"Quills" is probably best described as "a dark romp". Director Philip Kaufman, possibly pulling a Ken Russell, guides screenwriter Doug Wright's adaptation of his play to a near comic-book raunch--and, for the first hour anyway, his film is a playful assault. Wright fashions the Marquis de Sade as a prolific, erotic-minded writer pent up in a French insane asylum in 1790s Paris, and the movie begins like a sinister burlesque (reminiscent of Russell's "The Devils"). Unfortunately, both men seem to lose themselves (and us) along the way, their efforts becoming more gruesome and daunting than tasty. Geoffrey Rush as the Marquis gives a brazen, brave performance and the supporting cast is also solid, which helps to deflect from some of the demented weirdness in the third act. Three Oscar nominations, including Rush as Best Actor, Best Costume Design, and Best Art Direction. **1/2 from ****
Review of Quills
