Themes: Prostitutes, Fighting the System, Love Triangles
Main Cast: Catherine McCormack, Rufus Sewell, Jacqueline Bisset, Oliver Platt, Moira Kelly
Release Year: 1998
Country: US
Run Time: 111 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Marshall Herskovitz directed this look at life in 16th-century Venice, based on Margaret Rosenthal's 1994 book The Honest Courtesan. Positioned outside of the Venetian court, Veronica Franco (Catherine McCormack) hopes to rise above her station, but her interest in nobleman's son Marco Venier (Rufus Sewell) is blocked since his parents forbid their marriage. Following the path taken by her mother, Paola (Jacqueline Bisset), Veronica becomes a courtesan, finding this gives her a niche in the male-dominated society. When Vatican emissaries accuse her of witchcraft, she lashes back, using the trial as a feminist forum to expose the hypocrisies of the period. Filmed in 1996 in Venice and Rome with a variety of working titles (Courtesan, Venice, and The Honest Courtesan). ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
Review
Catherine McCormack makes a ravishing lead in this costume drama that suffers somewhat from the incidental and fractured quality common to period costume dramas based largely on historical fact. A little more poetic license might have smoothed out the rough edges of this sophomore directorial effort from television producer Marshall Herskovitz. In particular, the antagonist character Maffio Venier (played with gusto by Oliver Platt) seems only to appear when the script calls for him to move a step farther along on his arc from drunken party boy to shrill zealot. His is an intriguing and tragic figure; more narrative grist should definitely have been milled from his progression into hypocrisy. McCormack is the film's true star, however, and the Braveheart (1995) veteran makes the most of a plum role that's as absorbing, veracious, and intelligently written as Susan Sarandon's male ego-bruising Annie Savoy in Bull Durham (1988). Dangerous Beauty (1998) strays at times too wide off the path it's on in search of interesting material and thus becomes slightly anecdotal, but its story is a journey worth taking with an actress capably expressing a range and depth of feelings lamentably absent from most current women's roles. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
Dangerous Beauty boasts a splendor and refinement that is well matched to the film's 16th century Venetian setting. George Fenton's score is romantic but never sappy. Few contemporary composers excel so consistently with this kind of light classical approach, even if the music's sheer agreeability renders it an unchallenging and even forgettable listen. Indeed, while Fenton's unpretentious approach demands praise, one wishes he would deviate from formula and produce a score of genuine complexity and daring. Too much of Dangerous Beauty passes by without impact, and while it's unquestionably lovely, it doesn't stick to the ribs. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide
George Fenton (Conductor), George Fenton (Producer), Joe Gastwirt (Mastering), John Richards (Engineer), John Richards (Mixing), Rachel Gutek (Art Direction), Geoffrey Alexander (Orchestration), Mario Tursi (Photography), Katy Salvidge (Coordination)
Veronica's lover Marco (Rufus Sewell) is discouraged by his family from marrying Veronica because her family is of humble means. Thus, he goes on to marry another woman of his status. Veronica and her mother (Jacqueline Bisset) must think of the future and their financial security, so Veronica's mother lays out the options. One of the few options that Veronica has in her time is to go to a convent, where she would be safe and protected, but it's not a life that fits her personality. So, Veronica's mother suggests that Veronica try to be a courtesan like her mother and grandmother before her once were. At first Veronica is less than enthusiastic about the idea of becoming a courtesan, but soon she becomes excited by the pleasures and freedom the lifestyle offers. Veronica agrees and her mother prepares her for that world.
Once she is a courtesan Veronica has new freedoms that she never had before. She is allowed to educate herself, a great privilege in a time when many women weren't allowed to be educated. She enters a luxurious lifestyle where she and other courtesans are allowed to go where even the wives of the noble men are not allowed. She is able to socialize with kings and royalty, and influence them politically. In this world, she again meets Marco and they have an affair during his marriage. Although Marco attempts to get to know his wife, he prefers Veronica over her. But the life of a courtesan is a dangerous one, as a courtesan could end up on the streets if careless or betrayed by a jealous and spurned lover. Franco's career involves her in politics when the King of France visits.
Veronica finds herself in danger and is attacked by the Inquisition for witchcraft. The fact that several tens of thousands recently died in Venice of the plague lends momentum to this search for a scapegoat. Veronica is dragged to court, where Marco attempts to defend her. At first her trial seems hopeless, but in the end all the men that learned so much from the pleasure of her company have her acquitted of her crimes and she and Marco are finally allowed to be together.
Critical and commercial reception
The film opened in limited release on 20 February 1998 to mixed but mostly positive reviews, receiving a 69 percent freshness rating on the movie critics website Rotten Tomatoes. Jack Mathews of the Los Angeles Times described it as "both blessed and cursed with inspiration."[2] In its first week it did well, earning a per theater average of $10,598 across ten theaters. Dangerous Beauty eventually opened across 313 theaters, but failed to live up to its initial promise, earning only 4.5 million domestically. [3]
