Movie News Online

What happens when producers of films cross Three ’s Company with Masterpiece Theatre? The result will be similar to what Touchstone Pictures provided with Casanova, a romantic comedy farce period pieces. It is worth noting that the production of a farce in a way that is fun is lost art, and director Lasse Hallstr t m not found it. Casanova is sometimes amusing, but never uproarious, and the romantic elements tepid at best. The film is based on several layers of mistaken identity - plot device, which is in its welcome long before the film moved into its stretch run.

The film is based on real events poorly, but never makes Casanova makes such a declaration, through the signature. That is the proper approach, because only the factual aspects of the film a few more names, dates and places. For instance, there really was a man named Giacomo Casanova, who was famous for his exploits womanizing, the city called Venice made (and makes) exist, and in 1753 (the year in which these events take place ostensibly), as on most calendars. Then there are the Inquisition, whose appearance in the movie is unexpected. But then, no one expects that… Inquisition.

When the film opens, our randy hero (Heath Ledger) in search of his wife. Apparently, he risks deportation from Venice, unless he can prove (at least publicly) that he cleaned his act. His first choice famous virgin Victoria (Natalie Dormer), whose pure-as-snow in the initiative belied her reputation did, and look naughtier mouth. But no sooner has Casanova dealing with a marriage arranged by her father, Donato (Stephen Mount), his attention was caught Francesca (Sienna Miller), a firebrand feminist who despises Casanova, and all that it stands for. So, of course, he pretends to be someone else. She is engaged to be married to Papprizzio (Oliver Platt), the “king of pork fat,” but she never met him. So Casanova takes his identity to woo Francesca. Meanwhile, one of the Vatican’s most dangerous inquisitors, Pucci (Jeremy Irons plays a role, as he is in a Monty Python skit), arrives in Venice with the sole purpose of hanging Casanova. He immediately misled, thinking Papprizzio be lothario. Meanwhile, Papprizzio mistakes Francesca mother (Lena Olin) and for his fiance. Much confusion arises, but almost as much hilarity, as might be assumed. And all this leads to an end, which will be experienced members of the audience shouted, “Deus ex machina!”

Casanova has played a strange tone. The film is not bawdy to be a sex romp (no nudity and sexual scenes are discreet and playful - hardly worth R rating MPAA slapped the film with), and none of the characters are well developed enough for us to care about them. Plot that could be expected from this is a feather-light: it is not justified by even a cursory examination. There’s even a sequence that mirrors the 18 th century equivalent of a man with two dates of the same party, and trying to hide from each other, as he shuttles back and forth between them.

Hallstr t m is best known as director of darker material (My Life as a dog, The Cider House Rules). Do Casanova, his lung earlier efforts Chocolat, which was mediocre. This film provides additional guidance that it is not entirely suited to the material with limited substance. From Casanova provide little plot-wise and character-wise, it depends entirely on its ability to enchant audiences with his humor. And, despite the fun, there’s not enough to hold their attention for nearly two hours. Casanova momentum starts to flag around the halfway mark. After a while, all the mistaken identity becomes tiresome. This is a plot device, which should not be excessive, but it is.

If Casanova was a disappointment, we should not blame the actors. While Heath Ledger merely adequate (not shown anything close to that on the show in “Brokeback Mountain”), many of his co-stars to explore skill spot-theft: Lena Olin, Oliver Platt, Jeremy Irons. Sienna Miller consistently well, and, as it is physically different from her previous roles, as will be almost unrecognizable. (It remains attractive, but the blond locks have been replaced with red them.)

It is hard to imagine Casanova find an audience. This is too juvenile for those who typically enjoy period pieces (even farcical them). And those who have affinity to the silliness, slapstick and tomfoolery of this kind of comedy will be turned off in costumes. It’s easy, but because, for all his charm uneven and inconsequential, Casanova does not give enough to check the prices of admission.

Click here to download Casanova movie…

Bookmark to: