Dangerous Liaisons

Dangerous Liaisons (1988) — watch online on iFILM. Stephen Frears directs this period drama scripted by Christopher Hampton, who adapted both his own 1985 stage play and Pierre Choderlos de Laclos's 1782 epistolary novel. Glenn Close, John Malkovich, Michelle Pfeiffer, Uma Thurman, and Keanu Reeves head the cast.

The Marquise de Merteuil (Close) and the Vicomte de Valmont (Malkovich) are ex-lovers who have turned social manipulation into sport. She wants revenge on a rival and commissions Valmont to ruin the rival's daughter Cécile (Thurman). He accepts, then lets himself become genuinely drawn to the virtuous Madame de Tourvel (Pfeiffer) — and that single slip unravels the whole arrangement. Young musician Danceny (Reeves) wanders into the wreckage without knowing the game was ever being played.

The film took three Oscars at the 1989 Academy Awards — Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design — out of seven nominations that included Best Picture and two acting nods for Close and Pfeiffer. Under the powdered wigs and candlelit salons, Frears delivers a cold study in power and consequence. Stream Dangerous Liaisons (1988) online on iFILM.