MovieChat Forums > In the Company of Men (1997) Discussion > Company of Men versus Dangerous Liaisons

Company of Men versus Dangerous Liaisons

posted 18 years ago by JJN
4 replies | jump to latest

Anybody else notice how closely the plotlines of "In the Company of Men" and "Dangerous Liaisons" track together? Just imagine Aaron Eckhart in the Glenn Close role. The characters are essentially the same. My question is: why do you think the male portrayal caused so much more of a stir? I mean, women were walking-up to Aaron Eckhart and slapping him when "Company" came out, but Glenn Close got nothing but praise for her role in "Liaisons", while her character in the film was arguably more evil (she causes a couple of deaths). I think that it's probably just the fact that "Company" has a modern setting that people can relate to. Still, Sarah Michelle Gellar didn't provoke such a strong response in "Cruel Intentions", a modern-setting remake of "Liaisons". I just found this interesting because I recently saw both films back to back and had never before noticed that they had so many similarities.

[–] TheRealBambi 18 years ago

Absolutely! Wow....I really didn't expect this. What an a$$hole!!! OMG....pure evil...totally.

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[–] riboflavin 18 years ago

I think it's because we as a society tacitly condone this sort of behavior in women, while vociferously condemning it when men do it. The old "boys will be boys" mentality has been replaced by a set of beliefs in which women can do whatever they feel like without scorn or derision from the rest of society. This cultural get-out-of-jail-free card is issued to all women (but especially the hotter ones) under the guise of some unofficial affirmative action program which stipulates that whatever routinely accepted male behavior of the past is now taboo (unless, of course, it's exhibited by women).

[–] cathyguy 18 years ago

I totally agree. As can be seen with recent teacher student scandals, there is definitely a double standard.

I guess, as a man, I should be flattered that I should be thought of as "expected to behave better". It kind of puts men on a higher plane, morally.

Any thoughts on this?

Maybe we are seeing a role reversal. Men should should be the more pure, less spoiled gender. Promiscuous behavior would mark a man as an "easy man". And promiscous behavior from women being a kind of status symbol. Again, any thoughts?

[–] 18 years ago

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