Casanova Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
A partially true story about lies told, virtue lost and love found.
In love, be the flame - not the moth
He won every woman's heart. She won his.
There's no greater adventure than true love.
Casanova is love with Francesca, who thinks he is a friend of himself even though he is engaged Victoria, who is the love of Giovanni, Francessca's brother. Francessca is betrothed to Paprizzio who thinks Casanova is the feminist writer Guardi, who is really Francessca's nomme de plume. Amidst all these secret identities and misunderstandings, the Catholic Church sends Pucci to bring Casanova and Guardi to trial for heresy.
| Sienna Miller | Francesca Bruni |
| Heath Ledger | Casanova |
| 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 |
| Paddy Ward | Vittorio |
| Lasse Hallström |
6.50 out of 10 (6375 votes)
Visitor Reviews
Fun,Frollick,"Fornication" and Farce: My top movie of 2004
posted on 05 Aug 2009Hey? What do I know? I just have an opinion...a hunch...even when I review a movie I somehow have forgotten the whole point of why I review on Amazon; it's for fun and to better hone my skills as a writer.
Well..here goes.I thought that CASANOVA was the best film of 2004 for lots of reasons.It is a sharp,snappy piece of elegance couched in a rollicking good time of a farce,sumptuous in look,articulate in wit,edited so tightly that there is no fat to cut,the best Alexandre Desplats soundtrack ever (SYRIANA), and acting from Heath Ledger,Sienna Miller,Oliver Platt and Jeremy Irons that has the absolute correct comical timing.Directed by Lasse Halstrom and filmed on location in Venice (the year is 1753),I loved it on the big screen and the DVD is outstanding for the proper ratio to keep this film at the look it had in the theatre and for myriads of interesting extras.It is rated R, but only for sexual entendre (lots of it,naturally), but shows no skin nor has any objectional language.You cannot beat the price as it sells on Amazon under $2.00.
Hey, what do I know? This is just my silly, for fun, opinion!
You've already seen the good parts in the trailer....
posted on 21 Jul 2009This has to be one of the worst movies I've seen in a long time. It is billed as a harmless romantic comedy, and the trailers were very cute. I decided to go ahead and see this with a friend of mine, rather than take my husband, as a girls' night out. I was squirming in my seat through most of the movie. The script was lacking, to say the least, as was timing for the comedy. This film makes light of adultery, and has a scene where Casanova is sitting at a table trying desperately to win the love of Francesca, all the while being 'pleased' under the table by another woman. This is not a hero that any woman would root for. If you are Catholic, I would definitely not recommend this movie to you. I am not sure why some in Hollywood think it acceptable to write an entire plot around the evils of a specific religion. This is one of those flicks where all the nuns are having sex and all the priests have mistresses. It is true that the Catholic Church was against all that Casanova stood for, but the film should focus on the inquisition, rather than purposely insult all Catholics in the audience. This would not have been so bothersome had the trailer at least made some reference to lines like, "We are the Catholic Church, we can do anything." Bottom line: Don't waste your money, you've seen the best parts of the movie in the trailer already.
Simply delightful!
posted on 16 Jul 2009Here is a lighthearted and romantic tale of the famous (infamous?) playboy Casanova. The sets of the Venice of a couple hundred years ago are truly wonderful. People who enjoy period films are sure to like this one.
Heath Ledger does a surprisingly wonderful job of portraying the legendary seducer of women. In many ways, the whole concept of Casanova is like an inflated male fantasy. It asks: "What if?" it were the case that women were to chase after us like we chase after them? Insofar as that is concerned, the film is quite cathartic.
One of the biggest selling points of the movie is that it maintains a great sense of humor. It's good to see how they were able to make a lighthearted film out of what was a rather dark chapter in world history. Typically, movies that deal with the Spainish Inquisition don't have happy endings........until now!!
