same time fall in love with a local botanist who vowed to keep her mink untouchable for the wedding. Intrigues wrap up like headphones in his pocket, Sebastian burns, discriminates against the blue-minded, seduces the normal, but continues to dream about the one thing that he did not give. At some point, he understands that there are now two copies, it is then that the pitch hell begins, which in a matter of minutes crushes the pleasant impression of the light first half of the film, in which only Sarochka wanted to poke out his eyes.
In its unexpected turn of events, the film can be like Luciano Pavarotti, who epically sang, sang, and then he was even more epicly broken by a loud and prolonged diarrhea. Despite some glorious and legendary source, the change of course does not look great in the cinema, if only because teenagers and idiots are engaged in intrigue, and the film itself was more like a comedy in its form, it is like if the Terminator in Terminator fell in love with Sarah Connor and called her his personal type of motor oil, although this would even be somewhat funny.
Despite the fact that according to the script, the brain went only at the head-noodles, the whole set went crazy, finally confused who should sleep with whom, and who should be jealous and kill whom. Only Salma Blair remains true to herself, because she plays the fool of cosmic stupidity, and therefore no catastrophes could influence the universal stupidity of it. Sarochka gets a fair amount of space, which was plugged in every possible way during the first half-hour of the kin, only occasionally touching her tits, now Sarochka is in the center of attention, carries an intriguing blizzard, talks about toys. Characteristically, with his insidious reasonings, Sarochka regularly brazenly gazes, being fond of speeches so much that he even forgets to blink. The enigma and insidiousness of the lustful soul is also emphasized by the characteristic keyboarding, which should aggravate the trance that the evil Sarochka sows with her speeches. Philip, in response to all this, does only that he loses his jaw from enlightenment and shock, which makes it very difficult to watch, but not so hard when the timekeeping comes to denouncing and subsequent exposure.
For the sake of truth, it is worth saying that the junction on the road is a kind of salvation or manifestation of the final figment on the occasion of the fact that the film did not succeed, as if the director was shooting, but then he got tired of everything and decided that now an exploding helicopter or a detonating boot from the vertical limit will fall from somewhere from the sky, and solve all the problems. Helicopter and shoe was not at hand, but there was a New York toxi, which coped with the task with hurrah. And the comic of the situation is that heretical unfunny comedies like the “unreal blockbuster” sin by the fact that the main underheroes regularly fall from the sky, thereby killing them that not a drop is funny. “Cruel Games” proved that such a model can be somewhat laughable if you are serious and talk about relevant topics during the previous hour. It would be funnier if there were a tractor or a cow instead of a taxi. Well, then Sarochka runs out into the street, runs out exactly at the moment when the students, having previously lined up in a row, at the same time finished the agit leaflets, plays a song about nunchucks, the credits go.
In fact, all this is very bad, because in fact, having no matter, no idea or at least a pronounced motivation, after years it is inevitable to look like an idiot, talking about your failure or some not so large-scale failure. So the story of Sebastian clearly proves that the boy even tried to improve, but did not have time to improve, and when it comes to the day of judgment, it is unlikely that the doshirak will have a clear and adequate answer to the question: “Well, what are you, Julio?”.
The film is designed for teenagers. And I was a teenager watching it. Of course, he would have made an indelible impression on me, if not for one “But!” – at the time of viewing I was already familiar with the novel by Choderlo De Laclo and with the adaptation of 1988, “Dangerous Liaisons”.
In The Cruel Games, the story is transported to the modern world, because teenagers are unlikely to look with pleasure at 18th-century France. And teenagers are not interested in watching adults, so the characters do not just drive fancy cars and wear miniskirts, they are also younger to students. In my opinion, the story for digestibility is simplified as much as possible, and after Dangerous Liaisons, it seems too bland to me.
In the list of actors all the stars of the 90s. I know them all and respect them, but, don’t get me wrong, after John Malkovich, Glenn Close and Michelle Pfeiffer, who show the extraclass, between which the air sparkles, chemistry rages and energy bubbles, the young stars could neither surprise me nor deliver aesthetic pleasure. I understand that this film adaptation of such complexities and subtleties was not provided, only in that and the highlight of the work.
