Casanova
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Movie Reviews of Casanova
Movie Review: A Flippantly Fun Film ...But Beware The History Buff
Summary: 4 Stars
Let's get one thing clear right off the bat: I really, really, really enjoy Lasse Hallstrom's films. The Cider House Rules, The Shipping News (one of my all time favorites), Chocolat, and What's Eating Gilbert Grape are a few that stand out. So I went into this movie expecting the typical Lasse-style film ...and I wasn't disappointed.
For those looking for a historically accurate recounting of Casanova's life, you best look elsewhere; this movie only touches on a few aspects of the great lover. Here we get a fun, raucous comedy with cinematic character (all filmed on location in Venice) along with sumptuous sets and startling costumes.
Heath Ledger (Brokeback Mountain, 2005) plays the starring role and does so with a wit and charm reserved for such a part. Indeed, I'm becoming more and more impressed with Mr. Ledger. His ability to play a confused gay cowboy in one film, then a slight historical figure in the next speaks well for his future acting career.
The story...
Casanova's life is in jeopardy. The Prince of Venice has been covering for Casanova's immoral behavior (fornicating and adulterating) but the Catholic Church has had enough. Inquisitor Pucci (played perfectly by the baritone-voiced Jeremy Irons) has come to Venice to hang the famed lover of women. But confusion reigns as Casanova misdirects the Inquisitor by taking on the (phony) mantle of Paprizzio, a famed pork lard salesman. Oliver Platt (again, perfectly cast) nearly steals the show as the real - and rotund -Paprizzio who comes to Venice to marry the beautiful Francesca Bruni (Sienna Miller). Casanova falls in love with Francesca while Paprizzio falls for another. But Casanova is promised to another "virgin" whom he must marry in order to save his neck. Can he go against his womanizing behavior and get married? Is his affection for Francesca just another set of desires? Or could it be true love?
Against all of this slapstick behavior is the beautiful backdrop of Venice. Its amazing streets, waterways, ancient buildings with staggeringly beautiful edifices, and, of course, the usual Lasse Hallstrom direction of all of it; this is what Mr. Hallstrom loves more than anything else: letting the settings become a character themselves.
This isn't to say the movie is perfect. It isn't. The script, although holding its own charm, was fairly shallow and predictable. For instance, when Paprizzio is rebuffed by Francesca, his future wife, everyone knows that Paprizzio will find another mate close by.
But even so, the film is packed full of great dialogue, great sets, even better costumes, and some wonderful actors (How could you possibly dislike a film with Oliver Platt, Jeremy Irons, Lena Olin, and Heath Ledger in it?) History buffs should avoid the film like the plague, but if you like slight comedies and, in particular, have enjoyed the Lasse Hallstrom films listed above, you'll delight in this flick. No doubt about it...
Movie Review: (3.5 STARS) True Love and Casanova: Light, Amusing Romantic Comedy
Summary: 4 Stars
If you are interested in the lreal ife of Casanova, and want to know something about him, this film is not the place for you. `Casanova' directed by Lasse Hallström (`The Cider House Rules' `Chocolat') disregards any historical accuracy in turning the life of libertine into an almost farce-like romantic comedy, which is full of -- at least four, as I remember -- mistaken identities. Take it for what it is, and you will find it quite entertaining with beautiful costumes and locations.
The film begins and ends with a series of routine tricks - voiceover by an aged man writing something, recollecting his younger days; the image starts to wobble; cue to the glorious days of Venice, the richest city in Europe. And Casanova making love in a nunnery. Lasse Hallström tackles these familiar setups in a bold manner, doing them as straightforward as possible, as if to shake off the dismal air of his previous films like `The Shipping News.' The scenes are not original, but still fun thanks to the good acting from the cast.
