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Quills (2000)
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Movie Review by Jarrod 
August 20th, 2007
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'Quills' tells the story of the Marquis de Sade, a French aristocrat whose perversity and obscene sexual writings get him thrown into an asylum, as he offends both the king and the church, an embarrassment to everyone in high society. The Marquis (Rush) is a man of sophisticated tastes, supremely well-educated, his stories possessing a beautiful literary elegance, it is their content rather than their style that draws objection. Watching the Marquis is Abbe Coulmier (Phoenix), the asylum administrator, and a priest, a young pious man who believes that allowing the Marquis to write would allow him to release the demonic thoughts that reside within him, but he cannot publish, though this is circumvented by Madeleine (Winslet), a maid who smuggles out the Marquis's works to a buyer, who then sells them on the black market. Enter Royer-Collard (Caine), a dour and puritanical man who is not averse to using sadistic and cruel treatment to keep inmates in line. He intends to tame the Marquis, who defies him at every moment, mocks him and his sexual escapades with his young and pretty wife (who doesn't marry him by choice and enjoys an affair with a man more her own age).
Rush is wonderful as the Marquis, full of energy and wit, unabashedly vulgar, clearly mad, true to his own nature, and not willing to change for anyone. Rush spends quite a bit of time naked, and looks and feels perfectly comfortable in the buff, which is not something one could not say for most actors, especially ones more attractive than Rush. Winslet is terrific as Madeleine, whom the Marquis lusts after, and who finds herself drawn to him, secretly reading and laughing at his stories before she smuggles them out. Their playful chemistry is superb.
Phoenix is strong as the kind and conflicted Abbe, who ends up falling for Madeleine, and is driven to distraction by the Marquis's refusal to follow the rules. Caine is perfect as Royer-Collard, who harbors sexual fetishes of his own, but wants no one to know about them, the Marquis seems to know, however, and exposes and parodies them in a play he writes in Collard's honor. The film is smart and entertaining, with lush, authentic visuals. It is not a biography of the Marquis, as many details about his life are neglected, but he is a fascinating and bizarre character, and Rush's performance is astonishing.
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