People are voting emotionally.

Your blood may run cold, but you now find yourself pinioned to the story.

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

The movie is wonderful and true, an act of love in all its contradictions and complexity

Well, I have read the novel, of course, and it was excessively boring, like all of Mr. Bazac's I must say. The novel is more about bonds and money and it's kind of a good bible for those who have money problems, but it's definitely NOT the sort of story that films can be made on. Howevwr, when I watched the film Cousin Bette for the first time I was more then surprised. Boring and tragic novel became a lively comedy with such intelligent intrigues and lovely songs that Jenny Cadine (Elizabeth Shue) sings through the film. Every character is made with great precision and care, just like in Gone With the Wind. Acting is truthful and excellent in all aspects. The director Des McAnuff has taken care of every detail. Theatre lovers will be delighted. And for once again English movie proves that English people know France and French people better than French people do.

So what if this movie reminds of dangerous liasons, or cruel intentions or any other film for that matter! Now-a-days, good luck being completely original, when we live in the era when the Wayans brothers are bringing t.v.s The Munsters to the big screen, Yikes! The hard fact of the matter is that Jessica Lange is AMAZING (as always) and Elizabeth Shue is a delight. I really enjoyed the "Oh what a tangled web we weave" plot line and you will too if you give it a chance. The story is well written, and the performances are effortless. I usually don't care for period pieces and truth be told, I had to be forced to turn this one on...but I WAS SO GLAD I DID. The supporting cast is a hoot as well.

Cousin Bette is a very good 1840's period peice (as I am not a fan usually of period peices)where yes a miscast Jessica Lange who is strikingly beautiful at the age of 48 when she filmed this movie plays a spinster who has a family of backstabbers who treat her barely above the servants in attitude and her character taking advantage of certain situtions that come to light that help her reverse her finacinal and living arrangement woes.I don't like to give spoilers as this movie is a fun " Black Comedy" and to give away too much detail spoils this film for people who haven't had the experince of watching it. Jessica Lange is great as Cousin Bette yet an older uglier actress would've played the role more convincingly. But in that day and age if you were as old as Ms Lange character was an unmarried then you were doomed for love as her character portrays, so I guess really she isn't that miscast. Elisabeth Shue finally has done another good movie since Leaving Las Vegas and actually can hold a note suprisingly. Young actor Aden Young who was just awesome in his first film role in the movie Black Robe is equally as good here as the artist who Cousin Bette loves and upon being rejected by the boy who is young to enough to be her son then discards and uses to get ahead and gain revenge on her uncaring family members. Bob Hoskins is quite funny in this film role as is Hugh Laurie as the family father who loves Ms Shue's character Jenny Cadine the courtesan enough to flounder the family fortune. Really great black comedy.**** out of *****

The plot is complicated, too much so to describe in 1,000 words. Let's just say Cousin Bette is a tale of familial revenge set in 1840s Paris. Cousin Bette is the spinster aunt of a large wealthy family in the throes of loosing it all; money, dignity and respect. As they struggle, Bette (Lange) weaves her plots, many of which go astray working unintended consequences. This is a delightful black comedy that I liked very much, more so than most reviewers and commentators. If you have a predilection for this kind of movie, jump right in.