Quills

Rating:
Summary: I can't believe they put this one out!
Review: ....but that's the point, ain't it?

De Sade seems to have a decent time in the sanitorium until the doctor, played by Michael Caine, is mocked in a theatrical piece staged and written by the Marquis. The doctor is a closet sadomasochist, it seems, but that however doesn't stop him from forbidding the Marquis any writing material to publish, by stealth, chapters of some racy literature. The priest played by Phoenix has to follow the doctor's orders about this raving mad lunatic--so we find the padre going to some extreme, extreme measures to keep the Marquis from writing anything. These measures do not work. The Marquis is reduced to scribbling on prison walls with his own blood and feces...If I recall, they had the Marquis in bondage, eviserated in actual situations that rivalled those that he'd only imagined and put in print.

Was the Marquis wrong for continuing to write this provocative literature? Was the priest wrong for lusting after the laundry girl--the Marquis' abettor? Did they have to treat those insane prisoners so inhumanely? I cannot and will not say. But I will say that even though it is a dark and shocking film--one some may think has no business ever having been made--it will have you mesmerised from beginning to end.

Rating:
Summary: Pleasing
Review: This movie was very good. A bit odd and very sexual. The characters were fantastic however. The story was good and it's wierdness kept you intriguedj. If you do not mind oddities and are open minded you will probably love this movie.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing, gets there beautifuly
Review: The only reason I watched Quills was because Joaquin Phoenix was in it. But I recieved so much out of this film than I ever thought imaginable.

It is beautifuly written and brilliantly delivered. The acting in this is wonderful. I was lost in this world with these "people" for two hours. I cried when it was over because I was so immersed in their world.

But be warned: it's a hard movie. It displays raw human emotion. It is erotic, psychologically dangerous, and fullfilling. Geoffery Rush is nude, Joaquin Phoenix is...no words for this performance, his best ever!, Kate Winslet is beautiful and touching, and Michael Cane...he never fails.

If you want something that is heartwarming and light...rent The Princess Bride, but if you want something real...watch this. You won't be dissapointed.

Rating:
Summary: intellectually stimulating
Review: I thought this film was a wonderful introduction to an exceptional man. After see the film I felt inclined to look this figure up in order to know more about him and his most interesting yet troubled life.

What after all makes Marquis mind work the way it does? On one had he writes like a madman about appalling acts that would make even the devil himself shutter; he then suprises us with a twist of philosophical genius that applies to reason and shows us that he has the sort of insight into human nature that tends to disturb us. Is he truly a madman who intrigues us? or is he a persecuted genius? of course we will never know.

The Marquis at the very least makes us think and examine ourselves and what's in our "particular" nature. We all have some fantasies that might not be deemed as normal, but we of course don't have the courage to "amuse" them as he did for fear of being shunned or even condemend by society.

In conclusion whether you hate him or love him the Marquis de Sade is not a character that can be easily dismissed or forgotten.

Rating:
Summary: Way above average, but doesn't quite get there
Review: I enjoyed this film quite a bit, but after a little reflection I realized that it doesn't come close to doing Sade justice. He was more than just a blasphemer; this movie panders to the fashionable psychological explanation of Sade as "the wicked believer", or the religious man so horrified by the world that he sublimates debauchery into religion. At the conclusion of the film Sade swallows the cross rather than kisses it. I guess that's supposed to be a big deal, shocking or something. Whoever played Sade did a good job, but the 'I will not be silenced' bit got overdone and Sade never had to go to any of these lengths to release his work. He recites passages from "Philosophy in the Boudoir" like a fifteen year old reading the Penthouse column to his friends for the first time.
Sade had his own theories, his own passions apart from his hatred of Christianity. Kate Winslet does a wonderful job. The priest is also intense, naive and believable. But the whole thing is simply 'too Sade to be Sade'. Subtlety is needed for a writer of his magnitude.

Rating:
Summary: Perfect
Review: Wow! This is one of those that will stick with you, long after the credits have passed.

Marquis de Sade is locked away in an insane asylum, run by a well intentioned, but somewhat insecure priest, who allows Marquis to "expel the demons in his head" through his writings. Things then become interesting, as his writings are smuggled out of the asylum, and spread throughout France. These sexually graphic writings fall into Napolean's hands, and he is outraged, and sends in "the doctor" to attempt to silence the Marquis.

I will say no more, other than that this is a powerful tale, with heavy emphasis on the characters, the clashing of their ideals, hypocricy, censorship and SEX.

