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Venus [DVD] [2007]

Peter O'Toole , Jodie Whittaker , Roger Michell    Suitable for 15 years and over   DVD
3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
Price: £12.97
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Product details

  • Actors: Peter O'Toole, Jodie Whittaker, Leslie Phillips, Richard Griffiths, Vanessa Redgrave
  • Directors: Roger Michell
  • Writers: Hanif Kureishi
  • Producers: Charles Moore, Kevin Loader, Miles Ketley, Rosa Romero, Scott Rudin
  • Format: PAL, Widescreen, Dolby, Digital Sound
  • Language: English
  • Subtitles: English
  • Subtitles For The Hearing Impaired: English
  • Audio Description: English
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9 - 1.85:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: 15
  • Studio: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
  • DVD Release Date: 23 July 2007
  • Run Time: 95 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B000O3HFRO
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 12,857 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)

Reviews

Product Description

Hanif Kureishi-penned comedy drama starring Peter O'Toole and Leslie Phillips as Maurice and Ian, a pair of veteran actors who never quite hit the big time and now find themselves in their 'Golden Years'. They continue to work, though the jobs are far from glamorous. Their comfortable routine and witty banter over breakfast in a favourite place is disrupted by the arrival of Ian's grand-niece, Jessie (Jodie Whittaker). Jessie quickly tries her great-uncle's patience; but Maurice is absolutely taken with the young woman and proceeds to show her the cultural sights of London. As Maurice tries to give Jessie the benefit of s experience, he is surprised to discover how very little he knows...

Product Description

Highly acclaimed drama from screenwriter Hanif Kureishi (My Beautiful Laundrette) & director Roger Michell (Notting Hill) starring Peter O'Toole (Lawrence of Arabia; The Lion in Winter; Murphy's War; Caligula; Tv's - Pied Piper; Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell) as Maurice, an elderly veteran actor coming to terms with old age and impending death. Suddenly into his world comes his closest friend's petulant and provincial young grandniece, Jessie (Jodie Whittaker) initially just to be his companion and if need be, carer, however as they learn more about each other their relationship grows and changes in ways no one could have predicted. Leslie Phillips (Carry on Again, Doctor; Don't Just Lie There, Say Something; Spanish Fly; August), Richard Griffiths (A Private Function; Withnail and I; Guarding Tess) & Vanessa Redgrave (Camelot; Isadora; The Devils; Howards End; A Month by the Lake) co-star in this superb, feel-good film, aptly described by The Times as "Wry, Affectionate and Moving: An Unmissable Gem".

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Brave, disturbing and rather wonderful 2 Oct 2007
By Jaybird
Format:DVD
Venus is the story of an aging actor and his friends, coming to terms with their mortality. Maurice (in a wonderfully understated performance) falls in love with his best friend's great niece,Jess, a confused, selfish, immature 19 year old played by Jodie Whittaker.

It is to Whittaker's credit that her performance stands up so well in amongst the likes of O'Toole, Vanessa Redgrave and Leslie Phillips in particular.

Both Maurice and Jess undergo real journeys in this film. Maurice's attention and insight give Jess the confidence to open her horizons. She learns the value of kindnesses in an unkind world. Maurice takes real pleasure in watching her grow, it distracts him, but also gives him pause to reflect on the pain of unrequited love. As he reviews his life, in the light shone by this difficult relationship, he slowly comes to terms with his inevitable demise.

A lot of reviewers are put off by the creepy nature of the (very slightly) physical scenes - all I can say is that they are meant to be disturbing. Maurice is no more a cuddly grandpa than Jess is a sweet, innocent child. What is extraordinary is how sympathetically they are handled.

All I can say is that this is certainly a love it or hate it film; it is so divisive because it is genuinely shocking to see a watery eyed old man pawing a beautiful young girl, and to witness her confusion and discomfort. But not many films have something real to say about old age and dying, so be prepared but do watch it.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic 18 Aug 2008
Format:DVD
This film is amazing. The acting is superb and story very moving. It manages to be happy, sad, funny and uplifting all at once. The 'disturbing' moments work and are integral to the story. I choose to look at it as rather than him being a dirty old man, he's just the same man he always was, a womaniser, in an old body. Wonderful, a must see.
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21 of 23 people found the following review helpful
By Mark Barry, Reckless Records, London HALL OF FAME TOP 50 REVIEWER VINE™ VOICE
Format:DVD
This could have a groan to watch, even pervy (it actually is in places) 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 Britain (in the nicest way - he's been acting since the Fifties in light-hearted and often bawdy British comedies). The two together are never anything less than brilliant. 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 National Health Service room - and they just don't see him - he might as well not be there - why - because he's old - and therefore doesn't count anymore. It immediately cuts to him in the next scene at home - head lowered - sat on the side of a bed - hurting at the realisation of his aged fate. 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 (superb British actor who played Uncle Monty in Withnail & I) and Leslie Phillips; they're in a London cafe the three dotty cumudgens frequent, when Phillips bemoans the fact that his new girl lodger Jessie (played by Judie Whittaker - 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 - not with sympathy and tea - but by relentlessly taking the piss out of his overreaction! It's just hysterically funny, well paced and packed full of wisdoms.

