Venus (DVD)

...in the film Venus. Venus was not (in my opinion) one of O'Toole's finest roles or one his more endearing. Without O'Toole however, the film would have been lacking. It was O'Toole's screen presence that carried the film and made what could have been a faux-pas into something strangely absorbing and worth watching. Venus is the result of collaboration between screenwriter Hanif Kureishi and director Roger Michell. This is the second film the pair ...
...mature sexuality. Venus could have become crass and smutty (and there is an occasional scene that does make you shudder). However, Mitchell approaches the relationship in a sensitive, tender, almost playful manner as the couple's attraction and respect for each other grow mutually from an original lust (sexual on his part and ambition for fame / material things on hers). The title role, Venus, is 20 year old Jessie played by Jodie Whittaker. Jessie ...

MAFARRIMOND 05.03.2007 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Venus (DVD)

Maurice and Ian are two ageing actors that never really hit the big time. In the autumn of their careers they spend their time playing corpses in TV and films and gossiping about the good old days. Then Ian's grand-niece Jessie comes to stay with him, utterly shattering their peace. Ian can't cope with the rebellious teenager, but Maurice is captivated by her. He introduces her to the culture and sights of London, trying to teach her what he's learnt ...
...long dead with her youthful exuberance. Director Roger Michell's back-catalogue is a bit of a mixed bag, including psychological thrillers like "Enduring Love" and disposable fluff such as "Notting Hill". Sadly, this film is closer to the latter than the former, in that it is rather forgettable. It is shot in a pedestrian manner - the film plays out against a backdrop of leaden skies and takes on their gloomy aspect too readily. There seems to be ...

afy9mab 10.09.2007 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Venus (DVD)

Venus is a film about an aging actor, Maurice, played by Peter O'Toole, who lives a fairly quiet existence with the occasional minor role in a film or TV series, and meets with an actor friend, Ian, to talk about the old times. The film follows Maurice's relationship with Jessie, Ian's teenage niece, who arrives to stay at his uncle's place to help him around the house. To Ian's horror, Jessie turns out to be very different than he expected, but ...
...The encounter transforms them both to an extent, at least for a moment. Maurice appears a stereotypical pensioner when with Ian, bumbling around the house with trivial tasks. In contrast, when in Jessie's company, he seems revived into a younger man with the urges of a younger man. Jessie in turn transforms from a chavvy, ignorant teen into someone more aware of what she wants from life, and also becomes more aware of her womanhood, if you like. ...

Vaula 08.08.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Venus (DVD)