In Youth and Beauty Wisdom is Rare

(Or, Nobody Expects the Spanish Inquisition!)

In case you're wondering, the first half of the title for this review came from a fortune cookie. (The second half is from "Monty Python's Flying Circus." But you knew that. Didn't you?) The words struck me as very appropriate after seeing the new film Dangerous Beauty. For all its beautiful settings and period costumes, the movie unsuccessfully makes any sort of statement and rings hollow.

Dangerous Beauty is the "true" story of Veronica Franco, a courtesan in 1500s Venice, Italy. For those of you unfamiliar with the term, a courtesan was a woman of the court who exchanged sexual favors for money with men of power. In addition, the courtesans were the most educated women in Venice, expected to stimulate the mind as well as the body.

When Veronica (played by Catherine McCormack) falls in love with the powerful, young Marco Venier (Rufus Sewell) she learns the harsh lesson that marriage is a formal contract arranged for power and money. Love is inconsequential. Broken hearted, she turns to her mother (Jacqueline Bisset) who explains that for women of their station there is another way to have men of power. Veronica shall become a courtesan, like her mother.

From here the story begins to introduce elements of Pygmallion. She is taught how to dress, walk, eat, and think like a courtesan. She is encouraged to read (something forbidden for women at the time). Her mother also introduces her to the male anatomy, and encourages her to learn how to give and receive pleasure from it. Veronica learns her lessons well, and after her first night of work, smiles radiantly at her mother and whispers, "Who's next?"

Unfortunately, it is at this point that the story slides downhill. The tale becomes something along the lines of the fabled "hooker with a heart of gold." Veronica becomes everything to every man (who can afford her), and even steels herself to wash the syphilitic feet of Domenico Venier (Fred Ward), the head of the Venier house. Her counsel is sought by admirals and ministers of defense. If it weren't all so serious, it would be funny.

Unfourtunately, history intrudes on the story when the black death (bubonic plague) comes to the city. Bodies are burned like so much cord wood, and the dead are considered a pronouncement of judgment by God for the wickedness in the city. The priests of the city preach the ill-fated Sodom and Gommorah, urging the citizens of Venice to repent. (And sounding not unlike a certain infamous Topeka preacher.) Soon the Inquisition shows up in Venice, and the inevitable trial of Veronica Franco smacks of 20th century women's liberation rather than 16th century sensibilities.

Herein lies the problem with Dangerous Beauty. It works so hard to be a period piece, but manages only the most superficial window dressing. The characters look like 16th century men and women, but their motivations are all 1990s. I couldn't help but think of a Harlequin romance, heavy on historical setting but light on historical accuracy. Veronica Franco has been reinvented for the modern woman, like Demi Moore's Hester Prynne in the 1995 version of The Scarlet Letter.

What's worse, any condemnation of Veronica's lifestyle is considered uneducated or evil, as if being a courtesan is a noble profession or (at the very least) the lesser of two evils (the other being marriage). There is no guilt, no feeling of shame, by those involved. In fact, even the church is negligent to attack the sin of immorality, but instead accuses Veronica of witchcraft. (Excuse me?)

I would have written off the movie if not been for a delightful scene in which Veronica trades verse with court poet Maffio Venier (Oliver Platt). When the setting becomes heated later in the picture, Maffio and Veronica duel, punctuating their poetic bon mots with the tips of their swords. This scene, combined with some excellent settings and cinematography, made the movie somewhat enjoyable.

The movie is rated R for sex, nudity, and adult language. (As if you couldn't guess.)

MY RATING: 4 out of 10.

RATED:
RUN TIME: 112 min.