Cruel Intentions
Directed By Roger Kumble
Tristar
Starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillipe
Films profoundly effect my moods. A bad film can leave me angered for a week or more. A good film can leave me smiling for an even longer period. As I sit typing this review(smiling contently), I must say that I liked this film immensely. No one would call it a work of art, and at times "Cruel Intentions" shows its flaws, but it's definitely far and away the smartest and most energetic of the new genre of teen films that has been popping up lately.
The film is a reworking of Dangerous Liasons, only now a set of rich Manhattan kids are involved in the schemes. Ryan Phillipe stars as Sebastian Valmont, a rich playboy who simply spends his free time jetting around in his sportscar or writing in his journal about his latest conquest of yet another Manhattan girl. He's joined in his games by his stepsister, Kathryn, a seductress who's angered when she doesn't get her way. I've never liked Phillipe in any of his performances, especially last Summer's "54", where he was almost painful to watch in the role of a bartender at the famous disco club; his performance here is, incredibly, a 180 degree turn into excellence: he's perfect in the role of a young man who's contstantly spinning lies and putting on a happy face to convince the world around him that he's no worse than the next guy. It's the turn from the "happy face" to what lies underneath that constantly makes this performance so fun to watch. It's on display perfectly in the opening scene when Sebastian visits his therapist in a scene that's a perfect observation of the sort of celebrity that comes to the upper class psychologists out there. It ends with the perfect spin as well, with a phone call from the therapist's daughter about Sebastian, but by that time, he's already moved on to his next conquest.
Gellar matches him word for word as Kathryn, in a smart, tight performance as the girl who knows all the angles towards getting her way, whether it means using herself or making a simple phone call to start a series of events in order. She's off on her own plans when her boyfriend dumps her for Cecile, a girl Kathryn wants to turn into "damaged goods" to deliver back to her ex-boyfriend. Selma Blair is frequently priceless in the role of Cecile, blessing the character with some scenes of pure, goofy hilarity. It's a rich, wonderful performance. The best scenes of the film may be between Gellar and Phillipe, but Blair is perfection as the movie's more comedic side.
Soon another angle makes itself known. Sebastian and Kathryn make a wager that Sebastian can't conquer a young woman named Annette who's just written an article on not having relations till marriage. That girl is played by the wonderful Reese Witherspoon. Soon, Sebastian finds himself less and less thinking about the bet he's made and more and more about how he's falling in love with Annette. Witherspoon is good in a role that's not really fully written; it seems more destined to simply be part of the overall plot than to be a role that's fully realized. Still, in the few scenes that she and Phillipe have together, they have a nice chemistry.
"Cruel Intentions" is by far the most adult of the teen films; that sophistication works to its advantage as although it's not exactly a work of fine art, the film works because of a smart, witty plot as well as excellent performances. Refreshingly, it's far from the simplistic teen films of recent times like "She's All That". This sort of sophistication is shown in the wonderful cinematography by Theo Van De Sande(who also filmed "Blade"), the cinematography here is stylish, smart and energetic. That's another way the film works; even though it's definitely a "mean" film at times, it crackles with the energy that the films in this teen genre so consistently lack. The scenes between Phillipe and Gellar have a sort of snap to them that makes the conversations between the characters exciting and interesting. And more than anything else, the film is just simply a lot of fun. The performers all give their best in the roles and the dialogue is wonderfully smart compared to the recent rash of films like this.
There are some places where the film doesn't work. The ending, although it does contain a nice payoff in the end, doesn't completely work. There are a few minutes here and there where the film feels a little long, but they're more than made up for by some scenes that work fantastically. The dialogue may be a little too cruel at times, as well, although, remember: these are cruel people. Witherspoon's role in the film feels a little thin as well.
Overall, though, this film is a lot of fun and when it works, it has a fierce energy that's thrilling. Performances are excellent, especially Selma Blair's supporting performance as well as Gellar's. The dialogue is frequently witty and sharp. "Cruel Intentions" frequently steps over the line from "teen" film into something that's more for adults. The dialogue is fairly adult in nature and the film has a tone that's anything but the sort that we've come to expect from teen fare. Still, it's a very smart and frequently entertaining film that works far more often than not and when it works, it's sensational and sexy fun. "Cruel Intentions" is lively, sassy and smart entertainment that I definitely recommend.
A note for fans of the "Howard Stern" show: spot "Stern" sidekick Fred Norris in one of the early scenes of the film as a police officer.
