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Sunday, July 30, 2006

Casanova

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Casanova (2005)
Directed by: Lasse Hallstrom
Starring: Heath Ledger, Sienna Miller, Jeremy Irons

I read the screenplay of this several months ago and after reading it I really wanted to see it but didn't get the chance while it was in cinemas. After seeing it now, it was pretty much what I had expected.

Right, plot: Famous lover Giacomo Casanova meets Francesca Bruni, a beautiful young woman who is a philospher/writer, trying to stand up for women in Venice. He falls in love although she thinks he is someone wlse, and she lready has a fiance, albeit one she's never met. It's pretty complicated with lots of mistaken identities, basically all ending up with Casanova finding the true meaning of love. Altogether now, aww.

I really liked the script and story actually. The whole mistaken identities thing, although a bit much, and hard to keep track of if you're not giving it your full attention, is a lot of fun, and is quite Shakespearean in its style. The production design, costumes, cinematography, etc. are wonderful. The whole movie was shot in Venice and it really adds authenticity and life to it.

The cast were all good. But even through the story, design and acting, something was not right, though I can't put my finger on what is was. Something just didn't work, and I know this is going to be a useless review, but I don't know what it was. I would say the direction, but Lasse Hallstrom is a very good director (The Cider House Rules was amazing). Actually, having said that, I felt the same with his film Chocolat: something didn't work, despite being well-made.

Well, I don't know. I think everyone who reads this is going to have to see it and then I can discuss it with you. I need other people's opinions.

Sorry for the crap review.

B+

Talliestar

Despite the final product of the film being not amazing, the screenplay has lots of lines I really like. So instead of just having one quote, I'm going to have three.

Pucci: I think we could say if everything went according to plan we could return your reputation and your virginity to you.
Victoria: You could do that?
Pucci: Oh, yes. We are the Catholic Church. We can do anything.
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Pucci: [seeing a hot air balloon rise into the sky] Witchcraft!
Pucci's servant: Actually, sir, it's because hot air rises, counteracting the gravitational forces of [Pucci gives him a look]
Pucci's servant: ... witchcraft.
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Dalfonso: You are charged with heresy. To wit: fornicating with a novice!
Casanova: She was hardly a novice.

1 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I loved the film but I can see where oyu are coming from. I personally think that maybe he fell in love too quickly with Francesca. They are probably trying to portray the whole love at first sight idea but i think that for a character like Casinova it doesn't quite work. I think that a the whole film seemed rather rushed and hectic and what you really want is a little bit more development of the characters.

7:52 AM  

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