Venus
|
List Price: Our Price: $4.57 You Save: $15.42 (77%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.73 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of Venus
Movie Review: So much more than mere sentiment...
Summary: 5 Stars
I admit; I have no idea why I saw this movie. The film didn't look appealing to me and the accolades it racked up I just chucked up to pure sentimentality, especially when in regards to Peter O'Toole's Oscar nomination. The film came on Cinemax the other night though, and so I decided to give it a try.
Wow.
I will never just automatically dismiss anything as pure sentiment again, for Peter O'Toole is flawless here and delivers what may be his finest performance of all time. In all honesty, I couldn't believe that this man was doing what he was doing with this character. Peter O'Toole has been lauded time and time again as one of our greatest actors who has yet to win an Oscar, and yet I have never felt that his losing streak was a huge crime given his competition (although how anyone beat his `Laurence of Arabia' performance is still beyond me). His portrayal of Maurice in `Venus' has changed my opinion of him entirely though, so much so that I am livid at the fact that he has yet to win an `acting' Oscar.
Let's get on with the film review.
`Venus' is in reference to the pet name Maurice gives to Jessie, the neice of his close friend Ian. Jessie is visiting her Uncle and soon finds herself in Maurice's naughty thoughts, and since he is elderly and lonely she starts to cater to him in exchange for his company and affection. She enjoys his time and he enjoys hers, albeit for different reasons. Despite the somewhat disgusting nature of their relationship, both O'Toole and Whittaker work to keep their characters sympathetic and understandable, flaunting not only their faults but also their humanity.
The script is extremely well crafted, giving every actor enough to work with. The story is simple yet meaningful and the dialog is rich and intriguing. I never thought that watching a few old men converse would hold my interest, but the bantering between Peter O'Toole and Leslie Phillips prove to be some of my favorite moments of the film.
The acting is superb on all fronts, but O'Toole and Phillips by far deserve the most praise. O'Toole manages to make his character relatable even though he is detestable in parts. He captures his characters lonely desperation that helps deaden us to his carnal fascination. Phillips is a cinematic dream, delivering line after line with precision and comedic brilliance. He's like a make version of Kathy Bates, providing comedic relief with reckless abandon. Jodie Whittaker is also astonishing as Jessie, but her character at times proves to be more of a prop for Maurice's development.
In the end I have to say that `Venus' proved to be so much more than I ever imagined it would be. With a marvelously astute script and a marvelously capable cast, `Venus' stands tall as one of the best films of 2006. It's a shame to me that the Academy chose such mediocre films for their shortlist (none of which come close to my top ten) when they had so many beautifully complete films to chose from. `Venus' alone is far more worthy of the Best Picture title than any of the five films Oscar chose to honor with nominations.
Movie Review: A Terrific Little Film.
Summary: 5 Stars
One of the biggest travesties of 2006 is that "Venus" scored only one Oscar nomination; Best Actor for Peter O'Toole. O'Toole (who has never won an Oscar, but has an Honorary one) lost to Forest Whitaker for "The Last King of Scotland." This year reminded me of the year "Mystic River" came out. Sean Penn and Bill Murray (for "Lost in Translation") were nominated for Best Actor. Everyone knew Penn would win, but people were torn between the two. That's how I felt with O'Toole and Whitaker, even though I hadn't seen either film. Whitaker was going to win, but I wanted O'Toole to win. Now, having seen the film, I want O'Toole to win even more. And I want to go back in time and convince the Academy to give it a few more nominations, but I'll get to that in a moment. "Venus" seems like a romantic-comedy, but it's very offbeat. O'Toole plays an aging actor named Maurice, who spends his days joking about his imminent death with his friend Ian (Leslie Phillips). The duo know that death is near, they almost long for it, but they choose to spend their days drinking and joking. That is until Ian's niece decides to send her 20-something daughter to stay with Ian. What he's expecting is a young girl who will help him around the house, cook for him and serve him drinks. What he gets is Jessie (Josie Whittaker), a Cockney party-girl/alcoholic who lounges around the house and drinks all of Ian's alcohol. Ian avoids Jessie, but