Cousin Bette

R

1998

1 hr. 47 min.

Comedy

Drama

List

41%

22 Reviews

Tomatometer

40%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Lovelorn Bette (Jessica Lange) falls for an artist, Count Wenceslas Steinbach (Aden Young), but is enraged when the sculptor instead decides to pursue Bette's rival, Hortense Hulot (Kelly Macdonald). Hortense's good fortune cements Bette's hatred of the Hulots, her wealthy in-laws, so she decides to ruin the family. Bette persuades beautiful prostitute Jenny Cadine (Elisabeth Shue) to seduce Wenceslas in the hope it will harm Hortense, but the plan has unforeseen results.

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Audience Member

A saucy French novel about revenge. This movie can go over people's head who are looking something flashy. A morality tale

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

Full Review

steve d

Shue especially made it fun.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This was one of the best movies I've ever seen! Aden Young gave an Oscar Winning performance as Count Wincelas Steinbach! What an extraordinarily handsome and talented actor. We need to see MORE of him on film. Jessica Lange should have also won an award. The musical score left us all spellbound. The costumes were perfectly done. This is a 5 Star movie??

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Mostly stupid manipulation movie from beginning to end.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Lange saves this one.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

Full Review

Frances H

Jessica Lange is far too attractive to be Bette, and the plot is so far from the book that it makes little sense. Masterpiece Theater's version was far superior.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

09/22/12

Full Review

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Des McAnuff

Director

Jessica Lange

Mlle. Elisabeth "Bette" Fisher

Elisabeth Shue

Jenny Cadine

Bob Hoskins

Cesar Crevel

Hugh Laurie

Baron Hector Hulot

Kelly Macdonald

Hortense Hulot

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97%

79%

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38%

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29%

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Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: C+

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Globe and Mail

Rated: 2/4

Apr 12, 2002

Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

It is fascinating to watch Cousin Bette as she lies to everyone, pulls the strings of her puppets, and distributes justice and revenge like an angry god.

Rated: 3/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

David Noh

Film Journal International

Plays more like a crinolined episode of 'Dynasty.'

Jan 8, 2007

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Disappointing black comedy, based on Balzac's novel

Rated: C

Jun 12, 2005

Full Review

Robin Clifford

Reeling Reviews

Rated: B-

Apr 9, 2005

Full Review

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Synopsis

Lovelorn Bette (Jessica Lange) falls for an artist, Count Wenceslas Steinbach (Aden Young), but is enraged when the sculptor instead decides to pursue Bette's rival, Hortense Hulot (Kelly Macdonald). Hortense's good fortune cements Bette's hatred of the Hulots, her wealthy in-laws, so she decides to ruin the family. Bette persuades beautiful prostitute Jenny Cadine (Elisabeth Shue) to seduce Wenceslas in the hope it will harm Hortense, but the plan has unforeseen results.

Director: Des McAnuff
Executive Producer: Rob Scheidlinger, Lynn Siefert, Susan Tarr
Screenwriter: Honoré de Balzac, Lynn Siefert, Susan Tarr
Production Co: Fox Searchlight
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.2M
Sound Mix: Dolby, Surround
Aspect Ratio: 35mm

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