Casanova mini-review

[chelidon]

Some of the denizens here stayed up verrrry late Monday night to watch a bootleg copy of BBC's new three-hour production of Casanova. Peter O' Toole is the elder Giacomo Casanova, David Tennant plays the young Casanova, and it was written by the very capable Russell T Davies, the same person responsible for the most excellent new Dr. Who production. It was just so very good, that I could forgive the quite blatant anachronisms, especially since many of them were clearly inserted to be purely silly, and they were in fact more fun than intrusive. Witty, well-paced, and ultimately, emotionally moving. The elder sacred-fool Casanova and the servant girl (Rose Byrne) to whom he tells his stories, and who ultimately plays a key role in his life, are both clearly, despite having radically different lives, hopeless romantics living in a world which is largely devoid of color and spark -- each, in their own way, devoted to love. Delicious, wicked, and well-worth a watch, whenever we can get it over here on the west side of the pond.

Comments

[mystfemme.livejournal.com]

I was hoping the new Cassanova would be playing by me since I'm playing hooky from work today. But, alas, it is not yet in my selected city.

I was thinking of going to see another movie instead but realized that what I really wanted was the popcorn, so I ate some here.

[chelidon.livejournal.com]

Ah, well, I think yer out of luck on the movie show, at least for now, until/unless it gets released on this side of the pond. IBDB tells me that after the March 2005 BBC3 showing in the U.K., the next release is Finland in 2006, with no U.S. date listed. I think you're probably thinking of the Lasse Hallström-directed version with Heath Ledger, Lena Olin, Sienna Miller, and Jeremy Irons that got released on Xmas day in the U.S. I haven't see that one yet, am hoping to, tho'. It's very possible, the way these things work, that any U.S. release of the BBC version got put off due to the December release of the Hallström film.

Tell ya what, tho', I might be convinced to burn ya a copy...

[ravenedgewalker.livejournal.com]

sounds great! will watch out foe it if it shows up as a download :)

[chelidon.livejournal.com]

I think the original release date in the U.K was last March. And if you don't find it, we can watch it in a couple of months...I don't think anyone here will mind seeing it again!

[mystfemme.livejournal.com]

Oooh we likeses tricksey burnded copies!!!

[lylythe-strega.livejournal.com]

Casanova was silly, and fun, and very moving. I was wondering how much of it was based on fact...or if it's taken from the writings of a certain Casanova historian...may have to do a little research for reading material, there. He seem(ed) to have been an interesting guy.

And, it was fun watching it with you and P...mind-wrenching green drinks notwithstanding. I might be ready for *that* again, a couple of months... ;>

[ravenedgewalker.livejournal.com]

not found it yet....

"we can watch it in a couple of months...."

yay! bounce :)

[chelidon.livejournal.com]

Some good info here: http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/casanova.htm

The movie was highly fictionalized, but had grains of truth in it here and there....much as Casanova's autobiography, it seems.

Great fun, as always, m'dear. And always beware the alchemist -- we never did name that green drink, but perhaps it best remain one of the Nameless Ones. That was, however, an entirely new color, I think...