The New York Times by A.O. Scott
Occasionally becomes pretentious and shrill -- sometimes Mr. Wright isn't aware that his material is so good that he doesn't need to comment on his characters.
✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ Read critic reviews
United Kingdom, Germany, United States · 2000
Rated R · 2h 4m
Director Philip Kaufman
Starring Geoffrey Rush, Kate Winslet, Joaquin Phoenix, Michael Caine
Genre Drama
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Marquis de Sade, a controversial writer in 18th century France, is confined to a madhouse, but his charm seduces some of the women who work at the asylum. However, their deviant actions threaten to bring the wrath of the French Crown down on them all when its discovered Marquis' works are still being published.
The New York Times by A.O. Scott
Occasionally becomes pretentious and shrill -- sometimes Mr. Wright isn't aware that his material is so good that he doesn't need to comment on his characters.
Washington Post by Desson Thomson
Rush is too sinfully good for the drama he's in.
Kaufman's earnestly overblown celebration of the Marquis de Sade.
New York Post by Jonathan Foreman
Resembles a period version of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" - played dead straight.
Los Angeles Times by Kenneth Turan
Soon becomes a sadistic experience in its own right. Experiencing this pretentious wallow -- overwritten, under-thought and overdone -- is a very sophisticated form of torture.
Entertainment Weekly by Owen Gleiberman
Quills bleaches the danger -- and fascination -- out of De Sade, turning him into a kind of mad saint of ''Masterpiece Theatre'' porn.
The dialogue is sparkingly witty, and Phoenix and Winslet are excellent in what are, after all, meant to be fairly one-dimensional roles.
San Francisco Chronicle by Peter Stack
Rush is amazing throughout this absorbing, provocative film.
Rolling Stone by Peter Travers
A savage comedy of sexual extremes; the barbed laughs draw blood.
Washington Post by Stephen Hunter
Profane, sacrilegious, pornographic, sadistic and Sade-istic, titillating and the most honorable movie of the year.
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