This entry was posted on Thursday, April 26th, 2007 at 8:06 pm and is filed under Drama, Q, True Stories. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
Director: Philip Kaufman
Starring: Geoffrey Rush, Kate Winslet, Joaquin Phoenix, Michael Caine
This naughty period piece is another fine example of Geoffrey Rush’s consumate acting skill and garnered him another Oscar nomination (his third…winning one for Shine in 1996)for his portrayal of the Marquis. He has some solid support here as well, with Winslet, Phoenix and Caine all putting in strong work. This film, based Doug Wright’s play and screenplay, may not be to everyone’s taste, however, not only because it is the controversial, true (or kinda true, anyway) story of the Marquis de Sade, but it is also a slow period, though at times titillating piece that will not appeal to everyone. Despite the performances, and subject matter, it didn’t really hold my interest.
The Marquis’ story begins when the twisted, but prolific, writer has already been imprisoned at a mental institution, run by the gentle and compassionate Abbe du Coulmier (Phoenix). The Marquis, with the help of an infactuated laundry girl (Winslet) is still smuggling his writing out of the institution for publication. When its popularity attracts the Emperor’s attention, he dispatches Dr. Royer-Collard (Caine), an expert interrogator and persuader in the true 18th century view of persuasion, to address the situation. Rush’s character is combative and defiant, throughout. The muddled romantic elements are not convincing and despite Kaufman’s best interests, a guy who spends all of his time locked in a room, is just not that interesting.
I didn’t like this movie very much, despite being impressed by the performances. I am not always a fan of period pieces to begin with and, although the sexual content is interesting and amusing at times, it just isn’t enough for me, and I often found my attention wandering during this, my second viewing. Many people like it, but for me the Marquis doesn’t have enough snap in his whip.
