Review of Venus (2006) by Paul Z — 03 Mar 2009

Venus is what can truly be called an actor's film. In the hands of another director, it could have been more, but the way it is in the hands of Roger Michell, were it not for Peter O'Toole, it would hardly be much. Leslie Phillips and Richard Griffiths provide terrific background performances, not to mention that of the very promising and persuasive young actress Jodie Whittaker. There is even the graceful presence of Vanessa Redgrave's walk-on role, but the lasting impression of the film is unremarkable. That does not, however, detract from how interesting and real the story is itself.

Harif Kureishi's script concerns O'Toole, who plays a revered English actor whose work and cherished social life have been weather-beaten since he is now geriatric. However he finds himself more and more attracted to his long-time friend's great-niece, while at the same time finding himself in failing health because of prostate cancer. His friend describes Whittaker's punkish, self-seeking teenager as a trouble maker and a pain, but O'Toole finds that she rather endears to him when he starts interacting with her. He takes her to see his favorite painting, Velázquez's Venus. She alludes to an interest in modeling, growing into a funny initial scene in which he initially misunderstands her and thinks she is interested in yodeling. He sets her up to model nude for an art class. Because of her posing for the art class, and informed by his favorite painting, he gives her the nickname Venus. The two flesh out a passive-aggressive relationship throughout the film. He is too romantically bold while she sporadically panders to his urges to a restricted point, for instance touching her hand and smelling her neck, but sharply withdraws her lenience when she feels that he has gone too far.

The movie follows the developing connection between the two characters. This seems to be the last crack at something akin to a love life, as his prostate operation has left him impotent. It is less apparent what Whittaker sees in O'Toole. Throughout, we see her do everything from trying to get him to buy her presents, trying to use his apartment to have sex with a sleazy boy, take care of him, flirt with him, reject him sexually and connect with him as a friend. At one point, we find that she has been rejected by her mother and great- uncle for her promiscuous standard of living. Essentially, it's about the unfortunate gap and great room for discomfort between someone who is harshly judged by so many and someone who would never think to judge her, too old and too wise and too far into his last legs to care about what is and is not socially acceptable.

This is not a badly made film. I admired the clashing of worlds of O'Toole and Whittaker, mainly through the use of music. There just isn't a lot of impact. I wanted to want to think about this movie afterward, but Venus just didn't radiate. Nevertheless, it is definitely worth a viewing.