I rewatched Quills today, my sixteenth and final watch for this HOF. I've also submitted my ballot, but I'll still be monitoring this thread and participating in future discussion.
With this being a rewatch and one that I've seen numerous times, obviously I can't say that I was as blown away by it as I was the first few times I saw it, but it still resonated really strongly with me.
As someone who writes fiction (as a hobby) I am a lover of words and the dialogue in this film is right up my alley - perverse, irreverent, and witty. I find myself laughing at this movie far more than 99% of the comedies I've seen. The scene in the theater in particular is one of the funniest things I've seen in any movie.
But besides the humor, the film is bolstered by some incredible performances. Geoffrey Rush disappears into his role, chewing up the screen with great intensity and zeal. Kate Winslet and Amelia Warner both ignite their characters with a great spark of wonder and delight. And this is the film that made me love Joaquin Phoenix. In lesser hands, I don't think the Abbe du Coulmier would've been as sympathetic. For being a central character, he didn't have a lot to actually say - but Phoenix has never been an actor who relies heavily on dialogue. Everything that needs to be conveyed he gets across with a look or a gesture. And it's really in his eyes that you see the transformation of this humane, benevolent man of the cloth into the monster who sinks into depravity and allows himself to participate in absolutely barbaric acts.
I know some have criticized the film for its blatant historical rewriting and for the over the top nature of the events and characters, but Quills was never meant to be a biopic. It's a work of fiction and I don't think it pretends to be otherwise. To me it never tries to be a history lesson, it is instead a love letter to the idea of the Marquis de Sade and the libertine ideals he represents.
In case anyone's interested, I also did a write up for the movie back in 2012 for the MoFo Millennium Countdown. Here's the link to that write up: http://www.movieforums.com/community...122#post846122
With this being a rewatch and one that I've seen numerous times, obviously I can't say that I was as blown away by it as I was the first few times I saw it, but it still resonated really strongly with me.
As someone who writes fiction (as a hobby) I am a lover of words and the dialogue in this film is right up my alley - perverse, irreverent, and witty. I find myself laughing at this movie far more than 99% of the comedies I've seen. The scene in the theater in particular is one of the funniest things I've seen in any movie.
But besides the humor, the film is bolstered by some incredible performances. Geoffrey Rush disappears into his role, chewing up the screen with great intensity and zeal. Kate Winslet and Amelia Warner both ignite their characters with a great spark of wonder and delight. And this is the film that made me love Joaquin Phoenix. In lesser hands, I don't think the Abbe du Coulmier would've been as sympathetic. For being a central character, he didn't have a lot to actually say - but Phoenix has never been an actor who relies heavily on dialogue. Everything that needs to be conveyed he gets across with a look or a gesture. And it's really in his eyes that you see the transformation of this humane, benevolent man of the cloth into the monster who sinks into depravity and allows himself to participate in absolutely barbaric acts.
I know some have criticized the film for its blatant historical rewriting and for the over the top nature of the events and characters, but Quills was never meant to be a biopic. It's a work of fiction and I don't think it pretends to be otherwise. To me it never tries to be a history lesson, it is instead a love letter to the idea of the Marquis de Sade and the libertine ideals he represents.
In case anyone's interested, I also did a write up for the movie back in 2012 for the MoFo Millennium Countdown. Here's the link to that write up: http://www.movieforums.com/community...122#post846122
__________________