Venus (2006)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Dean !

  
  A touching, heartfelt drama as two old semi retired actors lives are turned upside down upon the arrival of the niece of one of them. Peter O'Toole becomes infatuated with her and has a strange friendship with her. A film with a certain charm, if a bit odd at times, but the… More
  A touching, heartfelt drama as two old semi retired actors lives are turned upside down upon the arrival of the niece of one of them. Peter O'Toole becomes infatuated with her and has a strange friendship with her. A film with a certain charm, if a bit odd at times, but the acting talent on show steals the day.

• Anthony L

  
  A fantastic film! Peter O'Toole and Leslie Phillips's chemistry is superb! O'Toole should have won the Oscar! Vanessa Redgrave's performance is also very touching. Highly recommended!

• Derek D

  
  Not at all what I expected, but that's a good thing since this movie had me laughing almost nonstop. Peter O'Toole had his heart broken again by just missing out on finally winning Best Actor for his role as a dirty old man who falls in love with his best friend's… More
  Not at all what I expected, but that's a good thing since this movie had me laughing almost nonstop. Peter O'Toole had his heart broken again by just missing out on finally winning Best Actor for his role as a dirty old man who falls in love with his best friend's daughter's niece, whom he affectionately calls Venus. Maurice is a veteran actor who is somewhat rapidly dying, though you wouldn't know it from how young Jessie makes his feel. A very good movie with a lot of funny, albeit dirty dialogue.

• Chris G

  
  Venus is the story of how two aging actors (Peter O'Toole and Leslie Philips) lives are turned upside down by a teenager relative of Philip's character Ian. O'Toole plays Maurice, a seventy-something how becomes infatuated with her, but not really to the point of lust.… More
  Venus is the story of how two aging actors (Peter O'Toole and Leslie Philips) lives are turned upside down by a teenager relative of Philip's character Ian. O'Toole plays Maurice, a seventy-something how becomes infatuated with her, but not really to the point of lust. Maurice sees her as a work of art, in some cases perfection and in others a piece that needs to be molded some more. O'Toole's performance is fantastic and dare I say he should have gotten the Oscar for this one. The film isn't on par of Lawrence of Arabia, but his performance certainly is- a haunting look at an actor that's become a legend on stage but has failed in the other aspects of his life. He is a stranger to himself and "Venus" is a means to introduction. In the middle of this veteran cast you have Jodie Whittaker playing Jessie a.k.a. Venus. Whittaker takes the role and runs with it (she was 25 at the time of the film) and her past career has her following in the shadowy footsteps of O'Toole and the other veteran cast members. Even though the script for Venus can be a little ho-hum at times, the acting is what really makes this into a superior film that I would recommend seeing. Is it Peter O'Toole's swan song? I certainly hope not.

• Red L

  
  I enjoyed this movie. Made me think. Is Maurice (Peter O'Toole) a dirty old man or not? A story of the agony of growing old, of friendships - both with his cohort Ian and with Jessie - a young relative of Ian's).

• Gordon A

  
  Measured study of an unusual relationship which veers close to creepy but is saved by a witty script, great performances and funny swearing.

• Jennifer X

  
  I love that they call Maurice "MORE-iss," instead of "more-EASS". English goodness! Generally, the film was beautifully tragic but emotionally detaching.

• Christopher M

  
  Wow, what a great film. It stars the legendary Peter O'Toole in the very appropriate role of an aging actor who develops a kinship with a young woman under the care of his friend. It's the best film about old age I've seen since The Straight Story, and the best film… More
  Wow, what a great film. It stars the legendary Peter O'Toole in the very appropriate role of an aging actor who develops a kinship with a young woman under the care of his friend. It's the best film about old age I've seen since The Straight Story, and the best film about a relationship between an older man and younger man since Lost In Translation. Not to compare it to those, because it's very different, but equally great. I unfortunately admit to not being too familiar with O'Toole's work, from his prime and otherwise - but his performance in here was stellar, honestly one of the best performances I've ever seen; he is utterly honest and funny and at the same time, tragic. Of course that the character is so close to himself in nature had to help, but it's still a monster of a performance. This is definitely an actor's film - the rest of the cast excels, as well, Leslie Phillips is amazing, and the relationship between he and O'Toole's character was so well done and beautiful, the scene when they dance in the church was absolutely magical. Jodie Whittaker plays the object of O'Toole's affection, he calls her "Venus" and it's a great performance for someone so young, I look forward to seeing what she does in the future. All in all, Venus is a great story with some absolutely fabulous acting, and I really dug the writing and directing, too. This should be a widely appealing film, and everyone should see if just to see the legendary O'Toole still entirely on top of his game.

