Quills

The Marquis de Sade was a man who liked to stir up trouble, at a time when his native France was in a state of tremendous political turmoil, and this historical drama examines how much controversy he could cause even under repressive circumstances. In the aftermath of the French Revolution, the ...more

Philip Kaufman's taut, economical dramatization of the latter years of the Marquis de Sade may sacrifice historical accuracy in the name of high entertainment, but makes for essential viewing nonetheless, thanks in large part to the bold, uncompromising work of lead Geoffrey Rush. All of Rush's film work to date seems to inform his rendering of de Sade: the mania, desperation, and dogged conviction he displayed (with varying degrees of success) in films such as Shine (1996), Children of the ...more