O'Toole and "Venus"
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on September 09, 2006 at 05:09 AM
Peter O'Toole's performance as an aging, spirited, rogue-ishly randy actor in Roger Michell's Venus (Miramax, 12.15) hasn't been overhyped -- I saw the film late yesterday afternoon and it's certainly one of his very best. But it has been, I think, under-described. It's a performance of profound tenderness and vulnerabilty ...artful frailty, if you will.
O'Toole is 74 and is playing a man in his early to mid '80s, and bravely, it seemed to me. He makes you chuckle at times, and of course is charming to the last, but it's not an audience-pleasing "performance" as much as a piece of naked exposure about what it is to be at death's door and stll wanting to be alive in every way you can.
It's a beautiful job, and it makes me all the more sad that O'Toole won't be coming to Toronto after all. It was announced yesterday that he's too sick to travel from Britain. Something about "intestinal problems, which he's had before," according an a story in Tom O'Neill's column.
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Comments
I can't wait to see O'Toole in this, Jeff. If he is as good as you say he is, and I have no reason to doubt you, then I will root for him at the Oscars. The man is a living legend and deserves something more than a lifetime achievement award. We just may see a bit of Oscar deja vu this year, with the Brits dominating the acting awards, since Helen Mirren is sure to be the frontrunner for Best Actress for "The Queen".
Posted by: PaulKolas![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at
September 9, 2006 05:59 AM
even though there is that slight technicality that Mr. O'Toole is Irish...still...it would be a UK thing.
Posted by: PaulKolas![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at
September 9, 2006 06:01 AM
This has nothing to do with Petaaah O'Toole, but I just watched the trailer for "Flags of Our Fathers", Jeff, and all I can ask...rhetorically..."do I smell Oscar"? I think Clint has outdone himself this time...the tone, the look, the feel of that trailer...wow.
Posted by: PaulKolas![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at
September 9, 2006 06:17 AM
Hey Paul!
It wouldn't be a UK thing because Ireland is a different country.
Nothing to do with Peter O'Toole but Oliver Stone said on British tv that he may make a movie about the political aftermath of 9/11. Hope for the old dog yet.
Posted by: Lisa![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at
September 9, 2006 06:24 AM
Peter O'Toole is from Galway, in Ireland. Which is no more part of the UK than America is.
Posted by: musealien![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at
September 9, 2006 06:53 AM
Great to hear, and I certainly wouldn't begrudge a little gold guy to the legend, even if some of the votes are derived from Career/Legend sentiment. It really pained me to see Kevin Spacey win for "American Beauty" since everything Jeff says about O'Toole's performance could've aptly described Richard Farnsworth's in "The Straight Story" as well.
Can't wait.
Posted by: ArchiveGuy![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at
September 9, 2006 09:10 AM
Also, given the state of Mr. O'Toole's health, I'm glad he got a chance to address the Academy with his Lifetime Achievement award since it wouldn't surprise me if he couldn't make the ceremony this time around.
Posted by: ArchiveGuy![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at
September 9, 2006 09:12 AM
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Posted by: grener![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at
November 3, 2006 03:28 AM
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Posted by: outsider![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at
November 22, 2006 08:59 AM
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