Great fun, wonderful settings and music, for all ages
posted on 13 Jul 2009I read here that in the USA this film got an R rating, not PG-13, as ¨director Hallström wanted, only because of something that is suggested is happening under a table. In the Netherlands, where it had it's premiere yesterday, the rating is for over 5 year olds, so that says enough for whom this movie really is. I was at first a little disappointed to find out that this is not a historical movie, but a slapstick comedy, but I loved the settings (Venice and Vicenza,where they made a scene in the famous Teatro Olimpico, which is supposed to be a Venice University in the movie) and the music which is mostly baroque (Vivaldi, Albinoni, Händel, Rameau, Paisiello and a few more) and as a baroque music lover I thoroughly enjoyed the movie just only for the music alone. This must be one of the first-ever costume farce movies, but if you forget all the movies like Shakespeare in love or Pride and Prejudice and take this movie for it's own merits, it is a thoroughly rewarding experience. There was a lot of laughing by the audience and I found myself laughing more than in any movie I remember. It is thoroughly entertaining from first to last minute, but devout Catholics will find it insulting, as it makes fun of the Catholic Church, but it should be quite evident to everyone, also devout catholics, that the story is not to be taken too seriously, so why being bothered by it? The movie can actually be considered as a modern version of an opera buffa. Obviously there is a romantic plot and by all the farce and hilariousness I would say that the romantic element gets snowed under, but, as said, you have to accept this movie for what it is and concentrate on the lavish settings, costumes, music, the fun, and you will want to see it many more times, like me.
Bad Marketing
posted on 07 Jul 2009I don't know if I would have liked this film better if it hadn't been been compared to "Shakespeare in Love" in the advertising, but I'll never know. Who expected a film about Casanova set in the most romantic city at its most lascivious time to be a broad comedy that isn't really funny and not the least bit sexy. This is a really good cast, even though they are made to do foolish things. They have all given stunning performances in other films and even the novices ("She is hardly a novice" - only funny line.) could have been better if they had been directed better. There were many times when I was so uncomfortable... Oliver Platt's scenes were torture. So who's at fault here? And why did Heath Ledger do this film? I loved him in "Brokeback Mountain." What a masterful performance. How unfortunate to have these two films running at the same time. He clearly can do better. I told my husband, who hated the film and didn't have one good thing to say about it, that maybe we had our expectations too high (he said, "clearly") and maybe we were expecting a different kind of film.Perhaps when we watch this on HBO (which should be really soon), we might forget our disappointment and see this film for the farce that it is. I was advised not to say that to anyone I know as they might think I've lost my mind.
Def a good movie for December
posted on 05 Jul 2009They showed a screening to us college kids here near school today. I thought it was a good movie. Heath Ledger is totally cute being a player LOL. All I have say is the funniest scene I think is the one that involves some action under the table HaHaHa. I still don't get how the Vatican and Pope and such in the 1700's was involved in Venice back then. But yea apparently nuns are crazy about the dashing Casanova. And I think the pigs are cute! Natalie Dormer's character was hilarious with her behavior about Heath's character.
a great movie from beginning to end!
posted on 27 Jun 2009This movie was great fun and it kept me on the edge of my seat for the most of it. It barely has any sexual content in comparison to some PG-13 movies out there! well anyways I truly recommend it to anyone who is into 1700's movies and great costume and best of all great storyline! The soundtrack for this movie is also very nice, its classical music but it isn't the jumpy spontaneous type, but the slow old European type ones, lol! Heath Ledger did an awesome job portraying Casanova, his played his role well and I hope that he keeps on acting beautifully for other great movies! Im not an expert on films or anything but I really did enjoy this movie, the cast was superb and there weren't any really big spoofs, so once again, if you haven't seen it, SEE IT!!
What would Casanova do?
posted on 26 Jun 2009Giacamo Casanova is on the run from the Inquisition for the crimes of heresy, debauchery, fornication with a novice, and numerous others that have all been rescinded in the past. His luck is running out on him, though, and he has been warned that he must find himself a respectable wife or face the consequences and be exiled from Venice. This is not necessarily the easiest task for a known libertine, notorious rogue, and despoiler of virgins.
That is until he has a vision of the lovely Victoria, a rarity of sorts: a Venetian virgin. While Victoria's father would prefer that she not fall for the licentious Casanova, his daughter overwhelms him with her requests to wed him. And so, they are engaged. All is well until Casanova sees Francesca Bruni, a feminist in her time, defending the rights of women to attend university and be something more than a man's plaything. He admires her courage and wit and begins to court her--regardless of his pending wedding.
