Movie Reviews for Venus

Venus

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Movie Reviews of Venus

Movie Review: Great acting, debatable script.
Summary: 4 Stars

According to this morning's Washington Post, when fans ask Peter O'Toole what his new film "Venus" is about, he answers, "It's the story of a dirty old man and a young slut of a woman." Unfortunately, that description is right on target, and that is what makes it hard to care much about this film as a whole, although the acting is absolutely impeccable. O'Toole, who is seventy-four and looks even older, milks every conceivable ounce of humor, subtlety, depth and pathos from the character of Maurice Russell, an old actor whose life has marked similarities to O'Toole's own. Maurice has messed up his entire life by his inability to stop chasing every skirt he sees, but although he has some regrets, his randy spirit remains indomitable even as his body fails him. However, this still fails to explain his infatuation with Jessie (Jodie Whittaker), the sullen, selfish niece of a crotchety old actor friend (Leslie Phillips). Whittaker is a good actress, and though she's no great beauty, she has an interesting, almost Vermeer-like face, especially when photographed in the chiaroscuro lighting favored by director Roger Michell. But the character of Jessie is so unappealing--at least until the obligatory change of heart toward the end--that it's hard to understand why Maurice is so besotted with her, or to root for their relationship. Michell and his frequent collaborator, screenwriter Hanif Kureishi, are well-known for their ability to unsettle an audience, particularly in films like "The Mother." In "Venus," however, they mostly just annoy the audience, though again the performances by O'Toole and the others are enough to make the film worth seeing. Watch for a strong turn by Vanessa Redgrave as Maurice's ex-wife, who still loves him and depends on him even though she's not about to forgive him.

Movie Review: Not the movie I thought it was...and what I got was a pleasant surprise
Summary: 4 Stars

Sad to say I'd been avoiding this fine movie - I kept bumping it down the queue because I thought it was quite something else. The trailer I had seen focused on O'Toole's Peeping Tom in Art Class act (a fine piece of physical comedy). One could easily think it was the tale of a rather lecherous old man and uncomfortable, unrequited love.

The actual movie is quite different - a nuanced, well-acted and thoughtful look at a wonderful relationship that develops between O'Toole's Maurice and Jodie Whittaker's Jessie, grand-niece of Maurice's best mate, Ian (a delightful, hilarious Leslie Phillips). Maurice passes along his knowledge and life experience to Jessie. He takes her to her first play - they sit up close and listen to street-wise, shocking language from the actors. You can see in Jessie's face she's agog and fascinated. What Jessie, in turn, has for Maurice is vitality, spunk and energy to burn.

Writer Hanif Kureishi also penned the classic My Beautiful Laundrette as well as the underrated The Mother, featuring a very un-Bond-like Daniel Craig. Venus' director Roger Mitchell helmed 'The Mother' as well. The Mitchell/Kureishi partnership guarantees a quality product.

I'm thrilled to see in IMDB that Kureishi is doing the screenplay for the brilliant novel, The White Tiger: A Novel (Man Booker Prize). Now that's something I'll pay top-dollar to see. I can't wait, Hanif!

Movie Review: Quirky, Funny, and touching...
Summary: 4 Stars

It isn't difficult to summarize a film with an elderly lead; they nearly always detail a failing body and mind, ending in a sad but inevitable death. It is to the credit of director Roger Mitchell, writer Hanif Kureishi, and especially stars Peter O'Toole, Leslie Phillips, and Vanessa Redgrave, that "Venus" is a little treasure, embracing the ravages of age and vaguries of love, both physically and spiritually, with a nearly 'gallows' humor that is irresistable.

Director Mitchell, with tongue in cheek, has described the film as "Dirty old man falls for sluttish girl", but the May/December relationship between newcomer Jodie Whittaker and O'Toole has a poignancy reminiscent of Burt Lancaster's unrequited pursuit of Susan Sarandon in "Atlantic City"; she teases him, then backs away, and his longing combines the frustrations of old age with the bittersweet memories of the Lothario he once was. As O'Toole's character is a respected stage and screen actor in his waning years, it isn't difficult to imagine these moments having special meaning for him (fortunately, O'Toole is in very good health!) Eventually, the kinkiness of the pair's relationship blossoms into something sweeter and more enduring, tempered by a tragedy, and quite moving.

Yes, the film does end the way you'd expect it to, but in a small way, what the pair shared together improves the lives of the people around them, and the girl can face the future with a confidence he nurtured in her. Old age and death may be a 'damned nuisance', but O'Toole reminds us that the human heart is ageless...

Movie Review: Life Affirming
Summary: 4 Stars

What a beautiful little film. Peter O' Tools character, Maurice, is so full of life despite his rather frail appearance and as excentric as one would imagine O' Toll himself to be.

For anyone concerned with growing old and eventually dying this movie provides some light at the end of the tunnel.