Cruel Intentions (1999)

Emerging from the shadows of Roger Vadim’s French flick Les Liaisons dangereuses (1959) with Jeanne Moreau; the Stephen Frears period piece Dangerous Liaisons (1988) with Uma Thurman; and Miloš Forman’s Valmont (1989) with Meg Tilly is Cruel Intentions (1999). Like its predecessors, this R rated movie is based on the 1782 novel “Les Liaisons dangereuses” by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos. Yet what sets Cruel Intentions apart from the pack is that it changes the setting from 18th century France to modern-day New York. Here, a group of wealthy high schoolers entertain themselves by playing literal head games. Bubbling with sensuality, the nubile cast features Reese Witherspoon who provides the perfect mixture of naïveté and sex appeal. As the cad Valmont, Ryan Phillipe seduces Annette (Witherspoon) with his words and Cecile (Selma Blair) with his cunnilingus tongue. Not to be outdone, Kathryn (Sarah Michelle Gellar) makes out with the latter lady in Central Park. In fact, their Sapphic action paid off with a Best Kiss win at the MTV Awards. If that’s not impressive enough, Ms. Gellar was named Choice Movie Sleazebag at the Teen Choice Awards, while Ms. Witherspoon received a Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Supporting Actress – Drama/Romance. But this doesn’t even include the statuette Mr. Skin erected in honor of these starlets. Thanks to the advent of DVDs, the movie includes a deleted scene of a cheerleader (Alisha Klass) who removes her black lace bra to reveal her pom poms. Looks like she’s in the topless of her class!