Quills

Quills


Starring:Geoffrey Rush, Joaquin Phoenix
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
With bedroom eyes and the mischievous smirk of an insatiable roué, Geoffrey Rush is a perfect choice to play the Marquis de Sade in Quills, directed by Philip Kaufman and adapted by Doug Wright from his own stage play. Imprisoned in France's Charenton asylum at the turn of the 18th century, de Sade is a stately court jester in disheveled finery, and Rush imbues the role with the fierce urgency of a writer whose sexual fantasies are his sole remaining defense against repression and hypocrisy. Deprived of quill and ink, he writes with wine, then blood, then his own feces--a descent into madness or an impassioned refusal to be silenced? Quills embraces freedom of expression ("such beauty, such abomination," as one character notes) while affirming that all freedoms have a price.

De Sade smuggles manuscripts out of Charenton with help from Madeleine (Kate Winslet), a virginal laundress who relishes de Sade's scandalous prose--a divine irony since she was taught to read by asylum abbé Coulmier (Joaquin Phoenix), whose desire for Madeleine is suppressed by Catholic propriety. The delicate dynamic of this trio is shattered by the arrival of Royer-Collard (Michael Caine, appearing somewhat comatose), a righteous hypocrite appointed to silence de Sade once and for all. It's all very engrossing as a piece of theater (which it still is, despite Kaufman's elegant filming), and although Wright's literate dialogue limits de Sade to zesty ripostes and sneering perversity, Rush's intensity ensures that the marquis's plight is no laughing matter. Quills has a point, makes it without condescension, and knows the difference between madness and passion. --Jeff Shannon
Description
Rush gives a tour-de-force performance as history's most infamous sexual adventurer, the Marquis de Sade. A nobleman with a literary flair, the Marquis lives in a madhouse where a beautiful laundry maid (Winslet) smuggles his erotic stories to a printer, defying orders from the asylum's resident priest (Phoenix). The titillating passages whip all of France into a sexual frenzy, until a fiercely conservative doctor (Caine) tries to put an end to the fun, inadvertently stoking the excitement to a fever pitch.
Quills
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • How to Talk Dirty and Influence Friends...
  • THE BEST FILM OF THE YEAR!
  • LOVED IT
  • Wonderful
  • Oooh! The Marquis de Sade
Quills
Starring: Michael Caine , Patrick Malahide , Pauline McLynn , Billie Whitelaw , and Geoffrey Rush
Director: Philip Kaufman
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:
  1. Inventing the Abbotts
  2. To Die For
  3. Clay Pigeons
  4. Buffalo Soldiers
  5. Holy Smoke!

ASIN: B00003CXPV
Release Date: 2001-05-08

Amazon.com

With bedroom eyes and the mischievous smirk of an insatiable roué, Geoffrey Rush is a perfect choice to play the Marquis de Sade in Quills, directed by Philip Kaufman and adapted by Doug Wright from his own stage play. Imprisoned in France's Charenton asylum at the turn of the 18th century, de Sade is a stately court jester in disheveled finery, and Rush imbues the role with the fierce urgency of a writer whose sexual fantasies are his sole remaining defense against repression and hypocrisy. Deprived of quill and ink, he writes with wine, then blood, then his own feces--a descent into madness or an impassioned refusal to be silenced? Quills embraces freedom of expression ("such beauty, such abomination," as one character notes) while affirming that all freedoms have a price.

