Venus

A Witty and wonderful life portrait

PaulaWestwood from Ashton-Under-Lyne [Highly rated reviewer] , 03/02/2007

This is certainly not a morose old guys film, it is in parts awkward but certainly upbeat and hilarious rather than down and dreary. Both Ian (Lesley Philips) and Maurice (Peter O'Toole) are semi retired actors past their original glory, but while Ian is negatively reflective of the past and non to happy about the future, Maurice still has a spark and a glint in his eye and the desire to live. When Ian's Niece Jessie (the Venus part of the film) arrives to all intents and purposes to find a job and pay her way by looking after him, everything in the old mens lives is thrown in to turmoil - for hugely differing reasons.

Jessie, when she finally lands on Ian, is a chav, a young slobette who seems to have got by, and is still intent on getting by, by doing the minimum possible. When they first meet she is lolloing around her uncles flat when Maurice calls, intent on polite conversation he asks her 'what sort of job' she wants in London , 'Wanna be a moddel' she grunts back, he replies dryly 'Do you have a fallback position ?' her response 'why do you fink I need one ?' there are hundreds of little passages like that in here that are hilarious , touching and insightful. This is all in all a real study of the characters type of film, and is in this genre qute astoundingly brilliant. A final note, whoever Jodie Whittaker come from to be in this, as far as I can see she has 'only' previously been in TV stuff such as 'Dalziel & Pascoe' and 'Doctors', but she is brilliant and though never gets over made up, is plainly beautiful. All in all, It might not be a 'everyone' type of film as I can see from other reviews, but for me this is a very very classy and interesting portrait of lives, and is superb. Yes I would recommend it without doubt.

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Venus

SAI81 from Tonbridge [Highly rated reviewer] , 18/03/2007

Aging actors Maurice (O'Toole) and Ian (Phillps) spend their days in their local cafe, comparing the length of the obituaries each of their friends gets as they pass. That is until Ian's 19-year-old Grand-niece Jessie (Whittaker) comes to live with them. Ian is mortified that the girl who turns up on his doorstep can't cook much besides a Pot Noodle and struggles even to make a pot of tea. Maurice, however, is taken with her.

They begin to form a friendship, and then Maurice falls in love with Jessie. She doesn't reciprocate but likes the attention and indulges him until trouble comes into paradise when she gets a boyfriend.

Screenwriter Hanif Kureshi and Director Roger Michell previously collaborated on another story about sexual desire among the older generation; The Mother. However Venus shares only this broad theme with The Mother and is an utterly different film in approach and tone. In depicting a true May to December relationship Kureshi and Michell manage the tricky balance of keeping things tasteful but interesting by having the feelings coming only from O'Toole's side. This could have been a creepy, uncomfortable, film and the fact it isn't is largely down to the writing.

There is also much to be said for O'Toole's Oscar nominated performance. He has a ball as the irascible, pretentious Maurice. Rapidly dying, but very much alive, it's a poigniant performance.

It's Jodie Whittaker who is the revelation though. She's intriguing and clever casting. Slender rather than rail thin. Attractive, but hardly beautiful. She looks like every 19 year old girl. That's the best choice in the film because it makes the initial connection more about Maurice's desperation for that one last connection with an attractive woman than the the fact that Jessie is irresistible. Point of fact Whittaker plays her as utterly resistible, Jessie's got a brittle exterior and Whittaker skillfully lets it crack as the film moves forward. It really is a stunning performance and, good as O'Toole and Phillps are, she swipes the film from under their noses.

Phillips too is teriffic but all too often his character is a mark of some lazy screenwriting as Hanif Kureshi's script decides that, guess what, old people swearing is really funny (and it can be, but there's better jokes to be had).

Venus is a bittersweet film, this isn't Notting Hill or The Full Monty, it won't all be alright in the end. That said it's also an endearing film, in spite of the challenging subject matter and the copious swearing, and is worth catching for the performances alone, particularly that of Jodie Whittaker, definitely a name to watch.

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"You've been loved Morris. You've been adored." "Yes. So have you Ian. You just didn't always notice it!"

Baz [Highly rated reviewer] , 21/08/2007

Given its story, this could have a groan to watch - and pervy in places (it is), but it's still an absolute gem.

