Review of Cruel Intentions (1999) by Yenny Y — 09 Sep 2010
"Introduce her to your world of sex, drugs and... what else do you do?".
There's something about this movie that makes it a "thumbs up" for me. I've seen it a couple of times on a period of ten years and have enjoyed it on both times.
I don't know if it's the manipulation or seduction between the main characters that makes this film stand. Everything starts with a bet between two rich, spoiled and good looking (can they be other than that?) school students. The social elite wants to play and no ones feelings are safe.
The cast of 'Cruel Intentions' is like a "who's who" of late 90's teen actors. Some of 'em have done a successful career (Reese Witherspoon, Sarah Michelle Gellar) and some have bombed (Joshua Jackson and Tara Reid). But my God! I like 'em all! I don't have a privileged past life or anything like that but watching these play these little yuppie bastards is lots of fun. And the actors manage to perform well, which may come as a surprise. It did to me at the first time.
'Cruel Intentions' is based on a 200 year old French novel. Stephen Frears and Milos Forman, just to name a few, have done their own adaptations 10 years before this one, which is directed by Roger Kumble. His career has been shit after this. I mean it... Shit. Just watch his filmography on this site.
The film is well written and the story develops nicely with some surprising twists. In the end, even though hearts do get broken, love will stand tall. But do they deserve to get it? 'Cruel Intentions' ends with one of the best songs ever made: Bittersweet Symphony by The Verve. That song is a reason alone to watch this film.
This review of Cruel Intentions (1999) was written by Yenny Y on 09 Sep 2010.
Cruel Intentions has generally received positive reviews.
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