Pros: Strong acting by Rush, atmospheric setting and editing add to the tension. Cons: This one is rough trade. Not for children and most adults.
After brooding on my to-be-watched shelf for a while, I finally got the nerve to pop this into the dvd player for today. I had heard a lot about this one, all the way from "It's Art!" to "It's Porn!" And as I urge most people, try and find out for...
Pros: excellent performance from the cast, particularly Geoffrey Rush, and fantastic writing from Doug Wright make this a film guaranteed to generate Oscar buzz Cons: the historical inaccuracies will undoubtedly create more confusion about Sade's life
Quills: Fox Searchlight Pictures Rating: USA: R
The mere mention of the name Donatien Alphonse Francois de Sade can inspire any number of reactions. Until only recently, history had been quite unkind to Sade’s memory—with...
Pros: excellent acting, began well, quite humorous Cons: every character is unlikable, muddied plot and message, goes way overboard especially in the last half
In a nutshell, Quills is a fictionalized tale of the Marquis de Sade's (Geoffrey Rush) institutionalization in an insane asylum.
Perpetrator of crimes of perversity, de Sade belongs in a prison but his wife manages to wrangle him a spot in a...
Pros: Rush, Winslet and Phoenix are unforgettably good Cons: The script, smart at first, turns unforgivably cheesy
Is free speech the exclusive domain of pornographers?
After seeing The People vs. Larry Flynt and now Quills, I’m starting to wonder if Hollywood doesn’t have a narrow fetish for dirty words and even dirtier morals. Both movies...
I loved this movie. On my list of Top Ten movies of 2000 that I posted to this site, Quills came in at a very respectable number 5 (tied with The Yards). But I wanted to clarify what I wrote in that review a bit and flesh out it out into...
Pros: A little devilish, highly interesting, fabulous acting. Cons: Oh, not for everyone, of course.
I’ve just gotten done watching Quills about 15 minutes ago or so. It is 3:48am, stormy out, and I’m not tired in the least. Besides, there’s an infernal cricket in here chirping away, I swear it. So does that mean it is indeed the ...
Pros: captivating acting, broodingly appropriate lighting Cons: blasphemy, necrophilia, violence as a means of pleasure
In a word: disturbing. Rated R…it amazes me that it was able to maintain that rating.
The reason that I saw this movie was that I was given a free pass. Although mildly curious about the performances, I tried to brace myself before hand for...
Pros: Balanced, Great Acting, Excellent set design Cons: Slow at times, overdone in some parts
It’s easy to condemn a man for expressing himself in manners discreetly outside what is considered correct in any given time period. It much more difficult, however, to attempt to understand while doing so, or at least make an effort to explore the...
Pros: Great Acting, Interesting Story Cons: Marquis de Sade Is Portrayed Too Heroically.
Before I begin my review, I would like to shuffle off some random quotes of the Marquis de Sade. He was quite fond of spewing out his peculiar philosophies:
Pros: a dark a humourous film Cons: for the broad minded only
Tackling a portrayal of the life of someone as controversial as the Marquis de Sade was always going to be a difficult task for writer Doug Wright, but that is what he set himself to do in 2000 `s Quills. The premise of the film is this, for various ...
The Marquis De Sade. A true master of writing. Sure, schools will teach you about Shakespeare and Emily Dickinson, but the true flesh and blood of writing lies in the Marquis. Without doubt one of, if not the, most interesting figures in history. ...
Pros: The performances of Rush, Winslet and Phoenix make it worth the price of admission. Cons: Michael (nova)Caine.
The end it wrapped up a bit too conveniently.
While the year in film 2000 may eventually be marked by the most famous castaway since Gilligan and the most watchable gladiator since Spartacus, director Philip Kaufman ("The Unbearable Lightness of Being" "The Right Stuff") saw fit to make certain the...
Pros: Beautiful costuming, brilliant acting, well-written film Cons: People may mistake that it's real-life stuff
I'd been waiting for this film to come out on DVD for ages, and it still doesn't officially until May 15, but I managed to get an early review copy. It's every bit as incredible as I thought it would be and Geoffrey Rush has once again proven himself to...