I'm taking this movie as a work of fiction and nothing more, so I'll make no comments about the historical accuracy. The Venice sets are beautiful and the costumes are lovely if a bit inconsistent. My favorite part of the movie is Lena Olin in the role of Francesca's mother and Oliver Platt as Francesca's errant fiance, Paprizzio, lard king of Genoa. As a whole the film was fun to watch, with numerous comic sequences, but I couldn't help but wish the plot was a little more consistent. It seemed to jump all over the place and there were just too many cases of mistaken identity for me to take it seriously. Overall, I think it was okay, but don't expect too much.
An embarrassing farce
posted on 15 Jun 2009Easily the worst film I've seen having to do with Giacomo Casanova. First, the casting was absurd. Heath Ledger is a skilled actor in some settings, but he's well out of his depth here, exhibiting absolutely no charisma or worldliness. Lena Olin seems like she just stepped off the set of The O.C., and Jeremy Irons (as a shrill martinet) is clearly embarrassed with his role; I hope he was well-paid. And then spanked.But it's the plot and script that are mainly to blame for "Casanova" being quite so dire. Neither of these ever rises above the level of a 1980s TV comedy. If you've seen any period bedroom farce of the past 50 years, you've already seen this one. Don't waste your time.
Heath Ledger as "Casanova"
posted on 10 Jun 2009Released the same year as Brokeback Mountain (2005).
"Casanova" is Rated "R". Running Time: 1 hr, 51 min.
Ah, yes. Casanova! The many loves of Casanova. We see him with Sophia, then a nun, Sister Beatrice (Lauren Cohan) and yet another nun he knows (Danielle Baker).
Signor Giancumo Casanova (played by Heath Ledger) never gets to finish and always has to hide in the closet or make a mad dash at an escape.
This time, he got caught.
He will be hanged tomorrow. But wait! The Mayor of Venice is going to save his life, on grounds of mistaken identity.
You see, no one in the town of Venice really knows for sure who Casanova is, except for the ladies that are mums the word. The town square even makes fun of this Casanova by staging of an outdoors play.
The Mayor is expelling him from Venice. However, their is a reprieve. casanova must find a respectable wife before Carnevale and must be on his best behavior until then.
Casanova's eye is on the virginal francesca (Sienna Miller).
Also in the cast: Olivier Platt, Omio Djalili, Lena Olin, Stephen Greif, Jeremy Irons, Helen McCrory, Leigh Lawson, Charlie Cox, Natalie Dormer, Eugene Simon.
Bryan Korenberg is the scene stealer as the man in the brothel.
Actually filmed in Venice on location.
DVD Special Features: (12 minutes) "Creating An Adventure" featurette
(5 min.) "Dressing in Style" featurette
(3 min.) "Visions of Venice".
Audio Commentary by Director Lasse Hallstrom.
The real-life Casanova lived 1725-98.
Other "Casanova" movies:
Casanova's Big Night (1954), with Bob Hope, Vincent Price.
Casanova '70 (1965 FrenchItalian)
Casanova and Co. (1976 Australian-Italian-French-German), with Tony Curtis.
Note: Health Ledger unexpectedly died January 22, 2008 from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs. He had finished The Dark Knight (2008) and was filming The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009). Ledger will still be seen in "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" with Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell continuing his changing character.
Funny, exciting and predictable
posted on 09 Jun 2009I was able to see a sneak preview yesterday with my husband. Though our overall rating of the movie differed we both enjoyed the movie for the most part. I gave it thumbs up and my husband hovered and refused to go one way or another. The bad-It was a little predictable at times and the cg work was really distracting. The Good-The costumes and being filmed on location in Venice was awesome. I thought the acting was great and the overall feel of the movie was fun and exciting but not stuffy. And for a movie that is all about sex they did a great job of keeping it sexy and not over sharing. This is not a mind stimulating movie but a definitely a laugh out loud, eye candy kind. I hope you enjoy it too.
