Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Valmont Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov January 7, 2024

Milos Forman's "Valmont" (1989) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include archival program with Milos Forman; exclusive new audio commentary by critic and filmmaker Daniel Kremer; and vintage trailer. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

It is war, then.

It is good to have the archival program with Milos Forman that Robert Fischer did for Fiction Factory on this recent release of Valmont because in it you will hear precisely how the film was conceived. In years past, some people did not like how Valmont came to exist and had some quite awful things to say about Forman when his film went up against Stephen Frears’ Dangerous Liaisons. Both films are based on Choderlos de Laclos’ famous novel, but their treatment of the original material is quite different, and yet they became fierce competitors.

In this archival program, which is an extract from a larger program, Forman makes several important clarifications. One of them is that he had read Laclos’ novel while he was still living in communist Czechoslovakia and for obvious reasons did not dare to even dream of turning it into a film. It was many years later, after Claude Berri and Francois Truffaut had effectively saved him from disappearing into communist oblivion, that Forman changed his mind. However, around the same time, Forman also made a most unusual discovery, which was that his memories of Laclos’ novel were quite misleading. After rereading Laclos’ novel, Forman then reached out to Jean-Claude Carriere, who apparently assured him that he could still make Valmont with his interpretation of the original material from it. It is when Forman and Carriere began working on the screenplay for a film that will eventually become Valmont. These clarifications contradict old claims by Christopher Hampton, the screenwriter of Dangerous Liaisons, who claimed that Forman attended several stage performances of his theatrical play in London, and it was then that he decided to direct Valmont.

So, who is telling the truth? And why is this important?

Forman has never denied seeing a stage performance of Dangerous Liaisons. In fact, in the same archival program, Forman admits that it was after attending one that he realized how inaccurate his memories of Laclos’ novel were, and that it was then that he began having serious doubts about making the film he could not do in communist Czechoslovakia. Later, it was Carriere who reassured Forman that he could still do it. In other words, contrary to what has been implied and said in years past, Forman directed Valmont to fulfill a dream that once seemed legitimately impossible, not to have a competitor of Frears’ Dangerous Liaisons.

While there are some undeniable similarities in the structure of the intrigues and the drama they initiate, Valmont and Dangerous Liaisons produce characters with unique identities. In Valmont, Annette Bening’s Marquise de Merteuil has a wicked personality that is a lot more casual but much more flexible as well. Indeed, once her rivalry with Colin Firth’s notorious playboy is initiated, she becomes extremely difficult to properly read. (Glenn Close’s take on the same character produces an unmistakably ruthless manipulator). Firth quickly reveals a human side, too. In fact, there is never any doubt that Meg Tilly’s Madame de Tourvel instantly connects with it, so his transformation begins quite early. Last but not least, Fairuza Balk, who plays the young virgin at the center of the rivalry, Cécile de Volanges, conveys an innocence that is so authentic at times it becomes borderline intimidating. (Uma Thurman plays the same character with a notably different attitude).

Perhaps the most significant difference between Valmont and Dangerous Liaisons, however, is in the reconstruction of the period playground where Laclos’ characters are unleashed. Forman films it as a much more humane place where the corrupt do not fully dominate the uncorrupted. In Dangerous Liaisons, the games that the two become involved with are much more brutal and it never looks like the latter have even the tiniest chance of emerging victorious.

Forman worked with cinematographer Miroslav Ondrícek whose understanding and management of period ambience is outstanding. It is why despite emphasizing wide ranges of rich period details Valmont never looks overwhelming.

Valmont Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 2.39:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Valmont arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.

The release is sourced from an exclusive new 2K master that was struck from an interposotive. Despite some small limitations, this master is very good and makes it possible for younger cinephiles to discover the film Milos Forman directed. Why exactly? A couple of years ago, Valmont was restored in 4K on behalf of Pathe in France, and on this release it looks absolutely awful -- it is very green, with serious gamma issues, and boasts an overall very distracting artificial appearance. On this release, Forman's film has a proper organic appearance and retains the colors it had when it was released theatrically. What are the limitations I mentioned above? I think that delineation and clarity could be a little bit better, though I must say that this master handles darker areas quite well. Additionally, select primaries and supporting nuances could look even lusher and more vibrant, and if they do, the overall dynamic range of the visuals will be superior as well. There are no traces of problematic digital corrections. Image stability is very good. There are no serious age-related anomalies to report either. All in all, this release offers a very convincing, very pleasing organic presentation of Valmont that makes it a treat to revisit the film at home. My score is 4.25/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Valmont Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.

The lossless track is very good. However, I would like to mention something very important that you need to keep in mind while viewing Valmont. The original soundtrack incorporates a lot of baroque music to enhance the period ambience. This music is performed with authentic baroque instruments, which produce different music with more subdued qualities. In other words, you will notice that dynamic contrasts are not as striking as they could have been if the music was recorded by a traditional symphony orchestra. The dialog is always very clear, sharp, and stable.

Valmont Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• The Art of Seduction - in this archival program, Milos Forman reveals how Valmont came to exist and discusses his work with Jean-Claude Carriere, who supported his interpretation of the original material from Choderlos de Laclos' famous novel. Forman also discusses his work in communist Czechoslovakia and relocation to America. The program was produced by Robert Fischer for Fiction Factory. In English, not subtitled. (16 min).

• Commentary - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by critic and filmmaker Daniel Kremer.

• Trailer - presented here is an original U.S. trailer for Valmont. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

Valmont Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The folks at Kino Lorber saved Milos Forman's Valmont. Their release introduces a wonderful new 2K makeover that preserves the original theatrical appearance of the film. In France, there is a very poor 4K restoration that was prepared on behalf of Pathe, which makes the entire film look green and artificial. I have always liked Forman's take on Choderlos de Laclos' famous novel a little bit better than Stephen Frears', so I am very grateful that this release turned out so well. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.