• Lanning :

  
  O'Toole is one of those actors, the bulk of whose life has been witnessed on screen. From his early green years, we are able to observe his publicly documented maturation into advanced age, and this body of film roles is both an amazing historical compilation and a wistful look… More
  O'Toole is one of those actors, the bulk of whose life has been witnessed on screen. From his early green years, we are able to observe his publicly documented maturation into advanced age, and this body of film roles is both an amazing historical compilation and a wistful look at life's swift passage. This role, for even the consummate actor, must give the actor pause, playing the aged man who does die on screen when he himself is near the very end of his own life. It is, first and foremost, very brave of any actor to do this, I think, and it is also a testament, I believe, to O'Toole's perhaps living the majority of life through his acting. Although it must be depressing at times to play a part like this, the show -- the business of movie-making -- must go on, and, dammit, someone who can do it must play the role. A bittersweet film by any standard. <p> My goodness, to see O'Toole and Redgrave on screen in their golden years -- their interactions are few, but are breathtakingly accomplished. True artistry and paired chemistry at work. <p> My greatest problem with <i>Venus</i>, although this truly is one of O'Toole's best performances ever and deserves extended play, is that the film meanders on a little too long. Additionally, there are scenes -- several -- that could have and should have been cut. The plane of existence upon which these two "friends" exist is a higher one than requires some of the unnecessary, almost obligatory "sexual" content. Other than that, this really is a must-see.

• William D

  
  [font=Garamond][size=4][color=black]Venus is a good film, but not a great one. It is a meditation on life and death. One person's life is ending, and another's is beginning.[/color][/size][/font]… More
  [font=Garamond][size=4][color=black]Venus is a good film, but not a great one. It is a meditation on life and death. One person's life is ending, and another's is beginning.[/color][/size][/font] [img]http://www.patriotledger.com/content/articles/2007/01/19/life/life02.jpg[/img] [font=Garamond][size=4][color=black]Peter O'Toole plays Maurice, a London actor who's had a considerable amount of renown, but who's not a superstar. He certainly isn't wealthy. He lives in a small apartment underneath a train track on the outskirts of the city. His friends live in similarly modest fashion and are also alone at the end of their lives.[/color][/size][/font] [font=Garamond][size=4][color=black]Maurice is generally at peace. He appears to be satisfied with the life he's lived. He says at one point that he "gave pleasure and got pleasure." That seems to be his view of the most anyone could hope for in life.[/color][/size][/font] [font=Garamond][size=4][color=black]All indications are that his youth and middle age were spent pursuing pleasure in a libertine fashion, including abandoning his wife and children to have an affair. His ex-wife is played by Vanessa Redgrave. She says at one point that he had always put his pleasure first. This comes almost as an indictment. But she says it with such a smile on her face that it doesn't appear to have bothered her. All she seems to feel for the old man is deep affection as both of them enter the twilight of their time on Earth.[/color][/size][/font] [font=Garamond][size=4][color=black]In the midst of this quiet, peaceful life comes Jessie, a vulgar, working-class girl who is a relative of one of Maurice's friends. Maurice takes an instant liking to the girl, despite her taciturn demeanor and overall crassness. When Maurice first speaks to her, she stares at him, doesn't say a word, and walks out of the room.[/color][/size][/font] [font=Garamond][size=4][color=black]The two develop an unlikely connection that goes beyond the bounds of friendship. When I saw the previews, I thought the film would be an anodyne celebration of friendship across generations. Eighty-something and 20-something share an unlikely bond. Oh, how sweet. Get out your Hallmark cards and your kleenex and get ready for your heart to be warmed![/color][/size][/font] [font=Garamond][size=4][color=black]But this film is hardly anodyne, and it could never be shown on TV without some serious cutting. Maurice's apprection for Jessie, whom he calls Venus, is not chaste. When he tells her that he's been thinking of her night and day, he admits that he's been thinking of her body.[/color][/size][/font] [font=Garamond][size=4][color=black]When she asks what part of her body, he begins to list them. He starts with eyes and hands, but he quickly moves to "behind" and even "cunt." For him to say cunt to a woman who may not be more than 21 years old was quite shocking. [/color][/size][/font] [font=Garamond][size=4][color=black]The film does firmly push up against the boundaries of what polite society would consider acceptable. At times it's even downright hard to watch. One scene involves her fingering herself and then offering him a smell![/color][/size][/font] [font=Garamond][size=4][color=black]As a celebration of lust, the film is quite bold. But I can't say it's that thrilling. The script, by Hanif Kureishi of My Beautiful Laundrette fame, just doesn't delve deeply enough into these issues. I like the themes, but I wasn't that moved by the level the film got to.[/color][/size][/font] [font=Garamond][size=4][color=black]There has been much buzz about O'Toole's performance. But I can't say I was that moved by it. I hate to say it, but when I see an actor in his or her 80s in a film, it always seems to me that they barely know what they're doing. It was the same for me with O'Toole. He certainly looked old. But was that because he's a great actor, or because he himself is very old?[/color][/size][/font] [font=Garamond][size=4][color=black]I could possibly see a Best Actor nomination. But I certainly can't see him winning, not over someone like Ryan Gosling or Forest Whitaker. Those men had infinitely more going on in their performances, it seems to me.[/color][/size][/font]