Maurice's (O'Toole) reaction to Venus is entirely different. 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's irresistable. 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 as I said and awkward scenes where he can't help himself and gets physical, and she calls him "forward". But 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 all beautifully handled, insightful and ballsy - because these things should be/need to be said and addressed.

The music is provided by the lovely Corrine Bailey Rae, a British soul singer (like a softer version of Tracy Chapman meets Mica Paris) - soulful songs and strumming moments pepper the nicely used London locations. Later scenes with his long-suffering wife Vanessa Redgrave are genuinely touching too - another great actress adding class to an already classy project.

There are times when O'Toole looks ill, that this maybe his last role, but then that voice comes through, or he does an "act-or's turn", or he smiles at Leslie Phillips and hugs him - and lifetimes of friendship come through. In another scene Phillips' character Ian 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." He admires Maurice and is jealous of him, but can say it without fear, because they're real friends. Sipping whiskey and clipping toenails!

Of course the central relationship between Maurice & Jessie goes to crap and a series of events threaten to wreck it. We're not looking at traditional happy endings here, but compromises - as all living is. It ends as it began - on a beach - with the waves of the free sea lapping on the shore - fresh and untamable.

I loved this film. Please don't let the subject matter put you off.
In one particularly touching scene, O'Toole's character Maurice, quotes Shakespeare to Venus - and to finish this review - so shall I.

"So long as men shall live and eyes shall see...
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee".

Put this movie high on your rental/to buy list.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars Grown-Up Lolita and Octogenerian Suitor
I could watch Peter O'Toole reciting the telephone directory, and his performance is wonderful in this film. Read more
Published 10 days ago by Arachne202
5.0 out of 5 stars Venus [DVD] [2007]
When I first saw this film I thought it was a totally brilliant film and has so many classic British Actors who make this film such a beautiful experience and is a must for anyoe... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Andrew C. Miller
5.0 out of 5 stars amazing yet strange film ?
Looooovvveeee thisssss film.. :) watched it one night with my grandad, & then purchased it from a trusted amazon seller (zoverstocks) ,I buy ALL my dvds from there,although the... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Laura Cooper
5.0 out of 5 stars A Brilliant Film About Life, Death, Sex, Love and Friendship
My Beautiful Launderette was one of the first art house films I ever saw and I loved it. But ever since, having heard and watched a few disturbing things he'd done, I'd written off... Read more
Published 13 months ago by William Cohen
4.0 out of 5 stars venu,a movie with peter o' toole
When I've read on a magazine about the opportunity to buy this movie on dvd on amazon I was really excited. Read more
Published on 1 Nov 2010 by Nan
4.0 out of 5 stars Classic actors, wonderful film - if a little disturbing!
The draw of this film is its two leads; Peter O'Toole and Leslie Phillips. So rare is it to see national treasures like this pair given lead roles, considering the trend today is... Read more
Published on 22 Sep 2010 by Andrew Kyle
4.0 out of 5 stars A lovely British Film
A lovely film to see, high quality British story and filming. Worth buying or renting
Published on 23 Aug 2010 by Rupert H. Wenn
3.0 out of 5 stars Sure to divide opinion
Yes, I know it's only a film and it was intended to be entertaining and amusing. At least, that's what I assume a "comedy" is supposed to be. Read more
Published on 8 Aug 2010 by Four Violets
5.0 out of 5 stars Poignant, witty and (for a film about death) strangely life-affirming...
This is an excellent film, interestingly evoking strong and opposing views, as shown in these reviews. Read more
Published on 28 July 2010 by D
5.0 out of 5 stars Funny, moving, sad
I watched this and enjoyed it for the acting and the humour as well as the sadness of the inevitability of old age. Read more
Published on 1 Oct 2009 by Dick Pearson
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