Photo
Photo
Screen Scenes
Fox Searchlight Pictures Kate Winslet plays a chambermaid who sees Geoffrey Rush's true genius in "Quills."
“Quills” Starring Geoffrey Rush, Michael
Caine and Kate Winslet Directed by Philip Kaufman
In the late 17th century, the Marquis de Sade stunned the world with his scathing language and scandalous novels concerning shocking subjects like necrophilia and pederasty. Two hundred years later, the Marquis de Sade comes to life in “Quills” to rattle and arouse audiences once again. Set in post-revolutionary France, “Quills” tells the tale of de Sade (Geoffrey Rush), a prolific and legendary author of provocative and erotic tales. Locked up in an insane asylum, de Sade lives in relative comfort, writing his novels of seduction and scandal as madness and insanity go on around him. Rush is amazing at conveying the many dimensions and stages that his character goes through in the film. With every word and gesture, he masterfully portrays the madman and conveys the genius that lights the fire behind his eyes. With the consent of Abbe de Coulmier (Joaquin Phoenix), de Sade purges himself onto the page, writing out his fantasies in the hopes that his thoughts won’t rule over him in reality. Using the help of Madeleine (Kate Winslet), a chambermaid who sees de Sade’s real genius, his novels are smuggled out of the asylum and published, infiltrating the world and lives of others. When the writer’s words reach Napoleon, the Marquis is silenced. The king calls on Dr. Royer Collard (Michael Caine) to treat de Sade and put an end to his writing. Nevertheless, the effects of de Sade’s writing continue influencing and changing lives forever. Winslet gives a moving performance as Madeleine, a girl torn between fantasy and reality. Caine’s Dr. Royer Collard is also notable, but the character lacks the villainous depth of a man truly looking to cleanse the soul of de Sade. “Quills” is full of both heartache and love, making a film that evokes the senses and moves the audience from laughter to tears. The themes of the power of expression and the freedom that comes from it are deeply rooted in the story, showing the triumph of the human spirit. Although not in the same vein as the traditional feel-good fare that abounds in the holiday season, “Quills” is a good movie that has its moments, often digging deeper into its audience with its images and content, giving them something completely original and fascinating to watch. Jaqueline Maar Rating: 8
“Unbreakable” Starring Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson and Robin Wright Penn Directed by M. Night Shyamalan
The intriguing trailers for the film would lead audiences to believe that “Unbreakable” would match the critical acclaim of writer/director M. Night Shyamalan’s last film, “The Sixth Sense.” Unfortunately, however, Shyamalan’s latest contribution to Hollywood falls short of expectations. In “Unbreakable,” Bruce Willis plays David Dunn, the sole survivor of a devastating train wreck. Given this second chance at life, Dunn reexamines the purpose of his existence and finds that his chosen occupation as a security guard is very appropriate given his keen and uncanny protective instincts. Questioning the turn of fate that allowed him to walk away unharmed from a horrific accident, Dunn is offered a bizarre explanation from the eccentric and enigmatic Elijah Price (Samuel L. Jackson), a comic book art dealer who suffers from a rare condition that leaves his bones as fragile as glass. Both men undergo journeys of self-discovery, attempting to find a place in life for their unique characteristics. Along the way, Willis repairs his relationships with wife (Robin Wright Penn) and 12-year-old son (Spencer Treat Clark). What ensues is a less than edge-of-your-seat suspense movie that can be reduced to a simple and predictable conflict between good and evil. Besides this conflict, a number of other contrasts surface throughout the film: weakness and strength, imagery of dark and light, confusion and clarity. Though the movie tries to carry a thought-provoking theme by motivating the audience to reconsider their own roles in life, the power of the delivery is lost in a confusion of comic book references that Shyamalan relies on to tie the plot together. In the wake of his first box-office smash, it seems as if Shyamalan has found his winning formula and decided to reproduce it: Willis plus an earnest young actor (Clark) who can deliver sincere, tear-filled lines, combined with an eerie, supernatural power and a few sensational plot twists, and – boom! – you’ve got yourself a hit. Even without comparing the film to its superior predecessor, “Unbreakable” still doesn’t manage to deliver. For the most part, it moves too slowly, up until a major plot twist fails to shock the audience after its significant build-up. The film’s saving grace proves to be the powerful performances by Willis and Jackson. Shyamalan, however, demonstrates that there’s a fine line between having a signature style and merely repackaging something old and passing it off as original. Kristen Lara Rating: 5
“Yi Yi” Starring Nienjen Wu, Jonathan Chang and Elaine Jin Directed by Edward Yang
Even with they are a prosperous middle-class family, the characters of “Yi Yi” feel trapped by life and relationships. This profound film by Edward Yang surpasses cultural boundaries by displaying universal truths. Symbolic of the path each one of us must take alone, the title itself translates from Chinese to “one-one” or “individually.” “Yi Yi” immerses audiences in the lives of a middle-class family and the various adventures they encounter in their journeys through life. Mortality, spirituality and humanity are the themes behind the emotional tale of regret, sorrow, hope and love. NJ Jian (Nienjen Wu), working for a computer hardware firm, takes a journey that enables him to realize the true meaning of second chances and loyalty in both work and love. His wife Min-Min (Elaine Jin) views her life as empty and meaningless, and goes off to a religious retreat, only to find that everything she needed was right at home. She realizes that she must change her perception of things and take control of life in order to enjoy it. Min-Min’s younger brother Yang-Yang (Jonathan Chang) must deal with school troubles. In addition to trying to identify the truth of life and people’s psyche, he must also survive his first crush. In many ways, Yang-Yang is a miniature sage who represents the truths in life. Upon receiving a camera from his father, he makes an innocent statement about how people cannot see from behind them, so they only know half the truth. Therefore he feels he must help them see the other half. NJ Jian’s teenage daughter Ting-Ting (Kelly Lee), realizes the hard facts of love and betrayal, while Min-Min’s irresponsible brother A-Di, (Xisheng Chen) wrestles with ongoing debt and his choice for a bride. The movie makes a statement about the petty problems that consume the characters’ lives – school bullies, debt and lost opportunities. Lost in life’s daily chores, they don’t realize that the greatest mystery lies in life itself. Yang has created a film that speaks to the to the very core of humanity. It is a story about finding truth in life and in death. Aphrodite Manousos Rating: 7
advertise
contact us
top of page
Comments
Post a comment