In short, it’s like eating a regular caramel after marzipan. It seems sweet too, but... I don’t want to criticize the film, but I have nothing to praise it for, so I will not evaluate it.
For a long time I was going to write a review of “Cruel Intentions”, but still did not reach my hands and once again I wanted to write. Where to start, perhaps, with the fact that I am quite picky about melodramas, but of course there are exceptions, and Cruel Games is certainly not the only film from this genre.
The story. Sebastian plays with others all his life according to his own rules and invariably wins, and when he set himself a new challenge, he had no idea what it would bring him.
Roger Cumble quite skillfully adapted the script, and the film in its dynamics is simply beautiful, it looks in one breath, there is no sagging plot and events develop logically and consistently. At the same time, there are practically no banal characters and the same dialogues in the film, which are well spelled out.
What else can be attributed to the key pluses, it is definitely the soundtrack of the film, in which absolutely every song is selected to the point.
Acting game: Ryan Phillip - perfectly played Sebastian, really the character turned out charismatic and who, along the way of the whole film, evolves, while doing it correctly. Sarah Michelle Gellar - Katherine, it was enough to describe her game one word - unique, really seems like a whole movie bends its line, but you can not break away from her game. Reese Witherspoon - quite nice, and it is interesting to watch the development of the character and how she reacts to the situation.
As a verdict to, "Cruel Games" - for me, this is one of the best films, not only melodramas, but in general, which has just a beautiful and unpredictable storyline. Where the characters are not covered with banalism and each develops in its own way, where the climax does not leave you indifferent.
The older generation will not be very interested. For the young, it will be an icon of romantic cinema. Or not, because recently about the relationship between boys and girls made so many different films that they will be difficult to count. But in its time, “Cruel Games” was probably, as it is now for all “Twilight” or “The Hunger Games”, only more sane and about eternal problems. Oh, yes, there are actors who play well.
At the time of the film’s release, I was at an age where people aren’t into movies, and naturally I didn’t see it at the time. I remember the excitement around him. When the cassettes with this film passed from hand to hand, and word of mouth told how “Cruel Games” is good. I was able to appreciate this creation years later, when it was forgotten, and young people with pigtails squeaked at full support from how cool Edward Cullen was. But it's not about him. The film turned out as it should have been.
The recipe for this painting is simple. Take as a basis the great erotic novel by Chaderlo DeLoclou “Dangerous Liaisons”, move all events in our time, make the main characters teenagers and take on these roles the most beautiful (at that time) young people of Hollywood. There's a couple from I Know What You Did Last Summer. Ryan Phillip and Sarah Michelle Gellar, a girl with a powerful stone chin Reese Witherspoon and (perhaps not suitable for the category of “beautiful young”) Selma Blair. Well, basically everything. The next steps are clear. To create a powerful romantic atmosphere, season all this with talk about sex and small hints (while not sliding into the vulgarity of "American Pie") and the perfect film for teenagers is ready.
And since I happen to be about the same age as the characters, I decided to take a stand on this film. He's good. Not perfect, sometimes too sweet and naive, but it is a film for young people, and it should be, because it is not a Requiem for a dream to scare everyone. Yes, sometimes the characters are too overdoing, for example, the heroine of Reese Witherspoon is well too toy and clichéd virgin (she still lacks a Girl Scout bandage), Ryan Phillip sometimes infuriates to horror, and Michelle Gellar generally resembles Jennifer Aniston from “Unbearable bosses”, only there it is funny, and here it should be serious. The film does not lose its charm after these factors. What needed to be shown was well shown. Yes, love is such a mess, especially when your blood is hot and life is just beginning. And this eternal morality, in my opinion, convinces much more than the adventures of a brilliant vampire and his lady with the character of a tree.
“Cruel Games” is a good movie for teenagers. At the moment, it is also the best film for teenagers, because such stories look much more interesting than the pink snot that we showed in the last films.