De Sade smuggles manuscripts out of Charenton with help from Madeleine (Kate Winslet), a virginal laundress who relishes de Sade's scandalous prose--a divine irony since she was taught to read by asylum abbé Coulmier (Joaquin Phoenix), whose desire for Madeleine is suppressed by Catholic propriety. The delicate dynamic of this trio is shattered by the arrival of Royer-Collard (Michael Caine, appearing somewhat comatose), a righteous hypocrite appointed to silence de Sade once and for all. It's all very engrossing as a piece of theater (which it still is, despite Kaufman's elegant filming), and although Wright's literate dialogue limits de Sade to zesty ripostes and sneering perversity, Rush's intensity ensures that the marquis's plight is no laughing matter. Quills has a point, makes it without condescension, and knows the difference between madness and passion. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Rush gives a tour-de-force performance as history's most infamous sexual adventurer, the Marquis de Sade. A nobleman with a literary flair, the Marquis lives in a madhouse where a beautiful laundry maid (Winslet) smuggles his erotic stories to a printer, defying orders from the asylum's resident priest (Phoenix). The titillating passages whip all of France into a sexual frenzy, until a fiercely conservative doctor (Caine) tries to put an end to the fun, inadvertently stoking the excitement to a fever pitch.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars How to Talk Dirty and Influence Friends..........2007-05-08

This is an engaging period piece based on one of the most amazing yet perverse characters in history - - The Marquis De Sade. - - While the subject matter of DeSade's books or DeSade himself might be enough to make a movie on (plenty of more titilating/less savory ones have!), "Quills" actually paints a much larger picture -- quirkily demonstrating a darker side of the Enlightenment - - one in which one can't briefly wonder if DeSade's works were merely an allegory of the age he lived, and not the writings of a madman (who indeed was writing from an insane asylum.) - - It is also the story of Abbe de Coulmier, the Pioneering priest who ran the Charenton assylum in the early 19th century and was commited to the (relatively) humane treatment of his patients, shunning more traditional methods which involved varying forms of torture and abuse. To boot it also turns out to be a very traditional tale of love and jeoulosy... but with with a somewhat horrific ending... All of this said though, one thing is important to understand: it is historical fiction... a play BASED on the life of the Marquis De Sade... I mention this because there is one thing that disturbs me about the film... Basically a lot of people interpret the movie as a film about "censorship" and "freedom of speech" - - yet clearly, as the film plays out DeSade is portrayed not only as a madman (which many would agree) but as a madman who's writings were *clearly* dangerous to society. Everytime he is read from, writes or even speaks, it is as if the devil has come down to earth... chaos breaks loose, fires erupt, and people are forcefully victimized from behind until he's made to shut up. - - Ultimately, DeSade's words destroys not only those he doesn't care about but those closest to him as well... and at the end, he learns a lesson, and everyone else who listened to his "filth" get their revenge too... In essence its a film about divine justice and how a person needs be be careful what they say lest their words come back to haunt them. So how can this be called a statement about freedom of speech? (If anything its a morality play about how words can come back to haunt people.) - - In conclusion, though, the movie is not really a story about a martyr of free speech... but rather an excellent play about a struggle of wills, as well as a tale of sin, repentence, punishment and love.... Taken as pure fiction, it is brilliant to that extent, but if framed as a tale of censorship and literary freedom, clearly God wins out in the end and Voltaire gets sent to hell.

Regarding the ending - - after the "climax" the film becomes a bit funny - - first intentionally, then unintentionally.... - - In fact, at times I wonder if the director had toyed with several different endings and decided to use them all... Cuckoo's Nest, Hitchcock, Erotic Fantasy, Irony... or how about something funny (bingo!)

As for the acting... it is intense... Surprisingly, the Marquis himself is rarely seen during the first 17 minutes of the film... but appears as a shadowy figure... When he finally does appear, Geoffrey Rush's gushes with the intensity and charisma one would have expected the DeSade would have exhibited. There is no letdown and it is no surprize that he got an Academy for that role.

The dialogue at times can be funny and campy (be sure to have a pen on paper on hand as you watch and learn how to talk dirty with literary elegance) - - of course, this is a film about Western Literature's first and foremost intentionally distasteful writer/philosopher - - the man who turned scandal into high art. - - and one who's mind as profound and imaginitive as it was... filthy - - however, while the libertine life is not totally overlooked, the film is about far more than this... and most of the more graphic portrayals in the film come across as satire moreso than erotica.

