\"Venus\" is the third collaboration between director Roger Michell and writer Hanif Kureshi, after their previous work on both \"The Buddha of Suburbia\" and \"The Mother\". Peter O'Toole gives an Oscar-nominated performance as Maurice, a 70-something actor who divides his time between acting and bantering with his best friend and fellow thespian, Ian (Leslie Phillips). However, when Ian's grand-niece Jessie (Jodie Whittaker) arrives to look after him, Maurice finds himself increasingly taken with her and takes her on a cultural tour of London, while she, in turn, introduces him to the delights of Bacardi Breezers and Kylie Minogue.\u00a0Real-life friends O'Toole and Phillips make a delightful screen partnership and their genuine affection for each other is evident in their performances. O'Toole famously initially refused an honorary Oscar on the grounds that he still might win a proper one and on the basis of his performance here, he may well be proved right. He's matched by a superb performance from talented newcomer Jodie Whittaker, who has great comic timing and comfortably holds her own in the company of her seasoned co-stars. There's also strong support from both Vanessa Redgrave (as Maurice's ex-wife) and Richard Griffiths as Maurice, Ian's fellow actor and drinking buddy.\u00a0Kureshi's sharply written script crackles with witty one-liners and includes several perceptive observations about both the age gap and the cultural divide between Maurice and Jessie as their relationship unfolds. In short, this is a beautifully written, superbly acted and frequently hilarious drama that delivers a powerful emotional punch.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>","fnc":"googleTrackerHelper.doTrackPage( '\/'Venus-film_options~20530'\/Reviews\/ViewAll\/1' );"}