8 out of 10
“You loved her so much and still love her. But it was fun to make you ashamed of it. You gave up the one you really loved... for fear of ruining your reputation... You're a toy... My favorite toy.
The film, based on the French novel of the late XVIII century “Dangerous Liaisons”, written by Choderlo de Laclos, one of the directors of the brilliant series Force Majeure, Roger Cumble, is magnificent. The target audience of this film is undoubtedly young people. The drama "Cruel Games" shows us hypocrisy, lies, callousness, indifference and other human vices. The film tells the audience about how people can go far, playing their games, how they are able to change and what awaits them as a price for their entertainment.
The strongest role, in my opinion, has the beautiful actress Sarah Michelle Gellar. She perfectly succeeded in the image of the fatal, passionate, sexy, intelligent, cynical Katherine Murthay, representative of the golden youth of New York. Catherine entertains herself by weaving intrigue, manipulating people, in particular, the frivolous simpleton Cecile and the short-sighted Ronald. She, in my opinion, is like a puppeteer, pulling them all by the strings, pointing the way to her puppets. Catherine wears an angel mask, telling people that “when she feels an insurmountable temptation, she turns to God.” It is significant that inside her cross, hidden cocaine.
Sebastian Valmont, being Catherine’s half-brother and her favorite toy, driven by a hunting instinct, entertains himself by seducing girls, giving them unprecedented delights and forbidden fun, and then abandoning them. Interestingly, he, like Giovanni Giacomo Casanova in the 18th century, keeps a diary describing his adventures. By this, perhaps, I think, he asserts himself, displaying his victories on paper, preserving his status and image.
Annette Hangrove, the innocent victim of Sebastian and Catherine, is a pure, pure, sincere girl, a kind of diamond in a vicious world. In the film, you can see how she, being at a fork in the road, makes her important choice.
While watching this picture, you wonder if people can change and change in this situation. I believe that a person, being deprived of even a drop of sensuality, insidious and heartless, can not change 180 degrees in an instant, become a vulnerable, sentimental whiner! That's absurd. I think that people can transform, really change, and not pretend to play in public, only in case of loss of a loved one, death of a family, victory over a serious illness, but not in this case.
“Cruel games” indicate that weaving a web of lies and intrigue, do not forget that, in the end, you will get into it. This film is one that can be watched many times.
The plot is quite banal. Wealthy bored brother and sister make a bet on a girl whose chastity is unattainable.
6 years ago, "Cruel Games" was my favorite movie, but after watching it as an adult, I was a little disappointed. If you watch a film with such a plot for the first time, it may even seem fascinating, but
If you have seen films on such topics ("Babnik", "Beautiful Alfie", "Dear Friend", "Heart eater", etc.), which go about one scenario, then it will seem to you a little boring, banal, disposable, unoriginal and devoid of highlight.
If we compare this film with other similar films on the same subject (and I watched a lot of them), then "Cruel Games" among them stands out and wins against their background, because it was shot very qualitatively, despite a huge number of clichés and template characters: a typical bitch ( Sarah Michelle Gellar), a typical womanizer-lovelas ( Ryan Philippe) and a typical angel, behind which is about to appear (). The plot is very vague, but "Cruel Games" is the best on this topic. In addition, it is the best of the three parts, and the prequel and sequel would be good not to watch at all.
The film takes young, but already professional actors, thoughtful dialogue and unpredictable denouement. Usually there is no happy ending in these films, but here I am glad that the writers have moved away from the standard.
I don't like the type of Catherine (villain bitch) or the type of Annette (innocent sheep). And Sebastian... well, how not to fall in love with this?
He's more cunning than beautiful. He never said a word without malicious intent. Every girl he has been successful with regrets it. Stay away from him. (c)
Women are more sophisticated and angry in their revenge than men. But why did Sebastian, defeated by Catherine, not retaliate?
The denouement, of course, unexpected, but somehow attracted by the ears and not too true.