As time ravaged her looks and health, the late great Bette Davis famously said, “Getting old ain’t for sissies.” In his latest role as a rotting but still randy septuagenarian, the larger-than life Peter O’Toole proves that claim in today’s “Venus” by maintaining the manly might and bad boy charm of his heyday as a silver screen god.
I saw his crowning tour de force in “Lawrence of Arabia” again on cable (for the umpteenth time) just before screening his new English-made character study about a shriveled has-been actor with the hots for a provincial gal some 50 years his junior. Remarkably, you can still see the gorgeous blonde desert idol of that 1962 epic in the eyes of his poignant but plucky Maurice here.
Directed by Roger Michell (“Notting Hill”) and written by Hanif Kureishi (“My Beautiful Launderette”), the minor-scale comedy-drama is set in a bleak, gray London that reflects the chill winter of a man’s life. Though it peters out in its inevitably downbeat third act, when plot contrivance must intrude on the interactions of some gently droll individuals, their “Venus” holds sway due mostly to the force of Mr. O’Toole’s adorably devilish personality.
A mildly eccentric Maurice becomes enamored when the nubile if vulgar great-niece of his fellow elderly thespian Ian (Leslie Phillips) comes into the city to stay. The selfish post-adolescent Jesse (well-played by unknown Jodie Whittaker) strikes up an unusual friendship with her unlikely suitor, in which negotiations over a touch of her hand might come in exchange for a nice meal out. Despite the presence of a huge age difference and a senior citizen’s forthright sexuality here, the filmmakers never allow the delicate relationship to seem creepy. Instead, it plays as tender and a bit tragic since Maurice’s supposed erotic desire is a mask for the misplaced longings of deep loneliness.
What a bummer to imagine that even after our hormones dry up and our naughty parts are past peak, we’ll still be tortured by love and libido!
But even as “Venus” presents that depressing idea, it offers some great pleasure. In a tiny role, Vanessa Redgrave appears opposite Mr. O’Toole as his character’s former wife. This marks the first time that these two British acting titans have ever worked together. You watch them and know that even if beauty fades, talent never does.
Rated R for language, some sexual content and brief nudity.
