... His latest nomination was only this year in 2007 for his role 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 ... Read review
Venus tells the story of Maurice and Ian a pair of veteran actors (Peter O'Toole and ... more
Leslie Phillips respectively) who never quite hit the big time. Now in their 'Golden Years' they continue to work though the jobs are far from glamorous. But their...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Production Year: 1998 - Drama - Director: Giles Foster - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Emily Mortimer, Joanna Lumley, Peter O'Toole
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Production Year: 1977 - Drama - Director: Franco Zeffirelli - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring: Anne Bancroft, Robert Powell, Rod Steiger, James Mason, Michael York, Laurence Olivier
Advantages: Superb performances. Beautiful soundtrack. Disadvantages: Too many close-ups. A little shudder-inducing in parts.
...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 ... ...
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. ... more
Despite eight nominations for best actor in the Academy Award, Peter O'Toole has never actually won an Oscar. Incredible, considering some of the memorable and well-loved roles he has played during his forty+ year film career (remember Lawrence of Arabia and the Man of Le Mancha - to name but two). His latest nomination was only this year in 2007 for his role 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 have made together - the first being The Mother in 2003. Both films attracted a degree of controversy, focusing on the topic of 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 comes to London seeking work as a model staying with her aging great-uncle Ian played by Leslie Philips. Ian assumes that Jessie will help care for him and his flat visualising an idyllic scenario of home-cooked steamed fish suppers and intellectual conversation. Wrong! Jessie is sullen, lazy and foul-mouthed. His best friend, Maurice (O'Toole) offers to take her off his hands and introduces her to the Theatre, Art Galleries and trendy shops. The March / December romance that develops is not conventional . . .
Running alongside the love story, is the relationship between Maurice, Ian and a third friend - Donald played by Richard Griffiths. This apparently was the basic idea for the film - which was originally to be entitle The Old Gits. Kureishi reflected his own experiences of meeting friends each morning to read through the newspapers (obituaries in the film) and gossip about old friends. The scenes depicting the long-standing friendship between the men provide most of the humour and deliver most of the lyrical and profound messages from the film. The effortless camaraderie between the three works well and to a large part is the highlight of the film.
O'Toole is magnificent - as an ageing thespian he is flamboyant and flirtatious. His obsessiveness for the Jessie is somewhat creepy in parts but O'Toole manages to retain a dignity so that he does not alienate the viewer but manages to draw compassion towards his character.
You might expect Jodie Whittaker as a newcomer to the big screen to be over-shadowed by her famous co-stars. No so, she plays Jessie with youthful energy and power. Maurice's ex-wife is played delightfully by an excellent Vanessa Redgrave. Redgrave generously gives her supporting role grace and wit.
Leslie Philips gives on outstanding performance in his supporting role. He is comically finicky and prudish. There are a few downfalls to the film, the sub-plot of the young boyfriend is unnecessary and adds little to the film. The frequent close-ups extenuating the ageing stars' yellowed teeth and wrinkled skin seemed a little over-the-top. We got the message!
The soundtrack, a collaboration between singer-songwriter Corrine Bailey Rae and film composer David Arnold, is low key and not integral to the film. It is however quite beautiful and melodic - worth taking notice of. The music in the main, is composed for the film. It is a mix between Rae's songs (listen out for Put Your Records On and Another Rainy Day), David Arnold's score (he performs keyboards himself) and some classical favourites (Mozart, Dvorak, and Satie).
Only released in the cinema in December 2006, the DVD release is not due until 22nd May 2007. I would recommend watchingit when it does. The acting is superb and the film is an excellent character study. The subject matter will not be to everyone's taste. Kureishi and Michell approach the film with a frank realism using wit and irony to convey their message.
Hanif Kureishi and Roger Michell collaborate to tell the story with humour and poignancy. Don't expect a sweet sentimental March / December Rom Com, Venus is far from this. Kureishi's writing has an edginess and bite. None of the characters are particularly likeable - each manipulates the others for their own gain. To use a line from the film - "in the habit of putting their own pleasure first." And yet, be prepared to be moved by the film.
Advantages: Deft writing, decent performances. Disadvantages: Pedestrian direction, too much sentiment.
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)
Advantages: Well-acted, moving and interesting film, makes you think a little. Disadvantages: Slightly slow-paced, if that's not your thing.
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)
Did you enjoy it?
Story
Characters / Performances
Special Effects
How does it compare to ...
