Film

What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases

Search cinema listings

Browse cinemas A-Z

Search 20,000 reviews

 

  • Print this page
  • Send to a friend

Peter O'Toole and Leslie Phillips collaborate on 'Venus'

The two screen legends will star in the forthcoming flick from 'Enduring Love' director Roger Michell.

Nov 28 2005

British institutions Peter O'Toole and Leslie Phillips have started work on Roger Michell's new feature, 'Venus'.

The 'coming of very old age' story stars the pair as Maurice and Ian, two unsuccessful English actors who eek out a living doing bit parts in TV and film.

When Ian's grand-niece Jessie comes to stay, Maurice shows her the sites and sounds of London while trying to teach the youngster a thing or two about life.

All does not go according to plan however, and Maurice ends up learning some hard lessons about himself.

Co-starring Vanessa Redgrave and Richard Griffiths, the film also introduces newcomer Jodie Whittaker as Jessie.

'Venus' reunites director Michell ('Notting Hill', 'Enduring Love') with writer Hanif Kureishi, with whom he previously collaborated on 'The Mother' and TV series 'The Buddha of Suburbia'.

  • Print this page
  • Send to a friend

User comments on this story

  • Lola Williams said...
    It is not often that while watching a DVD, at home, alone, that I laugh out loud and cry out loud, but "Venus" did that for me. Peter O'Toole is magnificent, as is the rest of the cast. The humor, the pathos, I was so touched by this film. Peter O’Toole and Jodie Whittaker performances were extremely poignant to me. They became believable, and oh, how beautiful the last scene of the film was. The British sense of humor cannot be matched. I loved the scenes with Maurice and Ian, shouting obscenities at each other in one scene and dancing together in another. To me, the film is about love and deep friendships. Though I am very fond of Forest Whitaker, and thought he was amazing in “The Last King of Scotland”, I wish that Peter O’Toole had won the Oscar. The films were so different, how does one choose. I am going to watch Venus again tonight to see anything I missed. Posted on May 27 2007 17:57
    Report as inappropriate
  • Lola Williams said...
    It is not often that while watching a DVD, at home, alone, that I laugh out loud and cry out loud, but "Venus" did that for me. Peter O'Toole is magnificent, as is the rest of the cast. The humor, the pathos, I was so touched by this film. Peter O’Toole and Jodie Whittaker performances were extremely poignant to me. They became believable, and oh, how beautiful the last scene of the film was. The British sense of humor cannot be matched. I loved the scenes with Maurice and Ian, shouting obscenities at each other in one scene and dancing together in another. To me, the film is about love and deep friendships. Though I am very fond of Forest Whitaker, and thought he was amazing in “The Last King of Scotland”, I wish that Peter O’Toole had one the Oscar. The films were so different, how does one choose. I am going to watch Venus again tonight to see anything I missed. Posted on May 27 2007 17:56
    Report as inappropriate
  • SandyCarlson said...
    This is a beautiful movie. O'Toole's urbanity wins my heart yet again. Might as well be Lion in Winter! Posted on May 25 2007 02:34
    Report as inappropriate
  • Michelle Browstan said...
    I just looked it up on imoovie as well. I liked Venus, but check out Fay Grim at imoovie. I didn't know it was on DVD yet Posted on May 24 2007 01:23
    Report as inappropriate
  • Shannon Kennedy said...
    I haven't seen the movie yet, but I've heard about it. A friend of mine bought the DVD on imoovie.com and let me borrow it, so I'm going to watch it tomoroow. I read the synopsis on imoovie though and it sounds like a great movie. Posted on May 22 2007 20:07
    Report as inappropriate
  • Nina Keay said...
    Very well acted, directed and cast film. But I sighed for my own lost youth to see Lawrence of Arabia so haggard. Superb acting though from him and Leslie Phillips both. Posted on Jan 30 2007 20:41
    Report as inappropriate
6 user comments

What do you think?
Post your comment now

*mandatory fields





Top Stories

Kings of Comedy?

Kings of Comedy?

As Russell Crowe prepares a Bill Hicks biopic, we ask which Hollywood bigshots could play comedians

Juliette Binoche: interview

Juliette Binoche: interview

The great French actress Juliette Binoche discusses film and painting with Dave Calhoun

An A-Z of classic movie cameos

An A-Z of classic movie cameos

As Tom Cruise makes a 'surprise' appearance in 'Tropic Thunder', Time Out presents our rundown of classic cameos

The Coens' 'Burn after Reading': review

The Coens' 'Burn after Reading': review

Pitt and Clooney star in the Coen brothers' latest, 'Burn After Reading', which opened the 2008 Venice film festival

Guy Ritchie on ‘RocknRolla’

Guy Ritchie on ‘RocknRolla’

Wally Hammond talks to Guy Ritchie about his latest film, ‘RocknRolla’ which sees him safely back in his old manor among the familiar carnival of villains, scams and high-octane spills and thrills

Saul Dibb on ‘The Duchess’

Saul Dibb on ‘The Duchess’

Dave Calhoun discovers from director Saul Dibb that his latest, 'The Duchess’ is far from your typical aristos-in-love movie