At its core, Cruel Intentions is a stylized, modern adaptation of Choderlos de Laclos’s 1782 epistolary novel, Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Dangerous Liaisons). While the original story took place among the bored, plotting aristocracy of pre-revolutionary France, writer-director Roger Kumble brilliantly transposed the narrative to the wealthy Upper East Side of Manhattan.
The Verve's "Bitter Sweet Symphony" is the film's soul. Its melancholic strings and existential lyrics swell over the film's devastating final montage, forever cementing the song as an anthem of tragic romance. The soundtrack also featured an incredible array of hits: "Every You Every Me" by Placebo perfectly soundtracked Sebastian's chaotic life, while the Counting Crows' "Colorblind" played during one of the film's most intimate and pivotal scenes. Tracks by Fatboy Slim, Blur, and Abra Moore created a texture that made the film feel like a music video you didn't want to end [4†L4-L15][12†L4-L17]. Cruel Intentions 1999 480p MKV 400MB