As a footnote, the genuine British accents really let you know you're in 18th century France !

All in all, a fantastic tale of ribaldry with a twist !

5 out of 5 stars THE BEST FILM OF THE YEAR!.......2007-04-01

Yeah, Mr. Rush did an outstanding job as the Marquis De Sade, but the part that really surprises me is Michael Caine as the EVIL sonofabotch who...well, ya gotta see the film...when I heard Mr. Caine was slated to star in BATMAN BEGINS, I was kinda worried...but he nailed that part, too! I usually don't care for films that talk about films and their related counterparts (books, music etc.), but this film is FOCUSED and AMAZINGLY ENTERTAINING! My heart-rate went up by 10x for much of this film! It eloquently presents the importance of free speech and does a power-house job at entertaining the audience! I'm not sure what year this film came out, but I'm thinking it was somewhere around 2000 or 2001; I can't think of a better film that came out EITHER of those years!

5 out of 5 stars LOVED IT.......2007-02-22

I bsolutely loved this film. Though not for the faint of heart, or the underage. I will re-watch this movie over and over.

5 out of 5 stars Wonderful.......2007-01-31

This film is a must see. Outstanding acting by the entire cast, great period piece, fun, funny and horrific. Goffrey Rush at his best. Joaquin Phoenix demonstrates again how underated he is. Kate Winslet . . . What can one say about her that hasn't already been said? Michael Caine at his most diabilical.

4 out of 5 stars Oooh! The Marquis de Sade.......2007-01-12

It was a darn good movie. Kate Winslett was good and so pretty. Geoffry Rush was the marquis, so believable! Not for the kiddies...
Quills [Region 2]
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • How to Talk Dirty and Influence Friends...
  • THE BEST FILM OF THE YEAR!
  • LOVED IT
  • Wonderful
  • Oooh! The Marquis de Sade
Quills [Region 2]
Starring: Geoffrey Rush , Kate Winslet , Joaquin Phoenix , Michael Caine , and Billie Whitelaw
Director: Philip Kaufman
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

GeneralGeneral | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video
Caine, MichaelCaine, Michael | ( C ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Malahide, PatrickMalahide, Patrick | ( M ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Moyer, StephenMoyer, Stephen | ( M ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Phoenix, JoaquinPhoenix, Joaquin | ( P ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Pole, Edward TudorPole, Edward Tudor | ( P ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Rush, GeoffreyRush, Geoffrey | ( R ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Whitelaw, BillieWhitelaw, Billie | ( W ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Winslet, KateWinslet, Kate | ( W ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Yiasoumi, GeorgeYiasoumi, George | ( Y ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Kaufman, PhilipKaufman, Philip | ( K ) | Directors | Stores | DVD | Video
Used DVDsUsed DVDs | Stores | DVD | Video | Action & Adventure | African American Cinema | Animation | Anime & Manga | Art House & International | Classics | Comedy | Cult Movies | Documentary | Drama | Educational | Fitness & Yoga | Gay & Lesbian | Horror | Kids & Family | Military & War | Music Video & Concerts | Musicals & Performing Arts | Mystery & Suspense | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Special Interests | Sports | Television | Westerns
GeneralGeneral | Indie & Art House | Stores | DVD | Video
( Q )( Q ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:
  1. Inventing the Abbotts
  2. To Die For
  3. Clay Pigeons
  4. Buffalo Soldiers
  5. Holy Smoke!

ASIN: B00005NOM3

Amazon.com

With bedroom eyes and the mischievous smirk of an insatiable roué, Geoffrey Rush is a perfect choice to play the Marquis de Sade in Quills, directed by Philip Kaufman and adapted by Doug Wright from his own stage play. Imprisoned in France's Charenton asylum at the turn of the 18th century, de Sade is a stately court jester in disheveled finery, and Rush imbues the role with the fierce urgency of a writer whose sexual fantasies are his sole remaining defense against repression and hypocrisy. Deprived of quill and ink, he writes with wine, then blood, then his own feces--a descent into madness or an impassioned refusal to be silenced? Quills embraces freedom of expression ("such beauty, such abomination," as one character notes) while affirming that all freedoms have a price.