The acting is phenomonal, the scenery, directing...it all adds up to a real treat of a film.

Rating:
Summary: Who's running the asylum?
Review: America's most "European" director, Philip Kaufman ("Incredible Lightness Of Being", "Henry & June") once again aims his lens at a literary, historical romance. The "romance" in "Quills" is not so much about literal love and sex, as it is with the IDEA of sexual fantasy and the freedom to imagine and express it. This is not an idea that translates easily to film, but Kaufman still manages to entertain us without resorting to cheap titillation. The story takes place near the end of the Marquis de Sade's stormy life-spent in an insane asylum. Geoffrey Rush chews up the scenery as the decadent Marquis. Kate Winslet is the virginal yet free-spirited chambermaid who smuggles de Sade's infamous manuscripts out of the institution for outside publication. Joaquin Phoenix gives his best (least annoying?) performance as the young priest secretly infatuated with Winslet and somewhat asexually intrigued by the Marquis. The ubiquitous Michael Caine is the "doctor" (today we might call him a "government spook") sent by the King to destroy de Sade's literary career (with extreme prejudice). Stylistically, the film sometimes evokes one of Ken Russell's over-the-top biopics like "The Music Lovers" or "Lisztomania". The film does remind us how precious artistic expression is and why it is our duty to ensure that Church, State and Art always remain seperated (all hail Lenny Bruce and Bill Maher!).

Rating:
Summary: AAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!
Review: We rented this movie one Friday night... We had decided to look for something amusing, but not something scary or disturbing... Walking past Schindler's List and other favorites of ours, we picked up Quills and settled down with our bag of cookies for what we had expected to be a serious, yet farcical drama.
NO SUCH LUCK.
We ended up spending our night hiding behind each other wimpering.
If your prepared for rape, torture, violence, blood, horrifying psychology, and traumatic sights, this could be a very good film for you.
If you're not prepared for that, RUN AWAY.

Rating:
Summary: A Sadistic Delight...
Review: A highly dramatic account of The Divine Marquis, taking artistic license and an unconventional approach to whom I would consider a de-facto Satanist of his day.

Ever the insatiable writer with a fertile, and many would consider "perverted" imagination, yet the true 'perversion' would be to stunt the creative process with perfidious and sanctimonious limitations, as the man was only remaining true to himself, honest with his nature, and allowed himself to evolve no matter the cost, even at the price of his own freedom and suffering at the pangs of discomfort and censure. Yet this daemonic tenacity was most inspiring, expressing his craft using what he will to satiate, even if only for a small time, the incessant desire to create. And this is demonstrated very poignantly by the character of DeSade when imprisoned - even from his prison cell encased within an asylum for the criminally-insane, primarily and ironically for his writing, where he continued to produce work; and with the help of the wash girl, whom he had of course copulated with, her mind was so enraptured by his passionate words, she delivered his titillating tales to be published until, his what could be equated to a "probation officer", as it were, a priest who is at obvious odds with himself, as his mind often wanders into realms of carnal consideration; discovers the Marquis' forbidden literature is somehow still seeing print. So he orders DeSade's pen and paper taken away, to which he continues to publish nonetheless. It turns out that he had actually been using red wine with a chicken bone upon a blanket to write, along with the help of the laundry girl continues to ingeniously produce.

The next remarkable instance was that after the priest discovers this ploy, the Marquis actually uses his own blood as ink, and his inner shirt as paper, and again sends it out to be published. Finally, this too is discovered, and so he is condemned to remain in the cold, desolate stone cell naked. Yet not even this prevents DeSade, for what should transpire next, but an olfactory literation comprised of feces on the walls, to the utter horror of the clergy man. Ideas spawned in the third dimension brought into the fourth, in whatever manner possible. The voice of genius cannot be silenced, even when all else is taken away. When the priest comes to inspect DeSade, the sight as well as an infernal dissertation by DeSade exposing the priest's inner-most being and repressed psyche summarily drives him insane. DeSade is eventually released, but the priest takes his place within the fetid halls of the asylum, seemingly possessed by DeSade's words which now reverberate in his mind ceaselessly. The impression was as if DeSade's scathing, flaming tongue of undefiled wisdom implanted a demon seed into the priest's brain, and alas, it seems his sheltered and self-righteous, limited comprehension could not process it, and so, madness took effect. But instead of living life to the fullest with this new-found knowledge, he condemns himself to another mental and literal cage bourne of perfidy, much less organized.

In conclusion, for all of the oppression DeSade endured, his body was imprisoned from time to time, but his mind was not. How many artists, musicians, writers, ectetera, would do the same if forced into a similar situation?

Quills is a recommended film for its aesthetic beauty as well as for its penchant to inspire contemplation on all levels of being - physically, mentally, emotionally, and even sexually. In this case, DeSade acted as an iconoclastic libertine to move man's fleshly awareness forward, and was a predecessor to much of the erotic novellas to this day.

Before DeSade came forth, anal sex was known as "buggery", his work and reputation would eventually affix an additional title to the fetishistic practice, to be called "sodomy" - but that is certainly not all his work inspired, although his antagonists seemed to have focused excessively thereof - he indeed helped to facilitate, mold, and contribute to the evilution of erotica as we know it today.

DeSade was truly before his time - and now, his opuses may be experienced and perhaps ideas shared by his readers, while his oppressors have passed away into forgetfulness. His infamy preceded him, and his scandalous reputation helped him earn a place in history and thus, bestowed immortality.

Rating:
Summary: Wicked....but....Wonderful
Review: This review refers to the 20th Cent Fox DVD edition of "Quills"...

I can think of several films based on historical events or figures that do not follow the facts exactly, yet are enlightening, entertaining and are considered fine films as well. Two of recent times that come to mind immediatley are "The Hurricane" and "The Insider".These stories gave us an insight into events that we may not have known about or paid little attention to until the film burst onto the screen. Here we have another story that although was inspired by the life and the writings of the Marquis de Sade is clearly defined as an original work by writier Doug Wright.

In the late 18th century, we find Sade(Geoffrey Rush) committed to a mad house, as his literay works are so outrageously sexual and "sadistic", that he is accussed of inciting others to act out in evil ways. He, along with the other inmates, is cared for by the head of the asylum. a liberal priest, The Abbe du Coulmier(Joaquin Phoenix). Coulmier is a progressive thinker and allows Sade and the others artisitc freedoms within the confines of the asylum.

Sade has a passion for writing and is smuggling his provacative stories out with a beautiful young laundry maid(Kate Winslet) who has befriended him.They are published and all of France is is eager to read them. Napolean is appalled and appoints Dr. Royer-Collard (Michael Caine) to oversee the activities at the asylum. Collard's methods and thinking prove to be as cruel as any the Marquis could write about.

The Abbe trying to cooperate begins by taking away Sade's writing material, all his quills and ink, and eventually all of Sade's belongings. Sade becomes obsessed with wanting the freedom to write and goes to great extremes, using first wine, then his own blood and eventually other body excrements to accomplish what he feels is his right.
The more they try to stop him, the more obsessive he becomes. It is also interesting to note that, as these books became banned, the more the masses clamored for them.

Directed by Phillip Kaufman, this film has alot to offer and poses many questions to the viewer. It does not glorify the Marquis de Sade, nor does it make him the extreme villan. So was Sade a madman, or pioneer for freedom of speech? Can the freedom to write pornographic material incite others to act out their agressions? And if so, are these traits already within those persons? These are issues that are still prevalant today. The story of "The People vs Larry Flint" comes to mind as a more contemporary case.

The film is wonderfully made and acted.It is cutting edge and makes great use of the Marquis' wickedness, his wit and his prose. There are stories within stories.All the performances were exquiste and I especially thought Joaquin Phoenix's performance was outstanding. The cinematography and costumes add greatly to this period piece. Also adding their wonderful talents are Billie Whitelaw as Madame Le Clerc and Jane Menelaus as Renne Pelagie(Sade's wife). Jane is Geoffrey Rush's real life wife and their chemistry exudes on the screen.The movie was honored with Best Picture and Best Supporting Actor(Phoenix) form the National Board of Review.

There are some disturbing as well as some sexual scenes, so this film may not be for everyone.

A terrific DVD package. First of all it is a beautiful transfer. The film is presented in Anamorphic Widescreen(1.85:1) and is clear and sharp with excellent colors. Sound set-up gives the choice of 5.1 Surround or Stereo surround(Dolby)and everything is clear and distinct. There are 3 featurettes and some very enlightening commentary by the writer(Wright). It may be viewed in French(Stereo) and has subtitles in English and Spanish.

Was the Marquis de Sade a raving lunatic or a great literary figure? You decide....

Thanks and enjoy......Laurie