I typically don't care for movies based on operas; they frequently take the easy route visually while overlooking what truly matters in the story itself. Those essential qualities are particularly vital given this somber and self-damning account of the womanizing “Giovanni” (Ruggero Raimondi). However, from the very beginning—when he murders one of his numerous lovers’ father (John Macurdy)—director Joseph Losey skil…

This version of Mozart's work proves disappointing. The performers are excellent, accompanied by Lorin Maazel and the Paris Opera Orchestra. However, the direction from Losey and his collaborators feels scattered, prioritizing a muddled commentary on social and political issues over a straightforward narrative. (Take, for instance, what Losey has done with the sextet in Act 2—it’s baffling, and the scene doesn't quit…