Delightful, Big Budgeted, Period Rom/Com
posted on 28 May 2009This is a beautiful piece, but at the same time, the lovely period setting takes a back seat to the romantic comedy vehicle. Fitting, I suppose, since the love story IS the story here, but there were many missed opportunities to make this wonderful.Where there can be substance, there is flash. Where there can be high action, there is mild dialog and a lesser suspense. And yet, this work bears an undeniable charm. And while it does seem a bit heavy handed and overbearing at times, it fails to take itself too seriously, in spite of ample opportunities provided herein.All in all, while not a masterpiece, I found this highly enjoyable, entertaining, and delightful in its amusement with itself.It rates an 8.3/10 from...the Fiend :.
Best comeback from Brokeback
posted on 28 May 2009Many people believe that Brokeback Mountain decreased Heath Ledger's comeback in many films simply because many of the viewers of Brokeback did not expect it to be so graphic! In a nutshell, Casanova, having been released right after Brokeback Mountain, reclaims Heath's old fashioned heart-throbbing talent as a ladies man, as it did in his earlier career, and has made him an even bigger star. Thus brings us up to his most recent films where he will portait as one of the strongest villains in the DC Comic Book Realm::: The Joker.Hat's Down, Casanova is a cute, sexually litehanded and extremely rare comedy flick that gets the viewer thinking.
A Well-Written Romance But Who Cares
posted on 16 May 2009Our local paper reported that this movie contained nudity. How couldn't there be in a story about Casanova? When I took my seat, I noticed that most of the audience were dumpy old ladies. They knew something that I didn't. The reputed nudity wasn't there. In fact, the amorous scenes were distinctly unhot. I kept noting how they blew one chance after another. I am sure all the dumpy old ladies were happy. This movie could have been rated PG. It is well photographed and well-acted. The plot is clever and Shakespearesque, at times. If you think that you are too old to enjoy Freddy Prinz movies, this is the romantic comedy for you. I hate when professional critics do this, but ... If you want to see a good Casanova movie, see Casanova and Company, starring Tony Curtis. Tony Curtis was a real man. His version tells much the same story and delivers the t&a.
Superb Performances by all actors!!
posted on 15 May 2009I rented this movie and was surprised at how much I liked it. Heath Ledger is a great actor and gives a great performance in Cassnova. And I must not forget an unforgettable and superb performance by Oliver Platt. This was well written, well directed, and highly entertaining! It moves at a great pace so you must get onboard from the beginning. There was no lag and no drifting off as the movie was totally engaging. I knew I must have it for my collection!!
Entertaining romantic comedy
posted on 13 May 2009What does it take to make a man who has had it all happy? Or a woman who can do it all happy? Each other maybe? This is the essence of this story. Heath Ledger plays a witty, intelligent, and charming Casanova in 1700's Venice. Abandoned by his mother at a young age, he alleviates his sense of longing by seducing and bedding women left and right. Francesca is the a beautiful, intelligent, cunning lady with spunk and good fighting skills to boot. She cannot find a man to make her happy. They encounter each other when her brother challanges Casanova over another woman. He immediately falls in love with Francesca and begins to woo her. But nothing is ever simple in love, esecially in the movies. A fearsome Vatican inquisitor and a fat businessman complicates things, along with the local authorities, neighbors and friends of course. Slowly but surely, Casanova gets Francesca to fall in love with him, the inquisitor is duped, Francesca's mom finds another man, and all ends well.
The movie is brisk, lighthearted and funny. The romance is gentle and the sex scenes are fleeting at worst. Outside of Casanova and Francesca, the other characters range from ridiculous to ludicrous, thereby adding to the show. This reviewer highly recommends this movie.
I liked this one too....
posted on 13 May 2009just like "a knight's tale"...and "10 things i hate about you", this flick just makes you laugh and feel good. The fact that the star of this flick (Heath Ledger) is more beautiful to look at than most the women in the film is also a plus. After breaking our hearts in Brokeback Mountain, Heath makes up for it cracking us up and making us swoon here. As always, his work in this film is great. Even though it is not a film to be taken too seriously, there is always an intensity in Heath's performances. This is worth the watch!
Where is Johnny Depp when you need him?
posted on 17 Aug 2009The star of the film is Venice, dialog and role portrayal predictable. Costumes were great but it takes more then clothing to make a believable leading man, oh and the heroine was plain old vanilla, so if you have a choice see something else