Similar reviews »
Reviews which might be of interest for "Venus (DVD)"
Advantages: Beatiful release of a lost movie Disadvantages: Thin on story, but great on looks
Shameless Films 5th DVD release is the little seen (nowadays anyway) Venus In Furs, not to be confused with the 1969 Jess Franco edition currently available on the redemption label. This version from director Massimo Dallamano is based more accurately upon the novel by Leopold Sacher-Masoch who's name believe it or not is where the word masochism originates from. The story here is delivered into modern times, well if you classify 1969 as modern.
Venus In Furs tells a story about fetishist Severin (Regis Vallee) a man who likes to watch people making love, and has done since being a child. While living his life in a sort of holiday camp by a beautiful lake his attention is drawn towards a young woman called Wanda (Laura Antonelli) a artists model who has decided to take vacation there. Luckily Severin is residing in the room next to ...
Advantages: Great thriller movie from the Italian stable Disadvantages: A bit of a hiccup on the DVD cover
assisting Mario Bava on the movie Baba Yaga.
About the DVD
Shameless have opted to continue their giallo (yellow) theme mimicking the 80's video covers. The pictures they use on the rear obviously inspired to get a certain response, however for those not seeing the movie before one of the pictures gives away the ending which I personally feel is a little clumsy.
The DVD itself has trailers for Phantom Of Death, New York Ripper, Torso, Venus In Furs, and The Black Cat all available or due to become available on the Shameless label.
The DVD rather unusually comes with an interview with Anita Ekberg in which she tells the true life version of events as well as how thrilled she was to be invited to act in such a role, after frequently being cast as a movie sex siren.
The DVD is obviously sourced from the US Blue Underground print ...
Advantages: STILL VERY FUNNY Disadvantages: NOTHING
enjoy it.
Oh one more thing, despite the title of the film Abbott and Costello never go to Mars, they go to Venus?
Sound quality is good to very good.
Picture quality is along the same lines, not really DVD but non the less highly watchable.
DVD Extras, non to speak of apart from the usual sound options.
Run Time: 73 minutes
Greg. ...
Screen legend Peter O'Toole stars in this moving story of an elderly actor and his somewhat questionable relationship with a teenage girl. Maurice (O'Toole) and his friend Ian (Leslie Phillips) are two classy curmudgeons whiling away their hours in coffee shops and at the theatre, but their routine is thrown for a loop when Ian's niece's daughter Jessie (Jodie Whittaker) is sent from the country to act as his nurse. Jessie shows up on the scene sullen and pouty, immediately drinking all the liquor in the house and slouching her way from room to room. But Maurice befriends her, taking her to museums and getting her a gig as an art model, and along the way he openly expresses the lust she has awakened in him.
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
WALT DISNEY STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINM; TECHNICOLOR DISTRIBUTION SERVICES
O'Toole gives a staggering performance -- fearless, defiantly untamed and in its own way a work of art. (Rolling Stone, 17/05/2007)
VENUS sweetly sustains its autumnal mood, deriving both comedy and poignancy from the numerous indignities of age. (Total Film, 17/05/2007)
DVD Description
Screen legend Peter O'Toole stars in this moving story of an elderly actor and his somewhat questionable relationship with a teenage girl. Maurice (O'Toole) and his friend Ian (Leslie Phillips) are two classy curmudgeons whiling away their hours in coffee shops and at the theatre, but their routine is thrown for a loop when Ian's niece's daughter Jessie (Jodie Whittaker) is sent from the country to act as his nurse. Jessie shows up on the scene sullen and pouty, immediately drinking all the liquor in the house and slouching her way from room to room. But Maurice befriends her, taking her to museums and getting her a gig as an art model, and along the way he openly expresses the lust she has awakened in him. Jessie's brash rejections of his affections are at first as amusing as they are awkward. When she starts to allow him small pleasures--like kissing her bare shoulders or caressing her hands--the film enters into some uncomfortable, complicated territory, but it is deftly navigated by Hanif Kureishi's sharp screenplay, and O'Toole's heartbreaking performance.
VENUS is in many ways a quiet film, shot mainly in tiny shops and in Ian's musty apartment, and it often relies on single shots of O'Toole's weary blue eyes to convey the many complexities within the story. Far from just a tale of a May-December romance, VENUS is a very raw look at growing old, and the aches and pains, both emotional and physical, that accompany a man near the end of his life. It is an honest, moving portrait of human desire, and how it can both beat us down and lift us up--no matter the age.
![Venus [DVD] [2007]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78012886.jpg)
![Blonde Venus [DVD]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78035276.jpg "Blonde Venus [DVD]")
![Meeting Venus [DVD]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/70473761.jpg "Meeting Venus [DVD]")
![Delta Of Venus [DVD] [1994]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78516593.jpg "Delta Of Venus [DVD] [1994]")
