"Goodbye Casanova" is a film of striking ineptitude wherein nearly every element -- writing, direction, acting and set design -- is extremely poor. Painful to watch, this amateurish production has zero chance to score with any audience. The film played as the opening-night entry of the second annual Los Angeles Italian Film Awards film series, despite being an entirely American production.
Admittedly, first-time writer-director Mauro Borrelli labors under the constraints of a no-money budget. But a few actors, a single set and a little imagination can do wonders in the right hands.
What apparently was envisioned here was a fairy tale about the ghost of legendary seducer Casanova teaching a thing or two about love to a modern-day Manhattanite (Paul Ganus) on the verge of divorcing his wife (Ellen Bradley). But the story is burdened by unintelligible plot twists involving body switches and time travel that get in the way of emotions.
The actors look increasingly desperate as this story is clearly going nowhere, which leads to frantic overplaying. However, Giancarlo Scandiuzzi as Casanova does possess enough charm and vitality to salvage the title role.
One has the sneaky suspicion that the production couldn't afford a second set. Just as puzzling is why this set looks like something built for a lackluster 1940s B movie.
GOODBYE CASANOVA
Borrelli/Kirshbaum
in association with Eyestrain Prods.
Producer: Jeff Kirshbaum
Screenwriter-director: Mauro Borrelli
Executive producers: Paul Oakley,
Joseph Mustacchi
Director of photography: Steven Bernstein
Production designer: Dan Whifler
Music: Gianluca Piersanti, Marco Beltrami
Co-producer: Redge Mahaffey
Costume designer: Michele Michel
Editor: Edward Salier
Color/stereo
Cast:
Casanova: Giancarlo Scandiuzzi
Lavinia: Yasmine Bleeth
Robert: Paul Ganus
Mute: Flea
Claudia: Ellen Bradley
Hilly: Pamela Gidley
Running time -- 89 minutes
No MPAA rating...
Admittedly, first-time writer-director Mauro Borrelli labors under the constraints of a no-money budget. But a few actors, a single set and a little imagination can do wonders in the right hands.
What apparently was envisioned here was a fairy tale about the ghost of legendary seducer Casanova teaching a thing or two about love to a modern-day Manhattanite (Paul Ganus) on the verge of divorcing his wife (Ellen Bradley). But the story is burdened by unintelligible plot twists involving body switches and time travel that get in the way of emotions.
The actors look increasingly desperate as this story is clearly going nowhere, which leads to frantic overplaying. However, Giancarlo Scandiuzzi as Casanova does possess enough charm and vitality to salvage the title role.
One has the sneaky suspicion that the production couldn't afford a second set. Just as puzzling is why this set looks like something built for a lackluster 1940s B movie.
GOODBYE CASANOVA
Borrelli/Kirshbaum
in association with Eyestrain Prods.
Producer: Jeff Kirshbaum
Screenwriter-director: Mauro Borrelli
Executive producers: Paul Oakley,
Joseph Mustacchi
Director of photography: Steven Bernstein
Production designer: Dan Whifler
Music: Gianluca Piersanti, Marco Beltrami
Co-producer: Redge Mahaffey
Costume designer: Michele Michel
Editor: Edward Salier
Color/stereo
Cast:
Casanova: Giancarlo Scandiuzzi
Lavinia: Yasmine Bleeth
Robert: Paul Ganus
Mute: Flea
Claudia: Ellen Bradley
Hilly: Pamela Gidley
Running time -- 89 minutes
No MPAA rating...
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