Maurice (once a womanizer) is intrigued by the young woman and begins courting her. Maybe that's not the right term, but he begins taking her to lunch and buying her stuff. She eventually begins using the fact that Maurice is fascinated with her to her advantage, but soon finds that their relationship is much deeper than that. Yeah, like I said, it's a little offbeat. Some reviews I've read have referred to the O'Toole character as a "dirty old man." That's pretty much what his character is and Maurice has no problem copping to that. This is not a powerhouse performance, but one of those low-key and charming performances that Bill Murray was nominated for. O'Toole is an absolute revelation here, even though he's arguably playing a version of himself. Vanessa Redgrave also shows up as his ex-wife and is quite good as well. I think the film should have been nominated for Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor (Leslie Phillips), Best Supporting Actress (Jodie Whittaker), and Best Original Screenplay. The reason it wasn't nominated for these is because it's such a small film. O'Toole was a shoo-in and I have no doubt that many people who voted for him hadn't even seen the film. Not that he didn't deserve it, because of Forest Whitaker hadn't made "The Last King of Scotland" this would have definitely been Peter O'Toole's year. "Venus" isn't going to appeal to a massive amount of people. A Shakespeare quoting, late 70s-early 80s sex fiend of a man isn't the kind of protagonist that attracts a lot of people; But "Venus" is one of the best films of 2006, with some of the best performances of that year as well. It's charming, unique, poetic, and all around great. I believe it to be the 4th best film of 2006.
GRADE: A
Movie Review: Ars Longus, Vita Brevis
Summary: 5 Stars
Venus, starring Peter O'Toole, is like one of those water-filled snowflake globes you buy at an airport gift shop - except that it's made by Faberge. It's a tiny, complete world of exquisite beauty - as your imagination drifts into it the outside world disappears. Most movies have gunfights - this movie has two old man beating each other with rolled up newspapers. Most movies reek with profanity and trash talk - here you can see a surly, provincial young woman transported by the music of an old man reciting lines from Hamlet. Most movies fawn over the advantages of youth, this movie shows you old men, and women, taking inventory at the end of their lives, trying to die with dignity.
Even more remarkable, this movie explores the virtually uncharted terrain of asexual love between a man and woman who are separated by two full generations - a love that is all the same powerful and redemptive for both. The subject matter is risky, and in lesser hands might have become tawdry. But it is handled with such authenticity and dignity that there's nary a smutty schoolyard giggle to be found. The depiction of old people is refreshing. America fears the aged so deeply that they rarely appear in films at all, and when they do, it is usually in cameo roles playing doorstops, table lamps, and magazine racks. But these old people are vital, full of attitude, wit, edge, sarcasm, and wisdom. They're wonderful to be around and we're enriched by watching them interact.
Director Roger Mitchell has an extraordinary touch; the film is simultaneously romantic and tough-minded. Writer Hanif Kureishi, who gave us the masterpiece - My Beautiful Launderette - is characteristically unsentimental and honest about the lonely, yet lovely, places within the human heart. The cast is simply overwhelming. Peter O'Toole speaks the English language more beautifully than any actor I can name, with the possible exception of Jeremy Irons. Considering he is playing an actor, he might easily have turned up the juice too high - but he never does. His portrayal of Maurice is Oscar level. To see O'Toole and Vanessa Redgrave conversing like any old couple is to witness acting royalty in action, they are amazing together. Leslie Phillips, who plays Maurice's fellow actor and dear friend Ian, practically walks off with the film several times, he is that good.
Tiptoe-ing among these giant sequoias is Jodie Whittaker who is extraordinary in her ability to not be extraordinary. Whittaker's gradual unfolding is handled beautifully, and to her great credit, it seems organic and credible. This film reminded me of another wonderful "small" film, 10 Items or Less, with Morgan Freeman. In both movies, people who are worlds apart have very limited encounters with each other that provide them with a rare opportunity to offer and receive profound gifts. They are moments in time that somehow reach out of time and touch something that outlasts time. If I were in an airport gift shop, I would buy them both for you.