Pros: Acting, Plot, Characters. Very sexual but not trashy. Cons: Can't think of any.
If you’re looking for a movie rental and haven’t yet checked out this movie, I would recommend it. It hit theaters back in November but I just saw it last week for the first time.
This movie really sucked me in. During the last half-hour,...
Pros: Strong performances by actors, witty dialogue, compelling story. Cons: Trite in places, languishes at the end.
What would you do if you could no longer write, if all means to do so were wrested from you, leaving you alone and naked in an empty room? If the only outlet for your madness were suddenly blocked, with no avenue of escape in sight? For a writer, this is...
Pros: Incredible performances from a fearless cast. Beautifully shot and directed. Cons: Will be much too lewd and brutal for some. An ending which is too clever and conventionally wraps things up in too tidy a manner.
It should come as no surprise that Quills is one of the best films of the year. It's adapted by Doug Wright from his Obie Award winning play and directed by Phillip (Unbearable Lightness of Being, The Right Stuff, Invasion of the Body Snatchers)...
Pros: Excellent performances by Gefforey Rush, Joaquin Phoenix, Kate Winslet Cons: scenes of violence, sexual content, and two rape scenes
I just saw a movie about a man who will do anything for his art. He will do it even when people tell him: "You can't do that!" He will do it even when the powers that be tells him he can't. He will do it at risk of his own health. No, I'm not...
Pros: Clever, witty and insightful. Cons: A bit too melodramatic towards the end.
It's late 18th century, and blood runs red in the market places, where guillotines chop the lives of nobles short to the perverse delight of the poverty-stricken crowds. And there, from the window of his asylum cell, the infamous Marquis de Sade looks...
Pros: Intriguing concept, brilliantly acted by Geoffrey Rush, Kate Winslet and Joaquin Phoenix Cons: So much depravity is, ultimately, repugnant.
If you had any doubts about what you're in for, the grotesque opening shot of an orgasmic beheading in post-revolutionary France should make the allegorical intentions of director Philip Kaufman ("Henry & June," "The Unbearable...
Pros: Well scripted screenplay; Acting by Winslet, Rush, Phoenix, and Caine; Beautiful cinematography and production design; Thought provoking. Cons: Subject matter not for everyone
I'm not sure what kind of person can honestly say that they enjoy Quills though I find it one of the better films of the year and one that certainly stimulates and challenges your intellectual faculties. And that I find refreshing after...
Pros: fantastic acting, well-told story, sets and costumes Cons: may be offensive to some
Phallus, orifice, sodomy, fellatio. If your integrity is in any way offended, do not go see director Phillip Kaufman's latest offering, Quills. Nor should you waste your time reading this review. Best to click away now and save your time. If your...
Pros: The melding of dialogue and image make this movie extraordinary. Cons: What the devil is a pikestaff, anyway?
The intended tone of Quills is edification, a sort of macabre Chariots of Fire, an elevated, ultra-didactic Hallmark card as daubed by Gary Larson in one of his more morbid moods. The whole movie plays out as a sort of John Carpenter...
Pros: Handsome, competently mounted adaptation of stage play; quartet of fine performances Cons: Theatrical roots hard to hide; story gets a bit disorganized at points
One of the chief virtues of the new Philip Kaufman film, Quills, is that although its subject matter is strictly art-house stuff, its approach is middle-brow, and even dimwits like myself -- with only a very vague idea of who the Marquis de Sade...
Pros: A superb script, and wonderful performances Cons: Loses some of the flavors that the play had
Can there be a more deliciously sinister, thematically rich historical figure than the Marquis de Sade? The notoriously erotic author, playwright, and 18th century social gadfly has been the inspiration for dozens of books, biographies, and plays, each...
Pros: Excellent production values, acting, scenery, etc. Cons: This isn't what really happened. Not for the squeamish.
I usually get cranky about movies that distort history but I'll make allowances for QUILLS only because of the very high production values and at least part of the theme, even though the storyline contradicts the few facts that are known to history....
Pros: Superb performances; a provocative story. Cons: A lackluster epilogue somewhat blunts the impact.
