Venus DVD

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 ... Read review

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... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Superb performances. Beautiful soundtrack.
Disadvantages: Too many close-ups. A little shudder-inducing in parts.

...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... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Great thriller movie from the Italian stable
Disadvantages: A bit of a hiccup on the DVD cover

...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 rather... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful