A couple of friends had harped onto me about the film Quills, and seeing it on sale for a relatively low price on DVD, I reckoned I may as well buy it to see what all the fuss was about.
The film is about the Marquis De Sade who is locked away in a mental institution warded over by a priest played by Joaquin Phoenix. The priest indulges the Marquis and even encourages him to write down his explicit sexual thoughts as a means of therapy. However, a chambermaid called Madeline is sneaking these manuscripts out and getting them published causing outrage. Napoleon is advised to send a Doctor to the asylum to sort out the Marquis. The Doctor is not as indulgent as the priest, but the Marquis refuses to stop writing, instead making do with whatever is available to write with including his own blood and clothes.
The story is more complicated, though, as it is clear that the Marquis is interested in Madeline, as is the priest. Madeline (played by Kate Winslet),
although virginal, is excited by the Marquis and his tales. She even reads them to groups of people on occassion, but she is also drawn towards the priest who is patient, devoted and protective of her. The Doctor is played by Michael Caine and is a despicable villian. He believes in punishment, not perseverence. The priest argues that the inmates in the asylum should not be made to fear punishment, but should be encouraged to strive towards virtue and therefore find the pleasure that lies in it. However, the story leads towards a frightening climax that shakes up the asylum and many of the people within it. Will the Marquis ever be silenced? Will Madeline find herself in too deep, and who will rule the asylum in the end: the priest or the doctor?
I must admit, it is hard not to be drawn into this film. It is like an exquisitely piece of carved marble: generally beautiful to look at, but at times hard not to seem like an overly extravagant luxury. Of course, the film being about the Marquis De Sade there is bound to be some sex, but I felt that the sex scenes in the film were sometimes a bit too gratuitious and unnecessary. It often felt like the film was bordering on a soft porn movie as often the sex scenes shown were nothing to do with the Marquis at all, or anything to do with any of the main characters in the film at all, actually.
Nevertheless, the characters are all vibrant and brilliantly portrayed. Kate Winslet plays the part of Madeline excellently, showing almost girlish flirtatious excitement to the Marquis when receiving his stories, and shame when she realises she is disappointing the priest. Geoffrey Rush plays a cheeky, yet defiant (and lovably horrible) Marquis. When the film begins you find him smarmy and off-putting, and by the end you find him strangely endearing. Michael Caine is not usually found in the bad guy role, but manages to make himself so absolutely despicable that you find it hard not to claw at your screen. However, I feel Joaquin Phoenix presents possibly the most notable performance. At times he seems naive, caring and devoted to God and the people in his care, but we also see a wrestling within him as he strongly desires Madeline. He seems to portray just about every emotion capable at one point or other. He runs the gambit: everything from fury, to frustration, to bitterness, to madness.
In terms of the DVD, the special features are quite sparse. There are trailers, a featurette on the costume design, a featurette on creating the asylum and a featurette on the screenplay. There is a nice section called 'Film and fact' which gives some information on the historical figures that inspired the film, a still gallery and a commentary by the writer of the screenplay. All in all, I suppose this isn't bad for my money since I only paid £7.99 for the DVD.
The film was engaging and featured brilliant performances, but there was far too much sex in it that just seemed to be there for the sake of it, in my opinion. Definately not a movie for the little ones. It is rated as an 18, and I would definately recommend giving it a watching. I think I definately got value for money out of it, even if I think I've been corrupted by it!
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Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: John Duigan - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Charlize Theron, Stuart Townsend, Penelope Cruz
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perfect choice to play the Marquis de Sade inQuills, adapted by Doug Wright from his own stage play and directed by Philip Kaufman. Imprisoned in France's Charenton a...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
With bedroom eyes and the mischievous smirk of an insatiable roué, Geoffrey Rush is a ... more
perfect choice to play the Marquis de Sade inQuills, adapted by Doug Wright from his own stage play and directed by Philip Kaufman. Imprisoned in France's Charenton a...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
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has shocked generation after generation with highly charged erotic writings. Rush's powerful central performance is supported by an exceptional ensemble cast, inclu...
Academy Award Winner Geoffrey Rush (Shine) stars as the infamous Marquis de Sade who has ... more
shocked generation after generation with his highly charged erotic writings. Rush's powerful performance is supported by an exceptional ensemble cast including th...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
![Quills [DVD] [2001]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78526889.jpg "Quills [DVD] [2001]")
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