De Sade smuggles manuscripts out of Charenton with help from Madeleine (Kate Winslet), a virginal laundress who relishes de Sade's scandalous prose--a divine irony since she was taught to read by asylum abbé Coulmier (Joaquin Phoenix), whose desire for Madeleine is suppressed by Catholic propriety. The delicate dynamic of this trio is shattered by the arrival of Royer-Collard (Michael Caine, appearing somewhat comatose), a righteous hypocrite appointed to silence de Sade once and for all. It's all very engrossing as a piece of theater (which it still is, despite Kaufman's elegant filming), and although Wright's literate dialogue limits de Sade to zesty ripostes and sneering perversity, Rush's intensity ensures that the marquis's plight is no laughing matter. Quills has a point, makes it without condescension, and knows the difference between madness and passion. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars How to Talk Dirty and Influence Friends..........2007-05-08

This is an engaging period piece based on one of the most amazing yet perverse characters in history - - The Marquis De Sade. - - While the subject matter of DeSade's books or DeSade himself might be enough to make a movie on (plenty of more titilating/less savory ones have!), "Quills" actually paints a much larger picture -- quirkily demonstrating a darker side of the Enlightenment - - one in which one can't briefly wonder if DeSade's works were merely an allegory of the age he lived, and not the writings of a madman (who indeed was writing from an insane asylum.) - - It is also the story of Abbe de Coulmier, the Pioneering priest who ran the Charenton assylum in the early 19th century and was commited to the (relatively) humane treatment of his patients, shunning more traditional methods which involved varying forms of torture and abuse. To boot it also turns out to be a very traditional tale of love and jeoulosy... but with with a somewhat horrific ending... All of this said though, one thing is important to understand: it is historical fiction... a play BASED on the life of the Marquis De Sade... I mention this because there is one thing that disturbs me about the film... Basically a lot of people interpret the movie as a film about "censorship" and "freedom of speech" - - yet clearly, as the film plays out DeSade is portrayed not only as a madman (which many would agree) but as a madman who's writings were *clearly* dangerous to society. Everytime he is read from, writes or even speaks, it is as if the devil has come down to earth... chaos breaks loose, fires erupt, and people are forcefully victimized from behind until he's made to shut up. - - Ultimately, DeSade's words destroys not only those he doesn't care about but those closest to him as well... and at the end, he learns a lesson, and everyone else who listened to his "filth" get their revenge too... In essence its a film about divine justice and how a person needs be be careful what they say lest their words come back to haunt them. So how can this be called a statement about freedom of speech? (If anything its a morality play about how words can come back to haunt people.) - - In conclusion, though, the movie is not really a story about a martyr of free speech... but rather an excellent play about a struggle of wills, as well as a tale of sin, repentence, punishment and love.... Taken as pure fiction, it is brilliant to that extent, but if framed as a tale of censorship and literary freedom, clearly God wins out in the end and Voltaire gets sent to hell.

Regarding the ending - - after the "climax" the film becomes a bit funny - - first intentionally, then unintentionally.... - - In fact, at times I wonder if the director had toyed with several different endings and decided to use them all... Cuckoo's Nest, Hitchcock, Erotic Fantasy, Irony... or how about something funny (bingo!)

As for the acting... it is intense... Surprisingly, the Marquis himself is rarely seen during the first 17 minutes of the film... but appears as a shadowy figure... When he finally does appear, Geoffrey Rush's gushes with the intensity and charisma one would have expected the DeSade would have exhibited. There is no letdown and it is no surprize that he got an Academy for that role.

