VENUS -Peter O'Toole

[MrBern]

Has anyone seen VENUS yet?
http://imdb.com/title/tt0489327/
Its pretty amazing to see Peter O'Toole have one more go as an ancient lothario. His presence is almost transcendant. He zips from drama to slapstick effortlessly.

 

[MrBern]

http://www.rte.ie/arts/2007/0104/actorsguild.html

4 January 2007
O'Toole nominated for Actor's Guild Award
Irish actor Peter O'Toole has been named among the nominees for the Best Actor award at this year Screen Actors Guild Awards.

O'Toole is nominated for his performance in the film 'Venus'; last month he received a Golden Globe Best Actor nomination for his work in the film.

 

[Senator Jack]

Just added to my Netflix 'Save' list. Thanks. I never keep up with new releases.

 

[Feraud]

Me too. I am constantly updating my Netflix account with all the movies I miss at the theater.

 

[MrBern]

Its actually in the theaters right now.

 

[GOK]

I've not heard of this but it's now on my 'to watch' list. With any luck we'll get it here but if not, I'm sure Amazon rental will come to my rescue!

Thanks for the nod, Bern.

 

[MrBern]

''ick factor''

Has anyone else caught it? O'Toole got an Oscar nod. Well he finally win, or become the all time overlooked actor?

''I shall ring the Las Vegas bookies, and find out what the odds are,'' says the son of a racetrack bookmaker. ''Only once in my life have I ever been favored'' (for 1968's `The Lion in Winter,' when he lost to Cliff Robertson in `Charley').

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/arts/AP-Film-Peter-OToole.html

 

[Feraud]

From the IMDB-

O'Toole May Skip Oscar Ceremony

Veteran star Peter O'Toole may not attend the Oscar ceremony in Los Angeles next month, because of his fragile health. The Lawrence of Arabia actor received his eighth Academy Award nomination on Tuesday for his role in Venus. The 74-year-old star said upon hearing of his latest nomination he felt "astonished and delighted." O'Toole hasn't decided if he will attend the Oscar ceremony, saying the realist in him isn't sure if he is up to it, "But the romantic in me wants to go with my children and have a ball." The Irish star received an honorary Academy Award in 2003 for lifetime achievement.

Stay tuned folks..

 

[GOK]

So convincing I needed to shower!

I saw this film last night. It wasn't exactly what I thought it would be but it was brilliant nonetheless. However, I never want to see it again.

It is a very 'British' film and I'm not convinced that the majority of US viewers would appreciate it due amongst other things, to there being a lot of swearing, although IMO it wasn't gratuitous. I find something actually very touchingly ironic about three very old men swearing as though they were teenagers. The fact that said three old men were veteran actors and of an artistic temperament made it somehow acceptable and amusing. I suspect that there will be references to British culture (not convinced that's the right word for it, given the subject matter!) and theatre that US audiences just won't get - but that's OK, Hollywood continually puts out stuff that we Europeans are clueless about! lol

Actually, thinking about it, if for the US audience, the men were using words such as 'damn' instead of f***, I think it would be accepted. The F word is for us here, much the same as damn or darn over there. We don't tend to attach much gravity to it here - it is a word like any other, whereas it seems to have much stronger and negative connotations across the pond. There are a couple of instances of the C word being used but again, they were completely in context and in one case, used very poetically.

Hanif Kureishi's story about the fears of old age and the ignorance of youth was very well written and the direction (Roger Michell) was excellent. There were some very touching moments, such as when Maurice and Ian dance together in St. Paul's church to the strains of a chamber orchestra rehearsing (Dvorak I think) and when Maurice says goodbye to Valerie. Wonderful portrayals of the fragility of the human condition and the strength of the human spirit. There is also a wonderful scene in the National Gallery when Maurice says to Jessie as he shows her Velazquez's Rokeby Venus;

"For most men, the woman's body is the most beautiful thing they will ever see."

It makes one realise that an old and aged body does not necessarily mean the mind is no longer receptive to beauty, love, romance, lust etc. It was a tragically beautiful scene, played with immense sensitivity.

There is also another wonderful moment of realisation when Ian mentions that Jessie is a much better person when Maurice is around and he (M) simply says it's because;

"I'm nice to her"

And then you realise that this young woman is really a product of her environment. Nobody has ever wanted her, nobody has ever been nice to her, so no wonder she is surly, lazy, hard-faced and manipulative. She's had to be.

Art direction; the train journey was wonderfully edited and gave one a real sense of metaphor and of what was to come next. I loved the subtlety of the imagery too...and the fact that unlike a lot of Hollywood films, the audience is not treated like children that need everything explaining. And there is a brilliantly touching scene where Maurice is reliving his past roles and days of glory - again, brilliantly shot.

O'Toole has rightly been touted as winning an Oscar for his portrayal of Maurice but Vanessa Redgrave also gave a sterling performance as his ex-wife, Valerie. At first I didn't even realise who was playing the part! She was absolutely brilliant and IMO deserves to at least get nominated for an Oscar. Leslie Phillips (ding-dong!!) was also brilliant as Ian. I loved the competitiveness between Ian and Maurice! I was also very moved when he read out the obits and the men discussed how many column inches they would receive when their time came. In fact that was another poignant moment in the film (which later reduced me to tears!). Richard Griffiths was fantastic as ever and although his part wasn't huge, was wonderfully luvvie and completely believable.

Jodie Whittaker as Jessie was stellar! She was a completely vile and loathsome creature for most of the film and despite feeling absolute revulsion for her character, I nevertheless had an urge to give her a cuddle and show her there is a better way. Which of course, was exactly what Maurice felt and did too. Bronson Webb as her uber-chav boyfriend was also excellent. Despite his screen appearances totalling mere minutes, he was completely convincing. I expect to see 'big things' in the future from this young man!

But you know why I found this such a masterpiece? The fact that I swear I could smell Old Man Odour throughout the film! Honestly, there were six people in the auditorium, none of which were old and none of the other four were anywhere near where we were sitting. Yet, my olfactory organs were fooled by what was on the screen! Amazing - I felt I needed a shower afterwards! lol

 

[PADDY]

GOK...What a wonderful review (You've convinced me to go!)

What a marvellous review & critique GOK. You disected the film with panache, professionalism, sensitivity and feeling, so-much-so that you've given me the urge (or kick up the backside!) to totter down to my local flicks to see it.

I have a feeling I'm not the only one who reads this review and is blown away by it.

 

[GOK]

Thank you Paddy, I'm glad you found it useful. I like writing reviews - it helps me focus on what I've seen and taken in, plus makes me think about it, as opposed to just making a snap judgement.

I'd be interested to hear/read your thoughts on it if you do go to see it.