Quills (B+ or 3/4 stars)
The Marquis de Sade was a devilish, subversive writer/artist who loved to cause trouble at a time when France was in a state of enormous political turmoil. This historical drama, 'Quills' (directed by Philip Kaufman, The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Henry & June), examines a fictional account of his last days & how much controversy he caused while incarcerated. In the aftermath of the grisly French Revolution, the Marquis (incredible Geoffrey Rush) manages to narrowly escape execution during the Reign of Terror. But he is arrested for sodomy & sentenced to the horrific Charenton Asylum for the Insane. Abbe de Coulmier (Joaquin Phoenix), the kindly priest who heads this asylum, loathes the corrupt political machinations which have put de Sade in his care. The sympathetic Abbe even allows the Marquis - not only to write whatever he pleases (his usual sexual prose) - but to stage theatricals using the other inpatients as actors {haha}.
The Marquis de Sade cleverly uses Madeleine (Kate Winslet), a lovely (if lowly) chambermaid, to smuggle his erotic writings out to those who eagerly wait to purchase them. Madeleine is utterly fascinated by the notorious de Sade, though she declines his cheeky requests to satisfy his sexual longings. When Napoleon learns that de Sade's latest notorious writing, Justine, has made it to the streets of Paris, he is outraged & dispatches Dr. Antoine Royer-Collard (a wonderfully loathsome Michael Caine) to Charenton asylum to "cure" this charismatic troublemaker & to keep his intensely sadomasochistic writings far, far away from the public. But Royer-Collard soon learns that halting the Marquis from writing is not so easy; when de Sade's quills & ink are taken from him, he uses wine, chicken bones, his own blood, & other - ahem - methods to write his tales. Chaos, mayhem & tragedy ensues en route the Marquis de Sade's demise.
Geoffrey Rush (Oscar-winner for 1996's Shine) grasps the complexity of the Marquis, a narcissist who absolutely revels in his psycho-sexual fantasies, loves spitting in the face of repressive authority, & scoffs at anyone who does not appreciate his "genius". When de Sade stages one of his plays satirizing the Royer-Collard's sexual relationship with his teen bride (Amelia Warner), who was recently in a nunnery -- it's hysterical to watch Caine's horrified/angered reactions. Rush also revels in naughtily egging-on the chaste, saintly Abbe. He can be scary and unbelievably vile/gross in this part, but I also laughed heartily at his witty quips.
Joaquin Phoenix conveys - with his emotional eyes - the soul-wrenching tumult of the priest who slowly finds himself lusting after Madeleine & unable to handle the increasingly insane behavior of de Sade. In one bizarre, but fascinating scene, Abbe asks de Sade to strip down naked (he has his reasons) and, while the priest typically lusts for Madeleine, de Sade gets a high off of toying with Abbe in this inherently sexual situation. Kate Winslet is superb as the curious laundry girl. I love how naughty she is (listening/reciting de Sade's writings), while also conveying fresh-faced purity. And Billie Whitelaw has her moments as Madeleine's blind mother.
'Quills' offers quite a few memorable scenes. For example, right off the top of the film, I was startled by a highly artistic, yet scintillatingly jarring moment when we see a seemingly serene-faced noblewoman realize that the guillotine is about to drop for her and for all of the jeering townsfolk to witness. The witty script by Dought Wright (based from his play) includes a plethora of twists & turns as he explores themes of: innocence vs. evil, virtue vs. self-destructiveness, beauty vs. chaos, art vs. salaciousness. As for the look of the film, well, it's super. The setting is claustrophobic; the way in which the film is shot emphasizes that 'imprisoned' feel. The production design is fantastic; everything about the asylum is monochromatic, strange, & stifling. The costumes are dirty, yet gorgeous; authentic. I could go on & on. And so, while 'Quills' is provocative & shocking, it's also a wordy, intelligent film that makes you think.
The Marquis de Sade cleverly uses Madeleine (Kate Winslet), a lovely (if lowly) chambermaid, to smuggle his erotic writings out to those who eagerly wait to purchase them. Madeleine is utterly fascinated by the notorious de Sade, though she declines his cheeky requests to satisfy his sexual longings. When Napoleon learns that de Sade's latest notorious writing, Justine, has made it to the streets of Paris, he is outraged & dispatches Dr. Antoine Royer-Collard (a wonderfully loathsome Michael Caine) to Charenton asylum to "cure" this charismatic troublemaker & to keep his intensely sadomasochistic writings far, far away from the public. But Royer-Collard soon learns that halting the Marquis from writing is not so easy; when de Sade's quills & ink are taken from him, he uses wine, chicken bones, his own blood, & other - ahem - methods to write his tales. Chaos, mayhem & tragedy ensues en route the Marquis de Sade's demise.
Geoffrey Rush (Oscar-winner for 1996's Shine) grasps the complexity of the Marquis, a narcissist who absolutely revels in his psycho-sexual fantasies, loves spitting in the face of repressive authority, & scoffs at anyone who does not appreciate his "genius". When de Sade stages one of his plays satirizing the Royer-Collard's sexual relationship with his teen bride (Amelia Warner), who was recently in a nunnery -- it's hysterical to watch Caine's horrified/angered reactions. Rush also revels in naughtily egging-on the chaste, saintly Abbe. He can be scary and unbelievably vile/gross in this part, but I also laughed heartily at his witty quips.
Joaquin Phoenix conveys - with his emotional eyes - the soul-wrenching tumult of the priest who slowly finds himself lusting after Madeleine & unable to handle the increasingly insane behavior of de Sade. In one bizarre, but fascinating scene, Abbe asks de Sade to strip down naked (he has his reasons) and, while the priest typically lusts for Madeleine, de Sade gets a high off of toying with Abbe in this inherently sexual situation. Kate Winslet is superb as the curious laundry girl. I love how naughty she is (listening/reciting de Sade's writings), while also conveying fresh-faced purity. And Billie Whitelaw has her moments as Madeleine's blind mother.
'Quills' offers quite a few memorable scenes. For example, right off the top of the film, I was startled by a highly artistic, yet scintillatingly jarring moment when we see a seemingly serene-faced noblewoman realize that the guillotine is about to drop for her and for all of the jeering townsfolk to witness. The witty script by Dought Wright (based from his play) includes a plethora of twists & turns as he explores themes of: innocence vs. evil, virtue vs. self-destructiveness, beauty vs. chaos, art vs. salaciousness. As for the look of the film, well, it's super. The setting is claustrophobic; the way in which the film is shot emphasizes that 'imprisoned' feel. The production design is fantastic; everything about the asylum is monochromatic, strange, & stifling. The costumes are dirty, yet gorgeous; authentic. I could go on & on. And so, while 'Quills' is provocative & shocking, it's also a wordy, intelligent film that makes you think.