While Peter O'Toole grabs the lion's share of attention, there are many other reasons why this so works. One of them is a stunning turn from Leslie Phillips who up until now has been all but a National joke (in the nicest way). The two together are never less than brilliant - and Phillips knows he's up against real acting talent, but every time he matches it with his most brilliant and layered performance ever. And he's subtle too. Their scenes together are worth their weight in gold.

Part of the reason is the fantastically funny, observational and touching script from Hanif Kureish, which should have pulled a statue. There's a scene where two nurses are chatting over Peter O'Toole - one sticking a needle in his arm in some god-forsaken NHS room - and they just don't see him - he might as well not be there - why - because he's old. It immediately cuts to him - head lowered - sat on the side of a bed - hurting. Then he slaps his own face three times and tells himself to 'get up you old fu**er' and get on with life. O'Toole can suggest so much with even a glance. Both scenes are crushingly sad, but say so much by using so little. It's fantastic writing. There's another scene with Richard Griffiths and Leslie Phillips in a cafe the old codgers frequent, where Phillips bemoans the fact that his new girl lodger (Jodie Whittaker is dubbed 'Venus' by O'Toole after visiting the famous painting in The National Gallery) has drunk all his best booze and eaten him out of house and home. He's frantic. The two boys react by relentlessly taking the piss. It's just hysterically funny, well paced and packed full of wisdoms.

She, of course, with her short skirts, Northern accent and lip that knows no subtlety - represents life, youth, woman. And for a man who's been in love with them all from the moment he could ditch his nappy and chase them down the street - she is irresistible. Their romance at-a-distance is slowly boiled and admittedly at times, it seems highly unlikely, but they play it so well together, you believe it. There are slightly pervy moments and awkward scenes where he can't help himself and gets physical, and she calls him 'forward'.

He is - as a man - dying - and he can't stand it - he has so much to give still, if only someone will stop looking at him as old, and instead see him as a viable human being. It's a beautiful metaphor.

Corrine Bailey Rae's soulful strumming peppers the London locations and is well used. Later scenes with his long-suffering wife Vanessa Redgrave are genuinely touching.

There are times when O'Toole looks ill, but then that voice comes through, or he smiles at Leslie Phillips and hugs him - and lifetimes of friendship come through. Phillips says as they sip whiskey in a gentleman's club reminiscing on their pasts, 'I love this horrible place. It reminds me, of what I wanted to become.'

I loved this film. Don't let the subject matter put you off. O'Toole quotes Shakespeare to Venus and so shall I.

'So long as men shall live and eyes shall see...

So long lives this, and this gives life to thee'.

Put it on your rental list.

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Disappointing

A customer from London, England , 15/01/2007

There is talk of this being Peter O’Toole’s finest performance and worthy of an Oscar but I’m afraid I don’t see it. He plays an elderly ‘luvvie’ who lusts after the grandniece of his equally elderly actor friend (Leslie Phillips). The two of them spend their days shuffling around, grumbling about the aches and pains that go with old age, mental as well as physical. The pairing of these two actors in their twilight years brings to mind that magical twosome Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau. But O’Toole and Phillips have nothing like the chemistry that was present in spades every time Lemmon and Matthau appeared together and is thus a wasted opportunity. Possibly much of this is the fault of the script. It has moments of humour such as O’Toole telling Phillips he remembers him playing Laertes in a kilt, to which Phillips remarks something like ‘bloody Peter Hall’. But otherwise the script generally limps along exploring the relationship between O’Toole and the girl when in fact it’s little more than an old man fancying someone young enough to be his great-granddaughter. Peter O’Toole is a great, great actor and this film doesn’t do him justice.

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vibrant, raw, passionate & old men!!

A customer from Birmingham , 27/03/2008

Have to say that overall we really enjoyed this movie. A couple of real ew! horrid moments for those of you with a more delicate upbringing, but fantastic acting. The young actress must have got so much out of having such a brilliant opportunity to be around two old time professionals. The film's balance changes as advantages are taken on both sides, not always seen until you look back. Worth a watch - not with your mother or the kids!!

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Touching

A customer from Glasgow , 27/03/2008

There are not so many films about growing old - this is warm and well acted. Not exciting but very enjoyable.

Not for you if you prefer the blockbuster.

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