This failed to seduce me (Casanova (DVD))

Member Name: pmcds

Product:	Casanova (DVD)
Date:	19/10/09 (30 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Not a lot, really, some funny moments I suppose, Irons and Platt did their best

Disadvantages: Confusing and disappointing, tries to do too much

Casanova is a rather lacklustre film that features the man of the title, in a partially true tale about love and lust. Sadly, the love and lust are rather glossy and the acting and direction a bit lacking.

Heath Ledger turned in a number of fine performances before his death, but this 2005 role as the renowned seducer Casanova was not one fo his finest. The story takes a bit of a challenging turn as he finds he has met his match in not just another person when it comes to love, but a woman. Set a couple of hundred years ago, in Venice, it was a time where women served the men, and roles such as lawyers were not fit for women.

Along comes Francesca Bruni, a dab hand at dressing up as a man and parading round a courtroom, but also seemingly the unattainable catch Casanovas yearns for. In a plot that confuses, with noms de plume, alter egos and too many people pretending to be someone they're not, the film tries to be too clever, and winds up over-complicating something that is, in essence, rather simple.

Ledger's Casanova is rather wet at times, and despite some clever acting from him, the character doesn't really get much to bite his teeth into. Sienna Miller as Bruni is okay, but stays plain throughout and doesn't star in any way. Oliver Platt and Jeremy Irons lend their considerable talent to their respective roles, and although both have sublte comedic elements to their turns, it is nothing near good enough to actually enjoy.

In fact, the whole thing is as if it is being held back by an invisible rope, preventing its cast from excelling as we know they can, yet allowing the confusion to set in regarding names and who is supposed to be betrothed to who. With Lords, ladies, scallywags and scum, the film just goes round and round, with the only thing certain being that Casanova is trying to win the affections of Bruni, something that seems a losing battle.

Everything is so predictable, apart from a couple of things close to the end, but by this time confusion had reigned for so long that I hadn't even realised the quirky twist in the tale until I thought about it for a moment. Please do tell me if it is just me being a bit thick, but I found the whole thing just tried to do way too much with what could have been an enjoyably simple portrayal of a true character of history. Had the film been made too similar too Ledger's medieval A Kinght's Tale, naturally it would have been criticised, but by stretching so far away from making sense, I'm afraid it has lost me.

At nearly two hours long, Casanova is far too long and tries to do too much. As a result, I couldn't enjoy it and can't recommend it. The DVD contained no extras, and if you really want to give it a go, it's available on DVD from amazon.co.uk for £5.97.

Summary: Disappointing film based on the life of the seducer Casanova