Venus (2006/I)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Roger Michell

Writer:

Hanif Kureishi (written by)

Release Date:

26 January 2007 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

The most acclaimed actor of his generation in the role of a lifetime

Plot:

Life for a pair of veteran actors gets turned upside down after they meet a brash teenager.

Plot Keywords:

Actor | Love | Death | Aging | Movie Set

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins & 16 nominations

Cast

Peter O'Toole	...	Maurice
Leslie Phillips	...	Ian
Beatrice Savoretti	...	Waitress
Philip Fox	...	Doctor
Lolita Chakrabarti	...	Health Centre Nurse
Carolina Giammetta	...	Health Centre Nurse
Jodie Whittaker	...	Jessie
Kellie Shirley	...	Royal Court Actress
Ashley Madekwe	...	Royal Court Actress
Ony Uhiara	...	Royal Court Actress
Cathryn Bradshaw	...	Jillian
Joanna Croll	...	Hospital Drama Family
Liam McKenna	...	Hospital Drama Family
Meg Wynn Owen	...	Hospital Drama Family (as Meg Wynn-Owen)
Sam Spruell	...	Hospital Director

MPAA:

Rated R for language, some sexual content and brief nudity.

Runtime:

95 min | Canada:95 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Ireland:16 | UK:15 | Australia:MA | Portugal:M/12 | Netherlands:6 | Singapore:NC-16 | Argentina:13 | Sweden:7 | Finland:K-11 | Brazil:14

Filming Locations:

Ealing Studios, Ealing, London, England, UK

Company:

Miramax Films

Trivia:

The plaque in the church commemorates actor Richard Beckinsale, father of Kate, who died extremely young at the height of his career.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the newspaper fight scene in the restaurant, the waitress is seen about a foot behind Maurice as he is initially attacked. From the opposite camera angle, the waitress alternates between being missing or about ten feet away.

Quotes:

[stroking her hand]
Maurice: May I ask you - have you ever been in love before?
[Jesse smiles embarrassedly, but glowingly]

Movie Connections:

Featured in 13th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2007) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Like a Star

My "Sideways" of 2006

If Peter O'Toole's mesmerizing, fearless, and endearing performance was the only positive aspect of Venus, it would still be well worth seeing.

I was pleasantly surprised that the sharp wit and general delightfulness promised by the theatrical trailer for this film delivered the goods.

Like the critically acclaimed and popular film from 2004, Sideways, this well-written bittersweet comedy celebrates what is means to be fully human by presenting us with complex, flawed characters who don't always behave the way they should- and our hearts end up bleeding for them as much when they're bad as when they're good.

With the simple story line about an aging British stage actor who develops an "interest" in his best friend's great niece, Venus artfully widens into a realistic exploration of how different relationships in our lives fulfill some needs, but not all, and how aging threatens aspects of our identity, but leaves other core pieces intact.

The scenes with "Maurice" and his actor friends are absolutely delightful and perfectly executed. The two wonderful scenes between "Maurice" and his estranged wife (a marvel of a performance by Vanessa Redgrave) are both heartwarming and heartbreaking.

The core of the story- the not-so-kosher, yet not-nearly-as-revolting as-you-might-think relationship between "Maurice" and "Jessie" (an impressive Jodie Whitaker) avoids all clichés and predictability found in Hollywood movies, and presents the viewers with a believable, engrossing slice of life, and fully invests them with an emotional stake in these characters' outcomes.

Venus is an expertly acted, beautifully written little gem that hopefully will not get lost among the more hyped (and over-blown) late year offerings. If The Academy decides to reward Mr. O'Toole with an Oscar for this performance, it will be one that is well deserved and won't be dismissed as "the sentimental choice." Treat yourself to the best adult comedy of 2006, and one of the best performances of the year.