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Archives
of Movies on Video
xxxxx
Critics Choice for the Top
Movies of the 20th Century
xxxxx
Movies
are listed by date of review starting with the most recent at the top.
Due to Illness of the Editior this Section has fallen behind, we are attemting to catch up.
Oceans
11
PG-13 ... 1-1/2
xxxxx
Vanilla Sky
R ... 1
xxxxx
Spy
Game
R ... 3
xxxxx
The
Heist
R ... 3
xxxxx
Life
as a House
R ... 3
xxxxx
The One
PG-13 ...1-1/2
xxxxx
Jurassic
Park III
PG-13 ... 3
xxxxx
Planet of the Apes
PG-13 ... 2-1/2
xxxxx
Pearl
Harbor
PG-13 ... 3
xxxxx
The Score
R ... 2
xxxxx
Rush Hour 2
PG13 ... 1-1/2
xxxxx
A.I.
Artificial Intelligence
PG-13 ... 2
xxxxx
Laura Croft: Tomb Radier
PG-13 ... 2
xxxxx
Swordfish
R ... 2
xxxxx
DR2 (Doctor Doolittle 2)
PG ...1
xxxxx
The
Animal
PG-13 ... 2
xxxxx
Bridget Jones's Diary
R ... 3
xxxxx
The Tailor of Panama
R ... 3
xxxxx
Driven
PG-13 ... 1-1/2
xxxxx
The Mummy Returns
PG-13 ... 2-1/2
xxxxx
A Knights Tale
PG-13 ... 2-1/2
xxxxx
TomCats
R ... 1
xxxxx
Blow
R ... 2-1/2
xxxxx
Enemy at the Gates
R ... 3
xxxxx
Heartbreakers
PG-13 ... 2-1/2
xxxxx
Road to Redemption
PG ... 2-1/2
xxxxx
The Mexican
R ... 2
xxxxx
Recess:
School's Out
G ... 2
xxxxx
3000
Miles to Graceland
R ... 2
xxxxx
Traffic
R ... 3
xxxxx
The
Pledge
R ... 3
xxxxx
The
Wedding Planner
PG-13 ... 2
xxxxx
Valentine
R ... 1-1/2
xxxxx
Hannibal
R ... 3
xxxxx
Thirteen
Days
PG-13 ... 3
xxxxx
A
Family Man
PG-13 ... 2-1/2
xxxxx
Quills
R ... 2-1/2
xxxxx
Thirteen
Days
PG-13 ... 3
xxxxx
Mercy
Streets Recommended Viewing
PG-13 ... 3
xxxxx
102 Dalmations
G ... 2
xxxxx
What
Women Want
PG-13 ... 2-1/2
xxxxx
The
Vertical Limit
PG-13 ... 3
xxxxx
Into
the Arms of Starngers
PG ...3-1/22
xxxxx
Men
of Honor
R ... 3
xxxxx
Little Nicky
PG-13 ... 1
xxxxx
Red Planet
PG-13 ... 2
xxxxx
The 6th Day
PG-13 ... 2
xxxxx
Charlie's Angels
PG-13 ... 2
xxxxx
Book
of Shadows Blair Witch Project 2
R ... 1
xxxxx
Bedazzled
PG-13 ... 1-1/2
xxxxx
Pay it Forward
PG-13 ... 3
xxxxx
Lost Souls
R ... 2
xxxxx
The Exorcist
re-release
R ... 3-1/2
xxxxx
The Little Vampire
R ... 1-1/2
xxxxx
Lucky Numbers
R ... 1-1/2
xxxxx
Goya in Bordeaux
R ... 2-1/2
xxxxx
Luminous Motion
R ... 1-1/2
xxxxx
The Contender
R ... 1-1/2
xxxxx
Luminarias
R ... 2
xxxxx
Get Carter
R ... 1-1/2
xxxxx
Meet the Parents
PG-13... 3
xxxxx
Shower
PG-13 ... 3
xxxxx
Love and Sex
R ... 2-1/2
xxxxx
The Exorcist
R ... 1
xxxxx
Remember the Titans
R ... 2-1/2
xxxxx
Almost Famous
R ... 2-1/2
xxxxx
An Affair of Love
R ... 2
xxxxx
Urban Legends
R ... 1
xxxxx
Woman On Top
R ... 2
xxxxx
Duet
R ... 2
xxxxx
Bait
R ... 1-1/2
xxxxx
The Interview
R ... 3
xxxxx
Committed
R ... 1-1/2
xxxxx
Nurse Betty
R ... 2-1/2
xxxxx
Five Senses
R ... 2-1/2
xxxxx
The Watcher
R ... 1-1/2
xxxxx
Highlander End Game
R ... 1
xxxxx
Godzilla2000
PG ... 2
xxxxx
The Crew
PG-13 ... 2-1/2
xxxxx
Art of War
R ... 2
xxxxx
The Life and Times of
Hank Greenberg
NR ... 3-1/2
xxxxx
Bless the child
R ... 3-1/2
xxxxx
Butterfly
PG-13 ... 3
xxxxx
The Cell
R ... 1-1/2
xxxxx
Space Cowboys
PG-13 ... 3
xxxxx
The Patriot
R ... 2
xxxxx
Coyote Ugly
PG-13 ...1-1/2
xxxxx
Hollow Man
R ... 1-1/2
xxxxx
The Replacements
PG-13 ... 3
xxxxx
Rocky and Bullwinkle
PG ... 2-1/2
xxxxx
The Perfect Storm
PG-13 ... 3
xxxxx
Me, Myself and Irene
R ... 1/2
xxxxx
Chicken Run
G ... 3-1/2
xxxxx
Thomas and
the Magic Railroad
G ... 3
xxxxx
What Lies Beneath
PG-13 ... 2
xxxxx
Nutty Professor II
The Klumps
PG-13 ...1-1/2
xxxxx
Dinosaur
PG ... 2-1/2
xxxxx
Titan A.E.
