Quills @ UGC Cinema, Ipswich

STARRING: Geoffrey Rush, Joaquin Phoenix, Kate Winslet, Micheal Caine, Amelia Warner.

LINE ON THE POSTER: There are no bad words... only bad deeds.

WHAT HAPPENS: It's the early 19^th Century and the legendary writer of erotic novels, the Marquis de Sade (Rush), is locked up in a mental institution so he can't offend and entertain France with his perverse tales. Little do the higher powers know though, as a Maid (Winslet) at the asylum smuggles the writers newest works out when doing the laundry, so they are still reaching the outside world, much to the disgust of the emperor Napoleon. So he sends a fascist Doctor (Caine), with extreme methods, to help the priest (Phoenix), who runs the Asylum, to cure the questionably mad Marquis. Is he mad and in need of salvation? Or is it just the extremes of censorship in a repressed society?

ANY GOOD?: If you like period dramas that are a bit raunchy then this will be right up your street. It's very extreme in places thus the reason behind the 18 certificate but is also very entertaining and an incisive comment on the positives and pitfalls of censorship. Winslet is excellent as the maid obsessed with Marquis' stories and Rush is mesmerising as the doomed Marquis who slides into a tragic decline. However it is Phoenix who really steals the show as a priest torn between his love of god and his love and lust for Winslet's buxom maid. He plays the role like a man obsessed and after his fine turn in Gladiator (as Emperor Commodus) he is proving to be on of the finest new actors.

BEST BIT: The play put on by the mad men of the asylum for all the local rich folk and aristocrats, very entertaining and very funny.

INTERESTING FACT: Joaquin Phoenix used to go be the name of Leaf Phoenix.

LIKED IT, TRY: Shakespeare in Love, Unbearable Lightness of Being or Eyes Wide Shut

RATING:

by ChrisM