Casanova (DVD)

Word surrounding Casanova from a critical standpoint was not very good. Even our resident reviewer Laremy Legel gave it a D-, and while I don't think it is exactly "D-worth" it isn't much better, and I don't think I can exactly find a fault other than the fact that the story just isn't all that intriguing. It is no fault of Heath Ledger or Sienna Miller. Oliver Platt gives a pretty good performance and Lasse Hallstrom's directing is fine as well.

If I were to desperately search for the underlying cause as to why it is such a "blah" picture I would have to say that the mix of humor and drama is unfortunately unfunny and not at all engaging. You never really connect with any of the characters and you also never find any one of them particularly funny.

Oddly enough Touchstone was pushing this for Oscar nominations, but those never came to be as the story of Casanova and his attempts to remain in Venice despite a life of "criminal" debauchery and "questionable" lifestyle, at least in the eyes of the church, never really gets off the ground. Although I will give kudos where kudos are due, the film is very pretty, and by pretty I mean Venice is one hell of a place to film a movie and this DVD takes full advantage.

By advantage, I mean this DVD focuses more on the fact that it was shot in Venice than any other aspect of the film, followed closely by costume design, which also wasn't too bad. The making-of featurette is pretty much standard and the extended scene was a good cut as it just gets to be a bit much on the sappy side. Finally, Hallstrom's commentary isn't too bad, but this isn't exactly a film you will be clamoring to watch again just to hear what he has to say.

Overall, Casanova is not a horrible film, I would even say it is rent worthy on a night where there is nothing else available. This is one you will watch once and forget once it is over.