The thought that most immediately comes to mind with the mention of the Marquis de Sade is that of sex--not just any sex, but the kinkiest acts of fornication imaginable. Yet Philip Kaufman's provocative account of the infamous 19th Century French...
Pros: A great cast and director. Cons: Some of it can get a little over-the-top for some tastes.
(Dir: Philip Kaufman, Starring Geoffrey Rush, Kate Winslet, Joaquin Phoenix, Michael Caine, Amelia Warner, Billie Whitelaw, Patrick Malahide, Jane Menelaus, Stephen Moyer, Tony Pritchard, Michael Jenn, Danny Babington, George Yiasoumi, Stephen Marcus,...
Pros: Kate Winslet, Geoffrey Rush ,Joaquin Phoenix---silly at times...yet serious undercurrent Cons: Isn't for the weak of heart or the sexually deprived.
I have wanted to see Quills since the second I heard about it before it even came out. Unfortunately, I live in Maine and no theater around here even came within 4328948 miles of getting this movie to play in their theater. I was distraught but waited...
Pros: Great historical insight, good characters, uncovering the Marquis' life. Cons: Dark, Descriptive, indepth - some may find it offensive.
*_--_*_--_*_--_*QUILLS*_--_*_-
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Nominated for 2 Academy Awards ''Winslet and Phoenix create real fire'' Rolling Stone ''Stunning devastating…. Dark'' Film Review -*-*-*-*-Historic Information and Plot-*-*-*-*- Paris, 1794. Begins with a ...
Pros: Riveting character dynamics & themes. Beautifully crafted. Cons: Never makes a case for the Marquis de Sade. Indulges in melodrama.
Throughout history, some forms of madness have been condemned through brutality while others have been sanctioned in the name of righteousness. Each is evil, however, and hindsight affords us that discernment. It makes one wonder how history will judge...
Pros: Great production design, great acting, a masterful film Cons: None
Not often enough, a film manages to transport the viewer to a time and place that is so real, we believe we are living through it, becoming a part of the story. “Quills” is the first film in a long time that has managed to do this for me.
Pros: Good acting, interesting story. Cons: Using the name Sade to draw people in.
(revised 01/01/01)
And there he sits with his puppy. Petting the nice little puppy. Playing tug-of-war with the puppy. Calling the puppy, "Here puppy, come to Adolf." Yes, here's Adolf Hitler playing with a puppy.
Pros: First-Rate Script/Performances/Direction, Funny, Thrilling, Unsettling Cons: None to Speak Of
It's amazing how far we've come. Hundreds, even thousands, of years of war, Renaissance and technology and yet we still have to deal with censorship. Or, at least, attempts at it. We can put the proverbial man on the moon but still thrust a tentpole of...
Phillip Kaufman’s Quills asks and answers many questions. Is it possible to tell a story of one of the most deviant souls in history, without displaying excessive violence or sexual images? Is it possible to tell this tale in the same manner that De...
Pros: graphic and vivid depiction. Cons: lacked historical accuracy
Quills, the latest film by Phillip Kaufman (Rising Sun, Incredible Likeness of Being, Right Stuff), is a depiction of the latter years of the infamous Marquis de Sade (Geoffrey Rush). Disturbing to say the least, as the closing credits ran, I was...
Pros: interesting story, well told & acted Cons: might be too graphic for many
"Quills" is twisted little movie. On the surface, seemingly the story of the Marquis de Sade, it reveals itself to be a tale about censorship, freedom, and taboo sexuality.
The film opens in its main setting, an insane asylum....
Pros: Writing, Direction, Performances Cons: May make some uncomfortable for providing no easy answers
It's been an eventful early year chez Chateau Maine so far. First, I was obligated to keep my appearance as queen of the annual Toilet Bowl parade and football game in Newnan Georgia. I'm happy to say that I was able to carry out my waving duties from...
Pros: acting, characterization, dialogue Cons: the end is wrapped up just a little too neatly
If you are tired of all of those teen flicks, boring romantic comedies, and tireless Hollywood action movies, Quills is definitely a movie that delivers something different to the screen.
