Casanova (12A) (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Casanova (12A)

It is hardly surprising that Casanova pops up every now and then with many distinguished actors taking the lead, like Donald Sutherland and Frank Finlay, to say nothing of gorgeous "Dr Kildare" Richard Chamberlain.

Giacomo Casanova is a legend that is bound to entice new directors to tell his tale. We all know him as a notorious lover - three centuries on, 'Casanova' is still used to describe, well a 'Casanova', but this adventurer was also a soldier, writer, violinist and philosopher. However, it is still interesting how he has managed to capture so many generations' imagination. This time the great Swedish director Lasse Hallstrom (Chocolat 2000) is at the helm.

It is approximately 1753 and Casanova (Heath Ledger) is in Venice. Bishop Pucci (Jeremy Irons), the High Inquisitor, is after Casanova's blood because of his appalling licentious behaviour. He faces 127 charges of stealing various ladies' virtue and if caught he will be put to death, so he has to don many disguises to avoid capture. But it is once Casanova becomes engaged to Victoria (Natalie Dormer) the virgin of Venice, that he meets the gorgeous and clever feminist Francesca Bruin (Sienna Miller) and finds himself truly smitten for the first time. She is not an easy catch and he realises he is going to have to work considerably harder than usual to win her heart. She is a secret author who uses the male nom de plume Bernardo Grudithe. The women's lib literature she writes is scandalizing the Vatican who would have her guts for garters if only they could find her. Unfortunately for Casanova, Francesca is betrothed to the merchant Papprizzio (Oliver Platt), even though she has never actually met him. This turns out to be in Casanova's favour as he tricks the overweight Papprozzio by persuading him to diet in hiding, leaving Casanova free to woe Francesca disguised as Papprozzio. But he has his work cut out for him, as Francesca hates everything that Casanova stands for.

This new Casanova is quite exhausting to look at, playing out rather like a farce, but it is at times really quite engaging. There is a great line at the beginning when he is accused of fornicating with a novice nun and he replies, "Well, she is hardly a novice", but it is so subtle you might miss it. Apart from that there are far too many blatant rather than witty ripostes, which is a shame. It is purely fictional, not that it matters a jot. If you want to learn more about the man, it's best to wade through the many volumes of his equally untrustworthy memoirs; no film would have the time to cover his many adventures. Ledger who was so brilliant in last month's 'Brokeback Mountain', and is now blisteringly hot Hollywood property, would not have been my first choice to play Casanova. He isn't cheeky enough, a vital ingredient needed to portray such a man. Miller gives by far her best performance to date proving she isn't just a pretty face. But it is Irons and Platt who steal the show in this bawdy romp. 6/10