The "Acting" Lion in Winter
by Flick Chick Vique
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Venus charms 4 Red Vines for the mere pleasure of watching an acting lion in his winter. |
They're a dying breed. Those fine UK chaps who set the bar for American actors everywhere: Olivier, Gielgud, Burton, Harris. Last but certainly not least, there's Peter O'Toole. The venerable actor who burst on the scene with the iconic Lawrence of Arabia, has earned 7-count ‘em- 7 Academy Award nominations but has yet to snag the elusive Oscar. Now, in the twilight of his career he has another chance with Venus.
I caught O'Toole on Letterman as he made the rounds promoting this movie. He told David that Venus was about "a very dirty old man and a very slutty young girl." That pretty much sums it up but you really need to hear his dulcet tones to give the statement justice!
In Venus, O'Toole plays Maurice, an aging actor whose life gets an unexpected breath of fresh air in the form of his best friend's great niece. The troubled teen, Jessie (Jodi Whittaker) is sent to live with her mum's uncle Ian (Leslie Phillips). But while Ian doesn't want to be bothered by her, Maurice is enthralled. He takes her under his wing and what results is a tumultuous odd couple relationship.
I won't sugar coat it for you — he's a letch and she's a user. But it is a credit to the remarkable directing and acting that the movie never gets as out and out creepy as a sexual relationship between a dying senior and a young teen should be. At times I was swept away watching the tenderness between these two battered souls. At other times I was surprised and held my breath for O'Toole every time he did some physical comedy. Because in spite of the pathos, this is a comedy and a very funny one at that!
Jodi Whittaker as Jessie is a real find. Her credits are practically nonexistent, yet she holds her own in a movie with acting giants. Leslie Phillips, as Maurice's best friend shares some truly stellar moments with O'Toole. Your heart will break and your sides will ache as you watch these two battle the ravages of old age, propping each other up with a song and a dance. And Vanessa Redgrave as O'Toole's aging ex, reminds us of her acting pedigree without even trying. She is such a natural!
In 2003, O'Toole was awarded a lifetime achievement Oscar. But when he was first informed of the honor, he tried to turn it down. He wrote the Academy a letter reminding them that he was "still in the game" and would like more time to "win the lovely bugger outright". In fact, it was only after he was told that they were awarding him whether he accepted or not that he finally agreed to collect it.
As an actress and a director of talent (the Flick Chick has worn many hats!), I will tell you that to play big, to play rage, to go crazy on the stage or screen is easy. Big is easy. Little is hard. To emote without saying a word, to scream volumes with just a look is an enviable, God-given talent. You could get lost looking at O'Toole's delicate, porcelain face and his piercing eyes. The ravages of time have not taken his looks or his talent. They have made them and him only more precious. Come Oscar night, everything I have will be crossed for Peter O'Toole. Please, let this be the time he finally wins that lovely little bugger outright!
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