The dialogue at times can be funny and campy (be sure to have a pen on paper on hand as you watch and learn how to talk dirty with literary elegance) - - of course, this is a film about Western Literature's first and foremost intentionally distasteful writer/philosopher - - the man who turned scandal into high art. - - and one who's mind as profound and imaginitive as it was... filthy - - however, while the libertine life is not totally overlooked, the film is about far more than this... and most of the more graphic portrayals in the film come across as satire moreso than erotica.

As a footnote, the genuine British accents really let you know you're in 18th century France !

All in all, a fantastic tale of ribaldry with a twist !

5 out of 5 stars THE BEST FILM OF THE YEAR!.......2007-04-01

Yeah, Mr. Rush did an outstanding job as the Marquis De Sade, but the part that really surprises me is Michael Caine as the EVIL sonofabotch who...well, ya gotta see the film...when I heard Mr. Caine was slated to star in BATMAN BEGINS, I was kinda worried...but he nailed that part, too! I usually don't care for films that talk about films and their related counterparts (books, music etc.), but this film is FOCUSED and AMAZINGLY ENTERTAINING! My heart-rate went up by 10x for much of this film! It eloquently presents the importance of free speech and does a power-house job at entertaining the audience! I'm not sure what year this film came out, but I'm thinking it was somewhere around 2000 or 2001; I can't think of a better film that came out EITHER of those years!

5 out of 5 stars LOVED IT.......2007-02-22

I bsolutely loved this film. Though not for the faint of heart, or the underage. I will re-watch this movie over and over.

5 out of 5 stars Wonderful.......2007-01-31

This film is a must see. Outstanding acting by the entire cast, great period piece, fun, funny and horrific. Goffrey Rush at his best. Joaquin Phoenix demonstrates again how underated he is. Kate Winslet . . . What can one say about her that hasn't already been said? Michael Caine at his most diabilical.

4 out of 5 stars Oooh! The Marquis de Sade.......2007-01-12

It was a darn good movie. Kate Winslett was good and so pretty. Geoffry Rush was the marquis, so believable! Not for the kiddies...
Quills [Region 2]
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • How to Talk Dirty and Influence Friends...
  • THE BEST FILM OF THE YEAR!
  • LOVED IT
  • Wonderful
  • Oooh! The Marquis de Sade
Quills [Region 2]
Starring: Geoffrey Rush , Kate Winslet , Joaquin Phoenix , Michael Caine , and Billie Whitelaw
Director: Philip Kaufman
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

GeneralGeneral | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video
Caine, MichaelCaine, Michael | ( C ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Malahide, PatrickMalahide, Patrick | ( M ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Moyer, StephenMoyer, Stephen | ( M ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Phoenix, JoaquinPhoenix, Joaquin | ( P ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Pole, Edward TudorPole, Edward Tudor | ( P ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Rush, GeoffreyRush, Geoffrey | ( R ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Whitelaw, BillieWhitelaw, Billie | ( W ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Winslet, KateWinslet, Kate | ( W ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Yiasoumi, GeorgeYiasoumi, George | ( Y ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Kaufman, PhilipKaufman, Philip | ( K ) | Directors | Stores | DVD | Video
Used DVDsUsed DVDs | Stores | DVD | Video | Action & Adventure | African American Cinema | Animation | Anime & Manga | Art House & International | Classics | Comedy | Cult Movies | Documentary | Drama | Educational | Fitness & Yoga | Gay & Lesbian | Horror | Kids & Family | Military & War | Music Video & Concerts | Musicals & Performing Arts | Mystery & Suspense | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Special Interests | Sports | Television | Westerns
GeneralGeneral | Indie & Art House | Stores | DVD | Video
( Q )( Q ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:
  1. Inventing the Abbotts
  2. To Die For
  3. Clay Pigeons
  4. Buffalo Soldiers
  5. Holy Smoke!

