Valmont

I really liked this approach by Forman, especially because of how light-hearted it is. Annette Bening is absolutely fantastic here, and Colin, going against his character type, fits really well in this role. The ending seems a bit lost, but that doesn't change the fact that I enjoyed the film and it revived this favorite story for me again. (12/15/2014)

Colin Firth and a foxy redheaded Annette Bening could have easily carried the film without the assistance of elaborate costumes and set design. But these, on the other hand, pleasantly wordlessly built up the illusion of bourgeois vacuity throughout, with the only pastime among the bored lower gentry being the tiresome scrounging for shags, which still has to be handled as a LARP as part of elaborate social etiquette. The illusion of a world of summer estates, mansions, gardens, and banquets is mastered perfectly by Valmont, and that's why the desired frivolity works. From the very first shot, I felt a tingling in my guillotine like never before. (04/08/2019)

There have never been enough de Laclos adaptations. Interest in his transcripts peaked in the late 1980s, and I have to add that Frears' competing project means little when compared to Miloš Forman's purely auteur concept. Forman's Valmont is a gem among all his works, a balanced work of moral destruction that plays out both a playful minuet and a funeral mass at the same moment. Superb cinematography, ethereal set design, haunting music, and breathtaking performances are all a given with this film. (02/03/2009)

I’ve heard a lot of praise for this film by Miloš Forman from various sources, but unfortunately, I wasn’t very impressed with it. I definitely enjoyed the formal aspects. Watching the beautiful costumes and meticulously crafted exteriors had its appeal. However, the story didn’t captivate me. The acting was probably fine (especially the devilishly scheming Annette Bening, who ruled the screen), but the various subplots just didn’t engage me. And the ending felt rather rushed. What a pity. I give it a 6/10. (09/19/2023)

Even though I really like Miloš Forman, with this one you simply cannot deny that Valmont came too late so it had to yield to Dangerous Liaisons, which are much more attractive for the average viewer than a story from the 18th century full of intrigues and falseness. But if you do give the movie a chance for a while, you will notice its beautiful and unique cinematography. Well and if you are familiar with Dangerous Liaisons, you will also enjoy a series of minor, but pleasant surprises, so in the end, you will not be disappointed. And if nothing else, you will at least appreciate that the movie was made by Miloš Forman, which is something every Czech should appreciate! (02/14/2017)