Heath Ledger is perfectly cast as Casanova, who finds his `true love' in a feisty woman with a progressive idea named Francesca (Siena Miller), right after he has got engaged to another girl Victoria (Natalie Dormer). And Francesca, who has engaged a Genoese merchant Paprizzo (Oliver Platt), also seems to keep clandestine meeting with someone else. Add to them Lena Olin as Francesca's mother and Jeremy Irons as Pucci from the Catholic Church, who is so eager to catch and hang Casanova, and the already complicated story gets more complicated to create some funny set-pieces about the mistaken identities.
In spite of the film's title, it is Oliver Platt and Jeremy Irons who are most attractive in the entire cast. Both play the characters who are constantly duped by Casanova, but that makes them all the more engaging. Heath Ledger's Casanova is OK. As a womanizer his portrayal looks rather tamed, but still good enough. Siena Miller's Francesca is the most disappointing for I finally couldn't find why Casanova has to be attracted to her. One courtroom scene that (intentionally, I guess) reminds us of one Shakespearian drama is weak and ineffective, and I also do not see why the film should have ended like this with two Casanovas.
`Casanova' is a light-hearted romance with gorgeous costumes and production designs. Actually, the film's comfortable feelings come mostly from the city of Venice and the delightful photography that captures it. You cannot say the film does justice to the real Casanova who, some say, is a much more complex person. I don't know about that; maybe I should read books. But as far as the film's content is concerned, it is amusing enough.
Movie Review: A Visually and Musically Beautiful Romp Through Venice
Summary: 4 Stars
Director Lasse Hallstrom admits in a bonus feature on this DVD that he fell in love with Venice, that this is the first film to be filmed entirely in that magnificent city, and that he elected to play Serenissima as the main character. And that is clearly the best part of this adaptation of the life of the infamous womanizer Casanova. The film sparkles, glows, and reeks of atmosphere, gratefully hiding the fact that the script is a mediocre mishmash of history and purged legend.
Casanova is played by Heath Ledger and while it must be said that he does a fine job of creating the character he is given to play, this Casanova is a rather bland, skinny, lustless ordinary man, not one that would make a city full of ladies swoon for his ardor. Though we see a few very tame conquests in the first minutes of the film, this Casanova is pictured as a grown boy, pining for his harlot mother who left him as a child, and a man who really longs to discover the love of his life and settle down. He encounters a true feminist in Francesca Bruni (Sienna Miller) who is disguising her considerable profeminist writing talents as one Guardi. But alas, Francesca is betrothed to the Lard King of Genoa, Paprizzio (Oliver Platt) and Casanova becomes engaged to a sexually frustrated Victoria (Natalie Dormer) who is in turn desired by Francesca's nerdy virgin brother Giovanni (Charlie Cox). To further complicate matters Casanova is pursued by the Inquisition in the form of Bishop Pucci (Jeremy Irons) and is tried and convicted of ribald acts with nuns, sentenced to hang etc etc etc. Paprizzio arrives from Genoa as Carnivale is beginning, and though intended for Francesca, he is more attracted to Francesca's widowed mother Andrea (Lena Olin). There are endless scenes of mistaken identities abetted by the wearing of masks at Carnivale and the bits and pieces of all the intrigues fall together in a humorous and entertaining fantasy fashion.
Venice is splendid as the star, especially as captured by cinematographer Oliver Stapleton and the story romps along to a glorious musical score by the very fine Alexandre Desplat with a lot of help from Albinoni, Corelli, Handel, Soler, Paisiello, Rameau and Vivaldi! This is hardly a raucous picture one would expect about the wiles of the legendary Casanova, but once you accept the fact that the story has been cleaned up a lot it comes across as fleetingly great fun. The stunningly costumed cast is consistently first rate, with Oliver Platt once again demonstrating that he can play almost any role he is given to perfection! This is a fun movie and a great travelogue for those of us addicted to the beauties of Venice! Grady Harp, April 06
Movie Review: A Fun Romp
Summary: 4 Stars
"Casanova" was not what I was expecting it to be. For some reason, I was thinking "Casanova" was going to be a movie that was about a guy who spent the who movie activly trying to sleep with as many women as he could. This is true for the first ten minutes of the film, but then the movie shifts focus. "Casanova" is based (loosely) off the life of the real life Giacomo Casanova, who wrote many books in his life but only found real success with his autobiography. In it he claimed to have have 122 "conquests" with women. This fact is also hammered down in this movie.