Quills is a fictional story about the last years of The...
Pros: A proficient cast carrying a strained script. Kudos go for costumes and set. Cons: Excessive efforts to generate sympathy for a central character (Sade) of opaque motivations.
Despite bearing all the hallmarks of proper research, this pseudo-history of the Marquis de Sade's last days in an insane asylum lacks a certain clarity. At no point is the audience granted insight into the script writer or director's personal opinion...
Pros: The Priest and the Maid Cons: couldn't watch the graphic violence, but I imagine it was pretty horrifying.
Once upon a time there was Ken Russell, the bad boy of cinema who made such dissolute garbage as The Devils, Mahler and Lisztomania. Ken Russell liked to shock his elders with gratuitous violence, sadism and all-purpose perversion. Naturally...
Pros: superb cast Cons: too play-like, not a "real" movie
Although it was probably held back from release to this late in the year as a tactic to put it in an advantageous position for Academy-Award contention, the newest rendition of the life and times of the notorious Marquis de Sade, "Quills," is a...
Pros: stunning acting, intellectually rich Cons: may confuse some historically, several graphic scenes
I had not really wanted to see this film. Being familiar with the work of the Marquis and finding it to be mostly boring despite my personal interest in certain cruelties, I thought this film would easily come up with at least 100 ways to annoy me. I...
Pros: WHAT DO YOU CALL A SADISTIC LANDSCAPER? Cons: THE MARQUIS DE SOD !!!
2001. BFD. Well, Kids, this is the future. How do you like it so far?
Man. I remember watching 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY when I was a kid. Boy, I couldn't wait for that shiny, sparkling future that lay before us, with its planetary exploration and...
I must admit, as an archetypical turn-of-millenium American male, I had absolutely no idea what a "quill" was before I saw this flick. And now I know. And so will you. FYI: A "quill" is the feather that dudes used to write with...
Pros: A true work of art, well crafted in both prose and performance. Cons: People who would love this movie may never go simply because of the subject matter.
Yes, there is nudity, sex and perversion here -- just as with most modern blockbuster movies! However, there is much more to see than Joaquin Phoenix's bare chest or the endowments of Geoffrey Rush and Kate Winslet. Witty quips keep us laughing through...
Pros: Powerful, very funny, rich with profound themes Cons: maybe disgusting, sexually explicit, not for all
Quills is a hilarious, powerful, sexual as well as serious movie. The movie revolves around Marquis de Sade, from whom we get the word “sadism.” In the real history, he was many times imprisoned for his sexual aberration (I mean abnormal in his time)....
Pros: Wonderful performances, interesting story, great production design. Cons: Not as clever as one would think.
I was really looking forward to seeing this movie. QUILLS is the type of movie I generally adore. It has great actors in scene-chewing roles, has what I thought would be an interesting story and is high on the naughtiness factor. Imagine my...
Pros: Risky, Brave, Witty, Wonderful, Ugly, Dark, Perverse... Troubling. Cons: stress: NOT FOR ALL TASTES. Graphic sex,violence, language.
QUILLS
I’m sure the real life Marquis De Sade was just as witty and evil as he is portrayed here by a brilliant Geoffrey Rush (Thank God he recovered from his minor setback in “Shakespeare in Love”.) in this fictional story about the...
Pros: Addresses serious topics in an interesting way Cons: May not be for all viewers
I just saw a sneak preview of a film that really blew me away. Quills is a film about the last days of the Marquis de Sade and it is so outrageous that it had me both laughing and crying.
It begins during the French Revolution, when the...
Pros: absolutely terrific performances all around Cons: message muddles the movie and itself
Quills does get at least one thing right -- or at least a thing on which I can hinge a sort of parallel feeling. I don't know what I would do either if I couldn't write for one reason or another. Geoffrey Rush as the Marquis de Sade allows large...
Pros: Always Great Kate; ensemble cast; True to theme of anti-censorship Cons: Kate not the focus; some characters shallow; confuses history and fiction
No standard review here. This is from the perspective of a Kate Winslet fan. I've seen most all of her movies -- from the wasteful 'Hideous Kinky' to the wonderful 'Heavenly Creatures' -- and 'Quills' comes in among her best.
