uisliu Reviews

Casanova (2005)

Drama never intended to be documentary

[9/10 · 6 January 2009]

I've read through all the previous comments and there is a puzzling divergence in the reactions to this work. There are significant numbers who seem to have expected this to be a documentary drama and have berated Davies for writing something at odds with the historical Casanova's life. This is missing the point entirely. It's like criticising Shakespeare in Love for being "inaccurate." This is a romp, with a hint of sadness, based upon Giacomo Casanova's memoir/autobiography. It is obviously intended as a diversion, every aspect of the production aiming at no more than the spirit of the thing, mixing today's argot and attitudes with those of C18 Venice.

Russell T Davies's work is of a very particular style, knowing and self-conscious (one critic here seemed to think this was inevitably a bad thing) and, above all, camp and celebratory. If you don't warm to his style then avoid his work is my advice. For those who can accept it for what it is and what it intends, it is glorious stuff.

Colonel Redl (1985)

Underestimated masterpiece

[10/10 · 9 May 1999]

Underestimated at the time of its release, the film suffered comparison with its flashier predecessor Mephisto. Oberst Redl is tighter, more disciplined and subtle than Mephisto (which was too faithful to the novel on which it was based). Delicately threaded with recurring motifs of father/son relationships and the touch of hands in friendship, lust, play and paternal concern, Szabo's tight control of his material and of his actors, produces powerful explorations of personal desire and personal responsibility, climaxing in the most painfully realistic suicide in cinema. There are consummate acting performances from all the leading actors but especially from Armin Mueller-Stahl as the cynical and manipulative Archduke and Klaus Maria Brandauer, who seduces the camera and manages to make sympathetic a character consumed by ambition.

This film was probably underestimated because it needs repeated viewings to appreciate all its layers and nuances. It requires the audience to think, a satisfying exercise but unfortunately unpopular amongst many movie-goers. It is long overdue for reappraisal.