Cruel Intentions is one of those movies that I can just watch over and over. It's very well acted, and the characters are all easy to understand. It also has some absolutely hilarious moments and memorable one-liners. Above all, it explores the dark side of the relationships between males and females--platonic and romantic.
The main relationship is between Kathryn and Sebastian--two affluent teenagers who are step-siblings and go to fictitious Manchester Prep. Sebastian is a player who drives a 1956 Jaguar and fucks any girl he wants. Kathryn is the class president and a popular girl who secretly keeps cocaine in a cross she wears on a necklace. They make a bet that Sebastian can seduce Annette, a holier-than-thou girl who is planning to wait and is also the daughter of the school's new headmaster.
The movie exposes many of the hypocrisies and facades that teens and adults have. No sacred cow is safe in this movie, and that's one of the best things about. It's brutally honest without going over the top.
It also features great performances by Ryan Philippe as Sebastian, Sarah Michelle Gellar as Kathryn, Reese Witherspoon as Annette, and Selma Blair as Cecile. The minor players also turn in convincing performances. It should be noted that Witherspoon and Philippe were just getting together around this time, which certainly explains their chemistry
The movie was released in 1999. While we do see a few cell phones, it's a time when many people were still using dial-up Internet. Sebastian often carries a camera because his cell phone is just a phone. It also features a good soundtrack of late 1990's music.
Finally, it features Reese Witherspoon, Tara Reid, Selma Blair, and Sarah Michelle Gellar (with her natural hair) in their prime. They alone make it worth watching.
Here is the hilarious opening scene, which sets the tone for the rest of the movie:
Here are some of the memorable lines in this movie:
SEBASTIAN: E-mail is for geeks and pedophiles.
KATHRYN: "I love you"? My God. You are completely pussy-whipped.
SEBASTIAN: I'm sick of sleeping with these insipid Manhattan debutantes. Nothing shocks them anymore.
KATHRYN: The parental units called while you were out.
SEBASTIAN: How is your gold-digging, whore of a mother enjoying Bali?
KATHRYN: She suspects your impotent, alcoholic father is diddling the maid.
SEBASTIAN: Good.
KATHRYN: I hate it when things don't go my way. It makes me so horny.
SEBASTIAN: Get your ass on the bed, and prepare for the fuck of your life. After what you put me through, I deserve it.
KATHRYN: Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer. When I'm through with Cecile, she'll be the premiere tramp of the New York area.
SEBASTIAN: I didn't know it was asshole day at the Valmont house.
KATHRYN: Unfortunately, our Don Juan is moving with the speed of a Special Olympics hurdler.
SEBASTIAN: It's not like you have a husband--unless you're married to Jesus.
The main relationship is between Kathryn and Sebastian--two affluent teenagers who are step-siblings and go to fictitious Manchester Prep. Sebastian is a player who drives a 1956 Jaguar and fucks any girl he wants. Kathryn is the class president and a popular girl who secretly keeps cocaine in a cross she wears on a necklace. They make a bet that Sebastian can seduce Annette, a holier-than-thou girl who is planning to wait and is also the daughter of the school's new headmaster.
The movie exposes many of the hypocrisies and facades that teens and adults have. No sacred cow is safe in this movie, and that's one of the best things about. It's brutally honest without going over the top.
It also features great performances by Ryan Philippe as Sebastian, Sarah Michelle Gellar as Kathryn, Reese Witherspoon as Annette, and Selma Blair as Cecile. The minor players also turn in convincing performances. It should be noted that Witherspoon and Philippe were just getting together around this time, which certainly explains their chemistry
The movie was released in 1999. While we do see a few cell phones, it's a time when many people were still using dial-up Internet. Sebastian often carries a camera because his cell phone is just a phone. It also features a good soundtrack of late 1990's music.
Finally, it features Reese Witherspoon, Tara Reid, Selma Blair, and Sarah Michelle Gellar (with her natural hair) in their prime. They alone make it worth watching.
Here is the hilarious opening scene, which sets the tone for the rest of the movie:
Here are some of the memorable lines in this movie:
SEBASTIAN: E-mail is for geeks and pedophiles.
KATHRYN: "I love you"? My God. You are completely pussy-whipped.
SEBASTIAN: I'm sick of sleeping with these insipid Manhattan debutantes. Nothing shocks them anymore.
KATHRYN: The parental units called while you were out.
SEBASTIAN: How is your gold-digging, whore of a mother enjoying Bali?
KATHRYN: She suspects your impotent, alcoholic father is diddling the maid.
SEBASTIAN: Good.
KATHRYN: I hate it when things don't go my way. It makes me so horny.
SEBASTIAN: Get your ass on the bed, and prepare for the fuck of your life. After what you put me through, I deserve it.
KATHRYN: Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer. When I'm through with Cecile, she'll be the premiere tramp of the New York area.
SEBASTIAN: I didn't know it was asshole day at the Valmont house.
KATHRYN: Unfortunately, our Don Juan is moving with the speed of a Special Olympics hurdler.
SEBASTIAN: It's not like you have a husband--unless you're married to Jesus.