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Venus (DVD, 2007)
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Leading Role: Jodie Whittaker,Peter O'Toole
Director: Roger Michell
Rating: Rated R
Release Date: May 2007
Format: DVD
UPC: 786936712438
Product ID: EPID58624485
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 the...
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2007 British Acting Legends Transcend Age Type-CastingReview created: 04/21/08(updated 07/14/08)
by:
) 
50 of 50 people found this review helpful.
Peter O'Toole was 74yo when playing Maurice, the leading actor in this film. He is a silver screen & stage legend with nominations for 8 Oscars, another 21 major acting award wins & 25 more nominations.
Vanessa Redgrave was 3 days shy of 70yo when this film was released. Redgrave plays Valerie, Maurice's slightly crippled (ex?) wife & mother of his three (unseen) children.
Jodie Whitaker was 25yo when she played the leading lady, Jessie; Maurice's 'Venus', in this, her 1st motion picture! Together O'Toole and Whitaker are the approximate ages of their characters. So the platonic affair they develop is a charming one, also scandalous considering that there are 2 generations of age difference (50 years) between them!
The high theme of the whole film is about elderly people, especially men in this one, of their actual era and generation, as in modern day, using the curse language of the age-d hippies turned successful actors, and with Maurice never having lost his touch with the keen ability to seduce a beautiful young woman.
O'Toole is absolutely in character, on spot! In one scene I view him as a completely dirty old man, and another, I don't see why on Earth he can't be sexually seductive in the ethical ways he is. His Venus (Whitaker) is the last woman with whom he'll ever have any type of fling, platonic or otherwise.
Any suggested sexuality in the film should not be viewed as the major point the plotline is making. I won't reveal what that is!
My favorite scene of the entire film is choice: between O'Toole & Redgrave, when they are seated at her table and discussing their past. He tells her he loves her even though he left her with their 3 children "for his own pleasure." O'Toole, who is playing Maurice as near-death-frail, leans into Valerie (Redgrave) after she says to him that she doesn't want to hear "any of it." He says to her "we're not going to live forever." They gaze into each other's eyes and he ever so gently strokes her cheek; then, they mutually kiss with closed lips very tenderly. Afterwards, their ways of smiling at each other is a classic moment of truly great veteran British actors seemingly adoring each other. Not just their characters.
"Venus" is one of the best modern films I've seen in this century. Both O'Toole and Redgrave are in their 70's and acting in a host of films that are currently being filmed or have already been released since this one. Both of them, like the US's leading lady, Lauren Bacall (now 83yo), are setting the standards for the kinds of characters older actors are offered to play; ones that transcend them being type-cast by ageism. "Venus" sets a primary example of that~
Vanessa Redgrave was 3 days shy of 70yo when this film was released. Redgrave plays Valerie, Maurice's slightly crippled (ex?) wife & mother of his three (unseen) children.
Jodie Whitaker was 25yo when she played the leading lady, Jessie; Maurice's 'Venus', in this, her 1st motion picture! Together O'Toole and Whitaker are the approximate ages of their characters. So the platonic affair they develop is a charming one, also scandalous considering that there are 2 generations of age difference (50 years) between them!
The high theme of the whole film is about elderly people, especially men in this one, of their actual era and generation, as in modern day, using the curse language of the age-d hippies turned successful actors, and with Maurice never having lost his touch with the keen ability to seduce a beautiful young woman.
O'Toole is absolutely in character, on spot! In one scene I view him as a completely dirty old man, and another, I don't see why on Earth he can't be sexually seductive in the ethical ways he is. His Venus (Whitaker) is the last woman with whom he'll ever have any type of fling, platonic or otherwise.
Any suggested sexuality in the film should not be viewed as the major point the plotline is making. I won't reveal what that is!
My favorite scene of the entire film is choice: between O'Toole & Redgrave, when they are seated at her table and discussing their past. He tells her he loves her even though he left her with their 3 children "for his own pleasure." O'Toole, who is playing Maurice as near-death-frail, leans into Valerie (Redgrave) after she says to him that she doesn't want to hear "any of it." He says to her "we're not going to live forever." They gaze into each other's eyes and he ever so gently strokes her cheek; then, they mutually kiss with closed lips very tenderly. Afterwards, their ways of smiling at each other is a classic moment of truly great veteran British actors seemingly adoring each other. Not just their characters.
"Venus" is one of the best modern films I've seen in this century. Both O'Toole and Redgrave are in their 70's and acting in a host of films that are currently being filmed or have already been released since this one. Both of them, like the US's leading lady, Lauren Bacall (now 83yo), are setting the standards for the kinds of characters older actors are offered to play; ones that transcend them being type-cast by ageism. "Venus" sets a primary example of that~
Review ID: 10000000006783725
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Depressing and rather dark
) 1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
I watched this film basically because of Peter O'Toole and his career history.