Pros: Multi-Layered, Creative Script Cons: Bawdy and Possibly-Offensive Subject
I have read Justine, Crimes of Love and 120 Days of Sodom.
When I was young and "radical," I praised de Sade (de Sharday : ) ). Retrospectively, his prose was insipid, and his plots were infantile (in the masturbatory sense). ...
Pros: Just about everything: acting, script, costumes, etc. Cons: Not very much: the subplot about Royer-Collard's wife
I was absolutely blown away by this film. I did not want to see it at all, but I was captivated as soon as it appeared on the screen. I don't even think I have words to describe the movie.
Pros: Great acting, sharp direction, intense drama. Cons: Madness.
The first thing that you should understand is that QUILLS is not naughty fun. It is DANGEROUS LIAISONS on angel dust. If you want to watch Geoffrey Rush chase Kate Winslet in and out of the pantry while she bursts out of her corset, you’ll get an apple...
Pros: great plot, geoffrey rush, thought-provoking Cons: weak ending
I enjoyed Quills. It's a provocative movie without going over the top- but hold on, before you run out to see it, it's not a movie for everyone. If you're a fan of Disney movies, you're better off renting The Lion King. This is a graphic, adult movie...
Pros: Superior acting, writing, and directing Cons: Kaufman's work, as usual, is unappreciated both at the box office and with the Academy.
The screen is black, and a woman's heavy breathing can be heard. A few chuckles escape from the audience as we presume it can only be a woman in the throes of passion. Her face appears, enraptured, and also seems to confirm this original suspicion....
Pros: Tremendous acting, writing and cinematography Cons: Not for the kiddies or the easily shocked
As I was buying my ticket for this film, a lady asked me what "Quills" was about. I started to say two hours but instead I said, "The Marquis de Sade." An instant look appeared on her face that equalled the look of someone smelling something really...
Pros: Fabulous cast, interesting topic for a movie Cons: Slow, too Hollywood, shallow characters
I was so excited to see this movie because of all the other professional reviews I had read. Everyone seemed to love it! And above all it's got a fabulous cast. I went to see the movie knowing only a little about the Marquis de Sade, and I had heard that...
Pros: Geoffrey Rush • Joaquin Phoenix • Kate Winslet • Michael Caine
Cons: none
I must say that this has got to be one of the best movies i have seen ever. The only reason i rented this movie is because Geoffrey Rush recevieded an oscar nod for his superb performance. I was expecting it to be good, look at the talent who is in...
Pros: Everything--the intelligence, the style, the incredible substance. This is a film that will be remembered for a very long time! Cons: That there are not more films of this caliber and entertainment.
This is the most powerful movie I have seen is as long as I can remember. It is not an historical costume drama, but rather a funny, sardonic, ironic, tour de force. Doug Write in adapting his remarkable play, has surpassed all expectations. Combined...
Pros: were there any? Cons: The movie spits on the Marquis
Philip Kaufman should be shot for making this movie. It seems as though he did not spend any time actually reading or analyzing the true work of the Marquis de Sade. Those seeing this picture, note this disclaimer: THIS IS IN NO WAY THE TRUE LIFE OF...
Pros: Nice costumes and other visuals. Very Interesting background. Cons: Drags a little in spots
I enjoyed this movie. As a psychology major and somewhat of a nerd when it comes to psychological history I enjoyed not only learning a little more (however, inaccurate parts of it were) about the man that sadism was named after but also the setting that...
At first this movie looked like a cheap love story that always ends the same way. The basic copy of Romeo and Juliet but boy was I wrong. If you are like the average male who likes sex, violence and a crazy genius who takes the film then you must see...
Pros: dark humour, provoking, Geoffrey Rush is a delight, wonderful setting Cons: torture scenes not for the fainthearted, not 100% accurate
I heartily recommend this movie for anyone who likes their wit to arrive via the thought processes and not be immediately apparent. Kate Winslet, Joaquim Phoenix and Michael Caine put in stunning performances but Geoffrey Rush completely steals the...
