Review of Dangerous Beauty (1998) by Margi K — 02 Jan 2009

It's a film that never quite decides what it wants to be: a serious examination of women in Venice during the 16th century or a period romance with a modern twist. Thus, it fails to truly satisfy either.

Although it has glimmers of insight into women's struggles in the era, most evident in Moria Kelly's eloquent speech about her fears for her daughters future, it fails to truly examine the backdrop of Venice.

Everything centers on Veronica Franco, and we never see a full juxtaposition of her life against the other women. Naomi Watt's character, the "rival" of Catherine McCormack, might as well not have existed for all we learn about her and her way of life.

The love story never really gets off the ground either. The characters never feel like real people; we never go far beyond the surface. The filmmakers were obsessed with montages, and failed to pull together a true narrative, often glossing over important plot points and confusing the time span of the picture.

Although it's billed as a true story, it bends the truth so far that we see a simple girl turn into a learned and captivating prostitute in a matter of days. The acting made the piece bareable, except in the case of Oliver Platt, who's bad acting and worse lines compounded the error of his casting.

Rufus Sewell and Catherine McCormack are entertaining, but not enough to elevate the poorly constructed screenplay. In more capable hands, it could have been a compelling examination of a woman's struggle to find a place in a male dominated society.

As it stands, it's a mediocre production with a talented cast.