PG ... 2
xxxxx
Sunshine
R ... 3
xxxxx
Shaft 2
R ... 2
xxxxx
Shanghai Noon
PG-13 ... 2
xxxxx
Big Momma's House
PG-13 ... 1
xxxxx
Gone in 60 Seconds
PG-13 ... 2
xxxxx
Mission Impossible
2
PG-13 ... 2-1/2
xxxxx
The Basket
PG ... 2-1/2
xxxxx
Battlefield Earth
PG-13 ... 1/2
xxxxx
I Dreamed of Africa
PG-13 ... 2
xxxxx
Gladiator
R ... 3
xxxxx
Where the Heart Is
PG-13 ... 2
xxxxx
Frequency
PG-13 ... 2-1/2
xxxxx
Keeping the Faith
PG-13 ... 2-1/2
xxxxx
U-571
R ... 2
xxxxx
Contact
Us
Feedback and Advertising
Info...
xxxxx
Contact Marie
Asner
Let us know what you
think...
xxxxx
Report Dead Links
Feedback...
______________
R ... 2
xxxxx
QUILLS - 2 1/2
Rated R
Website: www.quillsmovie.com
The Marquis de Sade is famous for his pornographic writings of the latter
part of the 18th century and his name gave us a new word: sadism. As depicted
in the hit play, “Quills” by Doug Wright, and in this film adaptation by Wright
and directed by Philip Kaufman (“The Right Stuff”), de Sade is famous for
something else: the fight to write and create at all costs. “Quills” refers
to the writing implements of his time.
De Sade (Geoffrey Rush from “Shine”) was eccentric bordering on madness. His
marriage embarrassed his wife (here played by Rush’s real life wife, Jane
Menelaus), and poisoned the authorities against him. De Sade was in and out
of prison a great deal of his life and the film centers on his last years.
He was in Charenton Asylum and rather happy there. The Abbe (Joaquin Phoenix
from “Gladiator”) believed in kindness to those suspected of mental illness
and allowed de Sade a luxurious suite (furnished by family) and ample paper
and ink. Unknown to the Abbe, de Sade made friends with a laundry girl (Kate
Winslet from “Titanic”) who smuggles his manuscripts out where they are published
and avidly read (and condemned) by French citizens. Eventually, Napoleon wants
de Sade shot, but if this happened we wouldn’t have a movie, so a new type
of asylum director is sent, Dr. Royer-Collard (Michael Caine from “Cider House
Rules”). The good doctor believes in punishment (remember the Iron Maiden?)
for those mentally ill and begins his reign of terror on de Sade and those
around him. A side story has the doctor marrying a young girl straight out
of a convent, but oh, what happens when she gets a copy of one of de Sade’s
books.
“Quills” is not a pleasant film. There are decapitations, torture for the
purpose of curing mental illness, whippings, and lewd sexual suggestions.
This was life at that time, though. What comes through is the conflict between
believing mental illness can be “cured” through a near drowning or cured through
forms of therapy. Even though a man’s written work may be construed by some
as downright disgusting, does he still have a right to create? De Sade couldn’t
stop creating, even using wine on a bed sheet or his own blood in one instance.
What is the worst torture of all? To stop creativity? This is the question
asked in “Quills.”
Geoffrey Rush runs away with the role of the Marquis de Sade. Here is a man
with a quip for everything and doesn’t know when to stop. Joaquin Phoenix
is a man of God who can’t seem to reconcile religion with his human side.
Kate Winslet is a lively laundry girl who believes in selling the Marquis’
writings as a way to better herself. Michael Caine is a doctor you wouldn’t
want to meet. He makes the word “physician” drip with venom.
Be aware of sexual language, lewd acts, torture, and decapitation and male
and female nudity.
Copyright 2001 Marie Asner