At first I liked the story of several "older' gentlemen and how each one was dealing with old age and the reality of the end of life looming on the near horizon and how they would come to terms with that, if at all. It was nice to see that they had a small group of friends for support. Peter O'Toole's past history shows him as a "once very famous" aging actor, still managing to get work but cast in limited roles due to his advanced age. In to the story line is inserted a teenage girl of "questionable taste", to say the least, who has come to live with and help his elderly friend. As the story progresses he becomes drawn to her..she -many times- his junior. That thought was rather disturbing to me. The message I got was that she was using him to get what she wanted, while he feels a spark generated in him, to have a need to one seemingly last chance in his life for some "sort" of love and a brief encounter with lost passion. He does listen to her life experiences and in return offers her some lessons he has learned of his own. At first all he offers falls on "deaf ears" but little by little she begins to see the beauty of some of the things he has to offer her and she slowly comes around. She is worldly enough at such a young age,to know what he may really want from her at times and just how far she can allow him to go with her. The language at times is up setting, and the scenery rather dark and depressing. (I don't remember much real color in this film.)In the end she becomes a learns some important lessons from the experience of their brief friendship; as it never really goes any further than that. (Correct me here if I am wrong, but that is my feeling.)
Basically it certainly doesn't leave you with a "happy all over feeling"...if anything, I found the story dark and depressing, although Peter O'Toole was and still is a great actor and portrayed his part beautifully.
C= film
A+= Peter O'Toole
At first I liked the story of several "older' gentlemen and how each one was dealing with old age and the reality of the end of life looming on the near horizon and how they would come to terms with that, if at all. It was nice to see that they had a small group of friends for support. Peter O'Toole's past history shows him as a "once very famous" aging actor, still managing to get work but cast in limited roles due to his advanced age. In to the story line is inserted a teenage girl of "questionable taste", to say the least, who has come to live with and help his elderly friend. As the story progresses he becomes drawn to her..she -many times- his junior. That thought was rather disturbing to me. The message I got was that she was using him to get what she wanted, while he feels a spark generated in him, to have a need to one seemingly last chance in his life for some "sort" of love and a brief encounter with lost passion. He does listen to her life experiences and in return offers her some lessons he has learned of his own. At first all he offers falls on "deaf ears" but little by little she begins to see the beauty of some of the things he has to offer her and she slowly comes around. She is worldly enough at such a young age,to know what he may really want from her at times and just how far she can allow him to go with her. The language at times is up setting, and the scenery rather dark and depressing. (I don't remember much real color in this film.)In the end she becomes a learns some important lessons from the experience of their brief friendship; as it never really goes any further than that. (Correct me here if I am wrong, but that is my feeling.)
Basically it certainly doesn't leave you with a "happy all over feeling"...if anything, I found the story dark and depressing, although Peter O'Toole was and still is a great actor and portrayed his part beautifully.
C= film
A+= Peter O'Toole
Review ID: 10000000005267361
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Venue~w/ Screen legend Peter O'Toole1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
Stange little Miramax film featuring screen legend Peter O'Toole. Playing his first leading film role in perhaps two decades, the still charismatic, handsome and silver-tongued star scores a bull's-eye here as an aged thespian who, despite failing health, can't resist playing out a final dalliance of a sort with a mouthy young girl. Strangely reminicent of Lost in Translation, if you injoy that film or Peter O'Toole, you'll have to see this ONE!
Review ID: 10000000003949336
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GREAT!Review created: 12/01/09
by:
Peter O'Toole! He's still at the top of his game! He is should have won the Oscar for this performance.......he was robbed!
Review ID: 10000000014408260
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Probably a good film novel for EnglandPeter O'toole is good as a man in his 80s who still has a taste for young women. It is probably a good film on England, if one likes to consider SOHO an important part of it. There is no drug use, however.
Review ID: 10000000013722153
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At what age is it dirty?
) The theme of May-December relationships is an old one, and has been explored in other movies, often to the disgust of many people. Many women feel that it is the inequalities of our patriarchal society that makes it possible for old, especially rich and/or powerful men to attract older women, while older women rarely attract younger men, and seem to be often left by men their age who lust after younger women. With Peter O'Toole in the movie, I expected to see something a little out of the ordinary, and I was not disappointed. He is a marvelous actor. He does not seduce a younger woman because of his fame and fortune. In fact, he has no fortune, and the young woman knows nothing of his past fame, and could care less who he is. To her, he is an ancient fossil, and with 56 years between them, that is close to the truth. However, despite, the suspicion and disgust with which society in general views such a relationship, as exemplified by the old man's friends turning on him, the two main characters do have a relationship. It is not so much sexual, although that is an element, as it is a real friendship, ultimately touching and changing both people. O'Toole plays an old man who openly expresses sexual desire for a woman who openly expresses her disgust at such lechery. However, they are drawn to each other for companionship, and realize they can share some affection. This movie especially made me realize that our unthinking condemnation of people with much less of an age gap bears reexamination. Perhaps people above the age of consent should be free to explore whatever they like? especially if both people get something out of the relationship? What a concept! Beautifully acted and filmed. Worth a repeat viewing - which is, after all, why I bought it.
Review ID: 10000000010310536
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Venus, Peter O'TooleReview created: 04/04/08
by:
What a slellar performance by Peter and the entire cast. He is still gorgeous to me. I have loved him all my life and have quite a collection of his films. The lovel Vanessa Redgrave is also very good in this film. It is a touching, funny, and lovely story. Very well done.
Review ID: 10000000006503187
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Venus
) 0 of 2 people found this review helpful.
In the beginning funny; quickly deteriorated to banal and disgusting scenes and language. Truly a "dirty old man seducing opportunist" story--therefore not entertaining or enlightening. Amazing that Vanessa Redgrave would associate herself with this trash.
Review ID: 10000000003789903
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