ASIN: B00005O6RI

Amazon.com

With bedroom eyes and the mischievous smirk of an insatiable roué, Geoffrey Rush is a perfect choice to play the Marquis de Sade in Quills, directed by Philip Kaufman and adapted by Doug Wright from his own stage play. Imprisoned in France's Charenton asylum at the turn of the 18th century, de Sade is a stately court jester in disheveled finery, and Rush imbues the role with the fierce urgency of a writer whose sexual fantasies are his sole remaining defense against repression and hypocrisy. Deprived of quill and ink, he writes with wine, then blood, then his own feces--a descent into madness or an impassioned refusal to be silenced? Quills embraces freedom of expression ("such beauty, such abomination," as one character notes) while affirming that all freedoms have a price.

De Sade smuggles manuscripts out of Charenton with help from Madeleine (Kate Winslet), a virginal laundress who relishes de Sade's scandalous prose--a divine irony since she was taught to read by asylum abbé Coulmier (Joaquin Phoenix), whose desire for Madeleine is suppressed by Catholic propriety. The delicate dynamic of this trio is shattered by the arrival of Royer-Collard (Michael Caine, appearing somewhat comatose), a righteous hypocrite appointed to silence de Sade once and for all. It's all very engrossing as a piece of theater (which it still is, despite Kaufman's elegant filming), and although Wright's literate dialogue limits de Sade to zesty ripostes and sneering perversity, Rush's intensity ensures that the marquis's plight is no laughing matter. Quills has a point, makes it without condescension, and knows the difference between madness and passion. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars How to Talk Dirty and Influence Friends..........2007-05-08

This is an engaging period piece based on one of the most amazing yet perverse characters in history - - The Marquis De Sade. - - While the subject matter of DeSade's books or DeSade himself might be enough to make a movie on (plenty of more titilating/less savory ones have!), "Quills" actually paints a much larger picture -- quirkily demonstrating a darker side of the Enlightenment - - one in which one can't briefly wonder if DeSade's works were merely an allegory of the age he lived, and not the writings of a madman (who indeed was writing from an insane asylum.) - - It is also the story of Abbe de Coulmier, the Pioneering priest who ran the Charenton assylum in the early 19th century and was commited to the (relatively) humane treatment of his patients, shunning more traditional methods which involved varying forms of torture and abuse. To boot it also turns out to be a very traditional tale of love and jeoulosy... but with with a somewhat horrific ending... All of this said though, one thing is important to understand: it is historical fiction... a play BASED on the life of the Marquis De Sade... I mention this because there is one thing that disturbs me about the film... Basically a lot of people interpret the movie as a film about "censorship" and "freedom of speech" - - yet clearly, as the film plays out DeSade is portrayed not only as a madman (which many would agree) but as a madman who's writings were *clearly* dangerous to society. Everytime he is read from, writes or even speaks, it is as if the devil has come down to earth... chaos breaks loose, fires erupt, and people are forcefully victimized from behind until he's made to shut up. - - Ultimately, DeSade's words destroys not only those he doesn't care about but those closest to him as well... and at the end, he learns a lesson, and everyone else who listened to his "filth" get their revenge too... In essence its a film about divine justice and how a person needs be be careful what they say lest their words come back to haunt them. So how can this be called a statement about freedom of speech? (If anything its a morality play about how words can come back to haunt people.) - - In conclusion, though, the movie is not really a story about a martyr of free speech... but rather an excellent play about a struggle of wills, as well as a tale of sin, repentence, punishment and love.... Taken as pure fiction, it is brilliant to that extent, but if framed as a tale of censorship and literary freedom, clearly God wins out in the end and Voltaire gets sent to hell.

Regarding the ending - - after the "climax" the film becomes a bit funny - - first intentionally, then unintentionally.... - - In fact, at times I wonder if the director had toyed with several different endings and decided to use them all... Cuckoo's Nest, Hitchcock, Erotic Fantasy, Irony... or how about something funny (bingo!)

