Review: Casonova


Casonova, starring Heath Ledger and Sienna Miller, with a strong supporting cast including Oliver Platt, Jeremy Irons, and Lena Olin is a very enjoyable fictional tale about Giacomo Casonova and his exploits in Venice.

Although I don't expect we'll be seeing any Oscar nominations for this film, it doesn't change the fact that it has something for almost everyone. Admittedly a fictional account, as opposed to the supposedly factual Histoire de ma vie that he penned later in life, it has no need to try and maintain facts, so it is free to be an enjoyable.

The subterfuge and mistaken identity are a little reminiscent of Shakespeare's A Comedy of Errors, but are well written and make at least some sense.

For those who like comedy, there's plenty of that in the film. Between the mistaken identity, a really bad Jeremy Irons haircut, bizarre weight-loss treatments for Oliver Platt, and some cute camera work, there's a lot to laugh at.

For those with a penchant for music, the soundtrack was lush and contributed nicely to the film, both in conveying the period and in moving the story along.

For those who like "scenery" there was certainly some for everyone.

All things considered, unless you have problems stomaching a few jokes of the kind you would expect in a movie centered around the "world's greatest lover", you'll enjoy this film.