Posted: 12/29/2005

Casanova

(2005)

by Hank Yuloff

Can someone PLEASE tell me why the actors in a film taking place in 1700’s Venice ITALY all speak with a British accent? Really, now… There ARE such things as Dialogue Coaches, aren’t there? OK, now that I am off my soapbox, let’s talk about Casanova, the latest film from director Lasse Hallström (Cider House Rules, The Shipping News, Chocolat).

It is the story, or rather, a version of the story, of famed lover Casanova’s conquests that had never been put down on paper. And it is the story of the one time when his ravenous sexual appetite was defeated by love.

Heath Ledger (A Knights Tale, Brokeback Mountain) plays Lord Jacomo Casanova, the scourge of the Inquisition, who has made more women unchaste than baby powder. In fact, it is that lack of discretion that has his chief benefactor, the Doge of Venice (Tim McInnerny from Notting Hill), telling him that he has a week to find himself a wife, or he is banished from the city. He sets himself up with a veritable vestal virgin (Victoria played by newcomer Natalie Dormer) but she is a fall back because his true heart is after Francesca Bruni (Sienna Miller from Alfie). Miller is quite good in the role.

Adding to the urgency of Casanova’s plight are the arrival of Instigator Pucci, sent from Rome to capture him and try him as a heretic, and the arrival of Lord Papprizzio from Genoa who has “bought” the hand of Francesca in marriage.

So it is a race literally to the death as Casanova must win the heart of Francesca while keeping Victoria and her protective father at bay. Evidently, no one had heard of an extended engagement at the time.

Pucci is played by Jeremy Irons. My guess is that he was chosen for his past Evil characters from films like The Man in the Iron Mask, Dungeons and Dragons and Die Hard: With a Vengeance. Unfortunately, there is not enough evil and too much fool in his personality to take him seriously as someone who is going to foil Casanova’s plan. It’s a shame because a truly vile villain would have made the ending that much better.

On the opposite end of the spectrum is Oliver Platt playing Papprizzio. He is a powerful merchant yet is vulnerable because of his size and hopeful to earn the love of Francesca. It has been a good year for Platt. He starred on film The Ice Harvest, on cable with Huff, and on TV with The West Wing.

The true star of this film is the Venice backdrop. If you have been to the city, it is a wonderful return trip. Many of the outdoor scenes take place in St. Mark’s Square and there are even scenes inside the Palazza Ducale. The city is 10 centuries old but still shines like a teenager on screen.

Casanova is obviously a love story. It is a great date movie. And it is also very worthy of seeing on the large screen instead of waiting for the cable release.

Hank Yuloff is our senior writer in Los Angeles. He is often called “The Casanova of Encino.” Meee-ow!

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