As for the acting... it is intense... Surprisingly, the Marquis himself is rarely seen during the first 17 minutes of the film... but appears as a shadowy figure... When he finally does appear, Geoffrey Rush's gushes with the intensity and charisma one would have expected the DeSade would have exhibited. There is no letdown and it is no surprize that he got an Academy for that role.

The dialogue at times can be funny and campy (be sure to have a pen on paper on hand as you watch and learn how to talk dirty with literary elegance) - - of course, this is a film about Western Literature's first and foremost intentionally distasteful writer/philosopher - - the man who turned scandal into high art. - - and one who's mind as profound and imaginitive as it was... filthy - - however, while the libertine life is not totally overlooked, the film is about far more than this... and most of the more graphic portrayals in the film come across as satire moreso than erotica.

As a footnote, the genuine British accents really let you know you're in 18th century France !

All in all, a fantastic tale of ribaldry with a twist !

5 out of 5 stars THE BEST FILM OF THE YEAR!.......2007-04-01

Yeah, Mr. Rush did an outstanding job as the Marquis De Sade, but the part that really surprises me is Michael Caine as the EVIL sonofabotch who...well, ya gotta see the film...when I heard Mr. Caine was slated to star in BATMAN BEGINS, I was kinda worried...but he nailed that part, too! I usually don't care for films that talk about films and their related counterparts (books, music etc.), but this film is FOCUSED and AMAZINGLY ENTERTAINING! My heart-rate went up by 10x for much of this film! It eloquently presents the importance of free speech and does a power-house job at entertaining the audience! I'm not sure what year this film came out, but I'm thinking it was somewhere around 2000 or 2001; I can't think of a better film that came out EITHER of those years!

5 out of 5 stars LOVED IT.......2007-02-22

I bsolutely loved this film. Though not for the faint of heart, or the underage. I will re-watch this movie over and over.

5 out of 5 stars Wonderful.......2007-01-31

This film is a must see. Outstanding acting by the entire cast, great period piece, fun, funny and horrific. Goffrey Rush at his best. Joaquin Phoenix demonstrates again how underated he is. Kate Winslet . . . What can one say about her that hasn't already been said? Michael Caine at his most diabilical.

4 out of 5 stars Oooh! The Marquis de Sade.......2007-01-12

It was a darn good movie. Kate Winslett was good and so pretty. Geoffry Rush was the marquis, so believable! Not for the kiddies...
Charlie Rose with Matthew McConaughey; Geoffrey Rush; Willem Dafoe (January 26, 2001)
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Charlie Rose with Matthew McConaughey; Geoffrey Rush; Willem Dafoe (January 26, 2001)

    Manufacturer: Charlie Rose, Inc.
    ProductGroup: DVD
    Binding: DVD

    ( C )( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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    Used DVDsUsed DVDs | Stores | DVD | Video | Action & Adventure | African American Cinema | Animation | Anime & Manga | Art House & International | Classics | Comedy | Cult Movies | Documentary | Drama | Educational | Fitness & Yoga | Gay & Lesbian | Horror | Kids & Family | Military & War | Music Video & Concerts | Musicals & Performing Arts | Mystery & Suspense | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Special Interests | Sports | Television | Westerns
    ASIN: B000HBL7FE
    Release Date: 2006-08-15

    Description

    Matthew McConaughey discusses his role opposite Jennifer Lopez in the movie The Wedding Planner. Next, the actor Geoffrey Rush talks about his portrayal of the Marquis de Sade in the film Quills. Also, an interview with actor Willem Dafoe on his career and critically-acclaimed performance in Shadow of the Vampire.

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    1. Silkwood
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    3. The Long Ships
    4. Possession
    5. The Blue Gardenia
    6. Hetty Wainthropp Investigates - The Complete First Season
    7. Latter Days (R-Rated Edition)
    8. John Q. (Infinifilm Edition)
    9. George Washington - Criterion Collection
    10. Mississippi Masala

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