Movie Review: Irresistible
Summary: 5 Stars
The healing power of beauty is ageless. 'Venus' takes this theme all the way to the curtain call in the life of Morris Russell (Peter O'Toole). As a famous actor at the sunset of his life and career, his memory and desire are for beauty. This desire is rekindled when he meets his friend, Ian's, (Leslie Phillips) niece. Jessie (Jodie Whittaker), becomes for him that Venus, the ideal of female beauty. For the film to work and maintain its credibility, the mutual affection would have to suspend our disbelief. At first she ignores him as a boring, old codger--to the point of rudeness. That's realistic enough. But she does not merely reawaken his desire for feminine beauty that was at its zenith when he was a handsome young actor, he does for Venus what she desires. She wishes to be admired. Added to that his wit and charm, and he's the alternative to the limitations of virile--yet callow--youth. Besides they seldom know Shakespeare's sonnets, let alone are able to passionately quote them like he does. Theirs is a mutual arrangement. He spends money and time with her, and she gives him a marginal amount of space to enjoy her youthful effervescence. Each brings a measure of sweetness the other lacks. ("Do you believe in anything, Morris?" she asks. "Pleasure, I like," he replies, "I like to give pleasure.")
Indeed, when she doesn't prove to be dependable, there's still much for him to lean upon. Ian provides more than a commiserating "Grumpier Old Men" companionship. They both share the rage, laughter, and angst of life's final chapters. Their jokes make the film funny without detouring into cheap, dirty-old men routines. The humor only brings about our sympathy. Heartwarming and sadly funny, the friendship is as enduring as his legacy. (When he has a prostate operation, Ian asks why he didn't tell him. "I hate sympathy," he says. "You wouldn't have gotten any from me," Ian counters. "I know, you're a true friend," Morris replies.) Then, when Jessie isn't available, she stirs enough of his own desirability to rekindle an old flame. Valerie, played with realistic zest by Vanessa Redgrave, provides the power of love and forgiveness to ferment the mix.
Between O'Toole's Oscar nominated performance, and a story that makes the seemingly impossible real, `Venus' makes the whole exchange believable currency. 'Venus' does for romance what 'Rocky Balboa' did for boxing. It can be said that our youth and beauty worshipping culture often misses the boat and overlooks the wisdom and experience of the aged. `Venus' reminds us of what it is like to be articulate and romantic, a lesson sage in itself.
Movie Review: A Celebration of Life And An Unflinching Look at Love
Summary: 5 Stars
The marvelously sublime film Venus introduces us to the long-in-years but still-spry Maurice, a distinguished yet hedonistic actor nearing the end of his life and career (played by Peter O'Toole in a tour de force performance, even though he's in many ways playing himself).
Maurice and his elderly ex-actor cronies spend their average day sitting around in the corner bar and musing about how many lines they'll get in their newspaper obituaries. That is, until one of those cronies, the stodgy Ian, announces that his niece's daughter will be coming to work as a live in nurse of sorts for him ("no uniform," he scolds Maurice, "don't have a coronary").
Ian has high expectations for what this young woman will bring to his faltering life, but when we finally meet young Jessie, she is a standoffish, beer-chugging brat, as rough around the edges as a manually-opened canned food lid.
"It's hardly been 24 hours and already I'm screaming for euthanasia," Ian hysterically tells Maurice, and Ian just doesn't know what to do with her.
Maurice, it turns out, has some ideas toward that end. And what develops (kind of) is a sometimes squirm-inducing March-December relationship (no, not a May-December relationship - the age disparity demands a few more months of distance be added) that takes an unflinching look at what part of love consists of bargaining.
Maurice tries to woo Jessie, with varying results. When she asks him who Venus is at an art museum, he tells her she "creates desire in men, leading often to foolishness and despair - the usual s---"
And that's about right for describing what ensues between them. It becomes almost a sugar daddy type scenario only without much to offer as the daddy and without much given as the sugar - perhaps a low-sugar daddy, then?
I won't spoil it from there, but suffice it to say this is a brisk and somewhat risqué romp, at times poignant and at time hilarious (and sometimes at the same time).
Peter O'Toole gives a career-defining (literally) performance full of bombast and pratfalls (some so lustily-performed you wonder how he got through filming without being injured).
My only slight qualm with the film had to do with certain aspects of the ending, but these minor indiscretions pale in comparison to the consistent quality of the overall movie. Therefore, while I'd like to give this movie 4.5 stars and I can't in this system I will instead jauntily tip my hat to the great Peter O'Toole and round up to 5.