Venus

One of the surprise films of the Awards season would have to be the independent British film 'Venus', which has helped secure Peter O'Toole his 8th Oscar Nomination for Best Actor. A collaboration between solid British director Roger Michell ('Notting Hill', 'Changing Lanes') and critically acclaimed writer Hanif Kureishi ('Intimacy', 'My Beautiful Launderette'), 'Venus' is more than just a vehicle for screen legend O'Toole, it's an ensemble effort that combines the impressive talents of all involved.

Maurice is an elderly actor who, along with his colleague and friend, Ian, spends most of his time wrestling old age with only his considerably sharpened wits for a weapon. Life for the two old luvvies is about to change though, thanks to the arrival of Ian's wayward niece Jessie. Maurice is immediately smitten, head over heels in dirty-old-man lust for Jessie, and manages to connect with her despite the yawning chasm of age between them. They make a strange couple, sometimes the generation gap sees them at odds with one another, and Maurice can't help but act inappropriately towards the girl - who seems to see him as a kind of mentor figure.

This film is definitely an original... a coming-of-age tale for both the young and the old, Maurice is revitalised by his obsession with Jessie and she learns certain lessons via their interaction that helps her mature. Sometimes it's a little hard to watch, by turns awkwardly funny and just plain awkward, and sometimes it's genuinely moving. Most of the other times it's just plain hilarious. The scenes where Maurice hangs out with Ian and another old actor (played by Richard Griffiths) are a joy to behold... these old actors are a breed apart from their peers, whilst most of the elderly pine away in nursing homes these guys rail at the world with bad behaviour, razor-sharp tongues and an inner-spark of life that ensures modern times can never leave them behind. Indeed, it's their struggles with all the ego-debilitating indignities of old age that drives most of this film and their actions.

Peter O'Toole certainly deserved another nomination for his work here too. It's a marvellous role - the sort of thing old experienced legends like O'Toole wait for in their autumn years but almost never get. Here's hoping 'Venus' is old Pete's 'On Golden Pond', and he finally wins the Best Actor Oscar he has been denied for so long. I think I will yell and punch the air if this happens.

This is a wonderfully melancholic tale of the tragic and hilarious... a black and bleakly hilarious look at old age and disgraceful actors. It's a hard tone to pull off, more than a little reminiscent of the classic 'Withnail and I', and Michell and Kureishi do it beautifully, with perhaps more than a little credit going to the exceptional cast too. It doesn't hurt that the film has a great script and great dialogue either. A work of class and edge.

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