2 Best Movies to Watch by Michael Jenn

In this romantic drama, James Ivory adapts E.M. Forster's novel Maurice. Set in the early 20th century, Maurice Hall befriends Clive Durham while studying at Cambridge. Clive is rich, handsome, endlessly charming—and in love with Maurice. The two’s relationship blossoms quietly as they steal intimate moments in lush pastures and empty hallways. Fans of Call Me By Your Name will recognize some of the most tender and tense scenes, wherein Clive and Maurice lie together in the grass, surrounded only by weeds and flowers, as if they were the only two lovers left in the world. 

But their love story is stunted and complicated by notions of class and etiquette in an oppressive, conservative England. This is a coming-of-age story in which Maurice must ask himself not only who he is, but also who he wants to become, and how to live an earnest, honest life in the light.

Genre: Drama, Romance

Actor: Alan Foss, Alan Whybrow, Arthur Whybrow, Barry Foster, Ben Kingsley, Billie Whitelaw, Breffni McKenna, Catherine Rabett, Christopher Hunter, Denholm Elliott, Harriet Thorpe, Helena Bonham Carter, Helena Michell, Hugh Grant, James Wilby, Jean-Marc Barr, John Elmes, Judy Parfitt, Julian Wadham, Kitty Aldridge, Maria Britneva, Mark Payton, Mark Tandy, Matthew Sim, Michael Jenn, Miles Richardson, Olwen Griffiths, Orlando Wells, Patrick Godfrey, Peter Eyre, Philip Fox, Phillada Sewell, Phoebe Nicholls, Richard Warner, Rupert Graves, Serena Gordon, Simon Callow

Director: James Ivory

Rating: R

The Marquis de Sade garnered a reputation for his infamously explicit works, so it’s no surprise that his life story would interest filmmakers for adaptation. Quills is one such adaptation, but viewers should take note that writer Doug Wright takes large liberties in adapting it, shifting historical fact to paint de Sade as a champion of freedom of expression, of all the desires that society would have left unfulfilled, but the film also less interested in him rather than the reactions of the young lovers triggered by his words. Director Philip Kaufman matches these ideas with provocative visuals and the cast delivers solid performances, but, all-in-all, Quills is a rather tame depiction of this provocative writer.

Genre: Drama

Actor: Alex Avery, Amelia Warner, Billie Whitelaw, Danny Babington, Edward Tudor-Pole, Elizabeth Berrington, Geoffrey Rush, George Antoni, Harry Jones, Howard Lew Lewis, Jane Menelaus, Joaquin Phoenix, Kate Winslet, Michael Caine, Michael Jenn, Patrick Malahide, Pauline McLynn, Rebecca Palmer, Ron Cook, Stephen Marcus, Stephen Moyer, Terry O'Neill, Tom Ward

Director: Philip Kaufman

Rating: R