The movie follows this part of the story, showing Casanova claiming another prize, when he is arrested by the church for being quite a scumbag. He is given one more chance though: If he can find a wife withen the next three days and get married, he will be cleared of all charges. Casanova imediatly gets engaged to the virginal Victoria, but shortly afterwards meets his real true love, a feminist writer named Francesca. As is always the case when you meet "the one," Casanova drops his old ways and starts scheming to win Francesca's heart.
He finds out that Francesca has a fiancee (one she has never seen, just so that we are aware she is not attached to him), edbut nothing as minor as that is going to stop Casanova. Oh, all the while, an out of town catholic is trying to have Casanova hanged. I hope I'm not making "Casanova" sound like a drama, because it's not. In fact, "Casanova" is more of a fun romp then anything. It's a little unrealistic, it's a little stereotypicle, and some of the characters are so one sided they might be considered offensive (horny nuns who like to have sex), but overall "Casanova" is just a fun romp.
It's NOT historically accurate! The movie may get a few things about real life events right, but overall this was made as sort of a date movie rather then a historical representation. Historians may frown on what they may consider a wasted oppertunity, but for those who don't go to the movies to be educated, this may be the fun kind of movie they are looking for. A small note on the R rating, this is one of the tamest R rated films I've seen in a long time. There is no bad language, no violence, no nudity, and the sexuel content mainly reffers to some very minor off color jokes.
In other words, even if you are easyily offended there is very little to offend in this movie, so I would take that R rating with a grain of salt. Right now you've got a serious but sour film about gay cowboys to see, and a movie about a womanizer who changes his ways when he falls in love. I think you can guess which of these films I'm recomending.
Movie Review: A a well-made piece of entertainment
Summary: 4 Stars
Heath Ledger proved his versatility as an actor in 2005 by playing very diverse characters in four different movies. Hot off the heels of his gay cowboy role in the 1960s in Brokeback Mountain, he went on to portray one of the world's greatest lovers of women in Casanova. With his matinee idol good looks, Ledger is well-cast in this role.
Ledger has a lot of fun with the role, much in the same way Johnny Depp did in Don Juan DeMarco. He gets to play a legendary seducer of women and showcase a deft touch for light comedy. Sienna Miller also does a good job as Ledger's romantic foil. Up until now she has had small roles in films like Alfie and Layer Cake but it is this role that finally gives this up and coming actress some serious screen time. The comic irony is that Francesca's suitor is played by the very unromantic acting and awkward looking Oliver Platt. Of course, he doesn't stand a chance against the dashing and witty Ledger.
Casanova explores the conflict between marrying for love and marrying for what others want. He is torn between marrying for business so that he can stay in Venice and following his heart which lies with Francesca. She is torn between marrying a man that will get her family out of debt but whom she does not love. Despite their pragmatic exteriors they are ultimately romantics at heart. Hallstrom has made another pleasant period romantic comedy a la Chocolat, although not quite as endearing as that film. Casanova is a well-made piece of entertainment.
"Creating an Adventure" takes a look at the making of Casanova. They shot the film entirely in Venice which had not been done in 35 years, even shooting in some places for the first time.
"Dressing in Style" examines the gorgeous costumes made for the movie. Inspiration was taken from classic period paintings. This department also had the daunting task of dressing over 400 extras for some scenes.
"Extended Sequence - `Hidden in Plain Sight'" features additional footage of Casanova and Francesca on the run from the Bishop's men.
"Visions of Venice" takes a look at this historic city. Much of its classic look has been preserved so exploring it is akin to going back in time.
Finally, there is an audio commentary by director Lasse Hallstrom. He mentions what was shot on location and what was done on a soundstage which tends to get tedious after awhile. This is a fairly bland track that could have been better if he had someone else to play off of.