• Walter M

  
  [font=Century Gothic]"Venus" starts out with two elderly men, Maurice(Peter O'Toole) and Ian(Leslie Phillips), comparing their medications in a coffee shop. Ian is overjoyed that he is going to be getting his very own nurse, in the person of his niece's daughter,… More
  [font=Century Gothic]"Venus" starts out with two elderly men, Maurice(Peter O'Toole) and Ian(Leslie Phillips), comparing their medications in a coffee shop. Ian is overjoyed that he is going to be getting his very own nurse, in the person of his niece's daughter, Jessie(Jodie Whittaker), but is less than pleased with the level of service. However, Maurice sees promise in the young woman, taking her to the theatre.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]Written by Hanif Kureishi, "Venus" is a slight but witty comedy with good performances, epsecially Vanessa Redgrave in an underplayed part. What the movie is mostly concerned with is growing older, especially as it concerns the elderly. For example, Maurice, a distinguished actor, can only get roles as corpses these days.(So, presumably nobody is interested in making movies about senior citizens.) And no matter how badly his body may be suffering(prostate is his current complaint), his mind is more than willing, Jessie being the reason he gets out of bed in the morning. I am looking forward to being a dirty old man myself but the movie errs by making the audience complicit in Maurice's leering. Even worse, Jessie's whole purpose as a human being seems to be as a sex object. It never occurs to anybody in the film that she might actually have a mind of her own. [/font]

• Mike N

  
  No actual vines of twilight fear in this entry, let alone ones that know how to strangle. Actually, feel free to ask me about the rated movies. I think I am posting a few review snippets in my next entry, too (!). Truly this entry is now worth at least 30 comments. Can I get an… More
  No actual vines of twilight fear in this entry, let alone ones that know how to strangle. Actually, feel free to ask me about the rated movies. I think I am posting a few review snippets in my next entry, too (!). Truly this entry is now worth at least 30 comments. Can I get an Amen? A Hell Yeah? A You Da Man? A Minute Of Your Time? A Passing Glance? A Dollar?

• Mike T

  
  This daring, melancholy little character piece is touching and mildly unsettling. The story takes us places we may not want to go, but it's every bit worth it. Peter O'Toole is utterly terrific, bringing about one of the most moving performances of the year. Definitely worth… More
  This daring, melancholy little character piece is touching and mildly unsettling. The story takes us places we may not want to go, but it's every bit worth it. Peter O'Toole is utterly terrific, bringing about one of the most moving performances of the year. Definitely worth a look.

• Sunil J

  
  An odd but sweet and touching story.

• Audrey L

  
  Exquisite,painful and life affirming-Venus is an amazing movie starring Peter O'Toole as an aging actor who finds that most of his roles these days are playing those about to die or corpses... Although approaching death, he finds renewal and inspiration in the form of a young… More
  Exquisite,painful and life affirming-Venus is an amazing movie starring Peter O'Toole as an aging actor who finds that most of his roles these days are playing those about to die or corpses... Although approaching death, he finds renewal and inspiration in the form of a young neice of a friend, whose youthful sensuality and beauty stirs the embers of a once passionate,erotic man.

• David S

  
  Not an easy film to watch. There is something disturbing about the relationship between the two central characters and obviously the writer and director are pushing for this. However because it never goes too far there is a constant tension of a 'will they, won't they'… More
  Not an easy film to watch. There is something disturbing about the relationship between the two central characters and obviously the writer and director are pushing for this. However because it never goes too far there is a constant tension of a 'will they, won't they' variety with this story. Saying that the acting is excellent and I was certainly left fighting back the tears at the end.

• Chosen 7

  
  Good film, great performances. Peter O'Toole is remarkable.

• Linda K

  
  Good story and performances as well!

• Wu C

  
  Wow. Great film with beautiful shot compositions and acting performances. Tackles alot of themes.

• Sarah P

  
  Creepy, yet somehow endearing - the actors really suck you into their world and make you feel their emotions

Read all 20 featured audience ratings