Pros: Excellent editing, cinematography and ACTING Cons: Might be a little strong in content with sex and violence
I am always surprised and delighted with Geoffrey Rush's performances and this is no exception. The intricacies of sadism are explored in this film which I suspect to be as fictional as "Justine" was, and no less entertaining and thought...
This is a very good film by director Philip Kaufman who adapted Doug Wright's play about the Marquis de Sade's final days in an insane asylum. Geoffrey Rush is excellent as he potrays the marquis under lock and key to write tales about butchered wives...
Pros: Geoffrey Rush's performance Cons: Not suitable for all audiences
If you see this movie for no other reason, see it for Geoffrey Rush's energetic, enigmatic and believable portrayal of the Marquis de Sade. He truly becomes the man, immersing himself in the character to the point that one forgets he really is just an...
Pros: Innovative way of presenting a message. Interesting plot. Good scenarios. Great performances. Cons: Proverbial message. Out-of-mood soundtrack.
Packed with remarkable performances, "Quills" is one of the best movies I've seen this year. Kate Winslet's performance was amazing, only surpassed by Geoffrey Rush's, who, in my opinion, should receive the best actor Academy Award this year.
...
It is not often that a movie comes along that holds the viewers interest as powerfully as this. I was expecting a ho-hum, embellished history lesson but what I got was a brilliant dramatization of the imprisonment of the Marquis De Sade. This film will...
Pros: Geoffrey Rush gives a fascinating bad-boy performance. Cons: The film never really ventures over to the dark side of de Sade's mind
It's not often you see a film that, in it's own weird way, actually goes too far while at the same time not going far enough. That, however, is the case with Quills, a passionate and provocative drama about the final months of the Marquis de Sade...
Pros: The cast, scenery, costume design Cons: Story line and plot
Quills is, well, to say the least, quite a strange, twisted movie, although remarkably accurate for the period, was maybe just a little too much for me.
The whole story is quite perverse, and I won't bore you with the details (if you want to...
Pros: Historical as well as an entertaining movie! Cons: --
The Marquis de Sade, pleasure and pain, carnal lust, and taboo blasphemies are all mentioned and very well displayed in this excellent account of a life and time, a time that was very strict and proper when it came to images and suggestions of sex. The...
Pros: engrossing, engaging, highly sexual Cons: adult content
The most amazing thing about Quills is the fact that the rather unattractive Geoffrey Rush (sorry dude!) oozes so much sexuality that I actually believed that Kate Winslet's character might want to have sex with him. It's not because of looks but...
Pros: Excellent performance from Rush, Kate Winslow has a nude scene. Cons: Not historically accurate.
Absolutely worth seeing but keep in mind that it is not historically accurate. After this movie I "rush"ed out to get some of Sade's writings. One happened to include a short bio which revealed that the end of the movie was totally inaccurate. It will...
Pros: the acting was great Cons: maybe the trajic ending
i like this movie, it shows how this man who wrote adult poetry was forbidden to write it and was punished for writing it, and anyone else was not allowed to read it as well, things happen all because of these poems he wrote, he had talent, but they punished him for his words, not letting him have the freedom to express hiself
The tip of a quill is sharp and painful, but oh so divine by myystic ,May 28 '04
Pros: Great acting, wonderful plot, not a bubble gum pop movie. Cons: Nothing...except it ended.
I have a love for Kate Winslet (sans the sappy "Rose" character from Titanic) and was compelled to watch this movie. Geoffery Rush was a bonus, as was Juaquin Phoenix. I have to say that it was by far one of the most romantic, sexy, and sad movies of all time.
You can find a synopsis of this movie all over the place, so I won't go in to lurid detail about the plot. This movie will leave you speechless, and with any luck, responsive to madness, sex, and empathy.
A Catholic priest is drawn into the provocative and dangerous world of the Marquis de Sade, as he and the Marquis vie for the soul of a beautiful youn...More at HotMovieSale.com
Oscar winner Geoffrey Rush gives a tour-de-force performance as history s most infamous sexual adventurer, the Marquis de Sade, a nobleman with a lite...More at Buy.com
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