Dangerous Liaisons
After years of thinking Keanu Reeves was the weakest link I wonder if it isn't John Malkovich. His contemptuous deadpan works perfectly with his conversations with Glenn Close, but he is strangely unconvincing as a person able to win Michele Pfeiffer's heart.
Alan Rickman played the role for the London stage version and I wonder if he might have suited the film better overall.
Who would you have cast...or does Malkovich work for you in the overall context of the film?
by Anonymous | reply 18 | July 22, 2025 9:02 PM
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I think it’s pretty damn obvious who the weakest link was. Hell, Stevie Wonder could even see who it was.
by Anonymous | reply 1 | July 8, 2024 5:41 AM
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I saw Hugo Weaving in the play in Australia, some years before Priscilla made his name internationally. It was one of the most brilliant of many brilliant performances he's given. He wove his way around the other characters like a snake. He was attractive and sinister at the same time. You could imagine that young Cecile really would be thrilled by him. Always my idea of the perfect Valmont.
by Anonymous | reply 3 | July 8, 2024 6:02 AM
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John Malkovich has always been one of these straight guys that women always seem to find sexy, but not gay men. I always thought him creepy and unattractive. But he was perfect in Places in the Heart and as the psycho in that Clint Eastwood movie.
by Anonymous | reply 4 | July 8, 2024 6:45 AM
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[quote]but he is strangely unconvincing as a person able to win Michele Pfeiffer's heart.
And yet he did because they apparently had an affair while filming.
by Anonymous | reply 5 | July 8, 2024 7:00 AM
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Great movie, reminds me of the markle situation, but smarkle id too dense to realize she has become a pariah.
by Anonymous | reply 6 | July 8, 2024 1:53 PM
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Love the film and Malkovich was great but agree that he could have been played be someone more handsome and duplicitous.
by Anonymous | reply 7 | July 8, 2024 2:54 PM
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[quote] His contemptuous deadpan works perfectly with his conversations with Glenn Close, but he is strangely unconvincing as a person able to win Michele Pfeiffer's heart.
I felt the same in Jane Campion’s Portrait Of A Lady. He had a menacing push-pull with (an excellent) Barbara Hershey but I did not buy Nicole Kidman falling for him.
by Anonymous | reply 8 | July 21, 2025 10:42 PM
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Mylene Farmer samples John Malkovitch in 'Beyond My Control'.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 9 | July 21, 2025 11:27 PM
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A horrid Valmont. I, too, have always thought him creeply and unattractive.
by Anonymous | reply 10 | July 22, 2025 3:24 AM
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I found Malkovich strangely mesmerizing in Dangerous Liaisons. Not attractive but he kept my interest. His scenes with Glen Close were top notch.
by Anonymous | reply 11 | July 22, 2025 3:43 AM
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Malkovich was fucking repulsive in Dangerous Liaisons. Isn't he basically just a rapist? I prefer Cruel Intentions.
by Anonymous | reply 12 | July 22, 2025 2:37 PM
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I thought Malkovich was sexy without being conventionally handsome and was fantastic in the role. The film would have been different with a gorgeous Valmont—but it could have worked. He has to be a complete snake.
by Anonymous | reply 13 | July 22, 2025 2:44 PM
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Malcovich is good in right role, but this wasn’t it.
Not handsome, too sedate, too menacing and most importantly, just dull.
by Anonymous | reply 15 | July 22, 2025 3:56 PM
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Malkovich is too obviously creepy and charmless in both LIAISONS and PORTRAIT OF A LADY, so it's hard to imagine either Pfeiffer or Kidman falling for him. His looks are only part of the problem.
by Anonymous | reply 16 | July 22, 2025 6:49 PM
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In "Liasons," he's an expert in what we used to call"talking shit" to women. And he's so creepy he makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
I think he's perfect in the role.
by Anonymous | reply 17 | July 22, 2025 6:56 PM
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R16 It might be hard to imagine Pfeiffer falling for him, but that's exactly what happened when they were filming the movie, breaking up his marriage to that other Glenn, Glenne Headly.
Malkovich is one of those straight guys that women always seem to fall for, but gay men find unattractive.
Same with Fabio.
by Anonymous | reply 18 | July 22, 2025 9:02 PM
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