Casanova (2005)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Lasse Hallström

Writers (WGA):

Jeffrey Hatcher (screenplay) and
Kimberly Simi (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

25 December 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

A partially true story about lies told, virtue lost and love found.

Plot:

Heath Ledger plays the fabled romantic as a man who, after failing to win the affection of a particular Venetian woman, strives to discover the real meaning of love.

Plot Keywords:

Catholic | Play | Heresy | Swashbuckler | Sidekick

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Heath Ledger	...	Casanova
Sienna Miller	...	Francesca Bruni
Jeremy Irons	...	Pucci
Oliver Platt	...	Paprizzio
Lena Olin	...	Andrea
Omid Djalili	...	Lupo
Stephen Greif	...	Donato
Ken Stott	...	Dalfonso
Helen McCrory	...	Casanova's Mother
Leigh Lawson	...	Mother's Lover / Tito
Tim McInnerny	...	The Doge
Charlie Cox	...	Giovanni Bruni
Natalie Dormer	...	Victoria
Philip Davis	...	Guardi (as Phil Davis)
Paddy Ward	...	Vittorio

Also Known As:

Femur (Philippines: English title)

MPAA:

Rated R for some sexual content.

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Canada:14A (Alberta) | Canada:G (Quebec) | UK:12A | Ireland:12A | Canada:PG (British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Norway:7 | Finland:K-11 | Singapore:M18 | Netherlands:MG6 | Australia:M | Singapore:PG (edited version) | Sweden:Btl | Singapore:PG (re-rating) | USA:R (certificate #41930) | Malaysia:U | Germany:6 | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Portugal:M/12 | Argentina:13 | Peru:14 | Hungary:14 | Philippines:R-13 | Spain:13 | Iceland:L | South Korea:15

Filming Locations:

Venice, Veneto, Italy

Company:

Touchstone Pictures

Trivia:

When Casanova is running away from the Inquisition in the opening scene he jumps through a window and into the University of Venice. The University of Venice never existed and the building he jumps into is in fact the "Theatro Olympico", one of the first Renaissance theatres- and 140 kilometers away from Venice.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Francesca Bruni fires Bernardo Guardi through a note which Guardi then reads, "Your services are no longer needed". However, later in the film the inquisitor is informed that Bernardo Guardi cannot read or write.

Quotes:

Pucci: Let's just say... they have a hunger for religion.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: (2005-12-24)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

Concerto à 5, Op. 9 No. 6 in G for 2 Oboes, Strings & Continuo (3. Allegro)

Funny! Funny! Funny!

I haven't had this good a time at the movies since…since--oh, heck, I can't remember when I've had this good of a time at the movies! This film opens with a touching surprise, ends with a glorious twist and is filled in between with intrigue, passion and some of the most beautiful scenery ever put to screen. Oh, and did I mention humor -- ranging from witty inside jokes to bawdy physical comedy.

The screenplay walks a thin line between complexity and confusion, but director Lasse Hallstrom never loses sight of the difference and is able to wring subtleties out of what could have been an overly broad farce.

The story focuses on one aspect of Lord Jacomo Casanova's lavish life, his reputation as a great seducer of women. Lots of women. Caught one too many times in the act with the wrong woman, Casanova is told he must either leave Venice, which he is loathe to do, or marry a woman of good character. He is soon betrothed to one of the few remaining virgins in Venice, but just as quickly falls for Francesca Bruni, an auburn-haired feminist who wouldn't give Casanova the time of day. So, to win her affections, he proceeds to become several other people, using false names to reveal his true feelings.

Heath Ledger has no trouble living in Casanova's skin, although for the first 20 minutes it was hard to see Casanova and not Heath Ledger in a rather large wig. However, I blame that on my having seen too many "behind-the-scenes" specials, and not on Ledger's performance. By the time he meets Francesca, played by Sienna Miller, I had settled into the story and never gave the wig another thought. Although there was not as obvious a chemistry between Ledger and Miller as he has had with other female co-stars, most notably Julia Stiles (10 Things I Hate About You) and Kate Hudson (The Four Feathers), I was quite convinced of their undying love for one another by film's end.

The supporting cast is marvelous, especially Omid Djalili who plays Lupo, Casanova's manservant, and Oliver Platt, who plays Genoan lard merchant, Lord Papprizzio, Francesca's fiancé. Lena Olin, as Francesca's mother, and Jeremy Irons, as Bishop Pucci, the Inquisitor, give fine performances as well, rising above their less-than-three-dimensional characters. Irons and Platt have an especially hilarious scene in, of all places, an Inquisition torture chamber, which is only outdone by Platt's bravery in revealing his true size while lying half-naked covered in lard, mint jelly and coffee grounds.

I had a blast at this movie and I can't wait to see it again.