Venus (2006/I)

Director:

Roger Michell

Writer:

Hanif Kureishi (written by)

Release Date:

26 January 2007 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

The most acclaimed actor of his generation in the role of a lifetime

Plot:

Life for a pair of veteran actors gets turned upside down after they meet a brash teenager.

Plot Keywords:

Actor | Love | Death | Aging | Movie Set

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins & 16 nominations

Cast

Peter O'Toole	...	Maurice
Leslie Phillips	...	Ian
Beatrice Savoretti	...	Waitress
Philip Fox	...	Doctor
Lolita Chakrabarti	...	Health Centre Nurse
Carolina Giammetta	...	Health Centre Nurse
Jodie Whittaker	...	Jessie
Kellie Shirley	...	Royal Court Actress
Ashley Madekwe	...	Royal Court Actress
Ony Uhiara	...	Royal Court Actress
Cathryn Bradshaw	...	Jillian
Joanna Croll	...	Hospital Drama Family
Liam McKenna	...	Hospital Drama Family
Meg Wynn Owen	...	Hospital Drama Family (as Meg Wynn-Owen)
Sam Spruell	...	Hospital Director
Tom Brooke	...	Hospital Runner
Vanessa Redgrave	...	Valerie
Richard Griffiths	...	Donald
Harvey Virdi	...	Art School Teacher
Emma Buckley	...	Shop Assistant
Marlene Sidaway	...	Hospital Nurse
Christine Bottomley	...	Hospital Nurse
Daniel Cerqueira	...	Surgeon
Sam Kenyon	...	Period Film Protégé
Andrea Riseborough	...	Period Film Lover
Tom Mison	...	Period Film Lover
Paul Chahidi	...	Period Film Director
Piers Harrisson	...	Film Runner
Bronson Webb	...	Jessie’s Boyfriend
Tim Faraday	...	Policeman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Benjamin Northover	...	Charles (uncredited)
Jo Price	...	Mourner (uncredited)

Directed by
Roger Michell

Writing credits
Hanif Kureishi		(written by)

Produced by
Miles Ketley	....	executive producer
Kevin Loader	....	produced by
Charles Moore	....	executive producer
Rosa Romero	....	line producer
Tessa Ross	....	executive producer
Scott Rudin	....	executive producer

Cinematography by
Haris Zambarloukos		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Nicolas Gaster

Casting by
Fiona Weir

Production Design by
John Paul Kelly		(as John-Paul Kelly)

Art Direction by
Emma MacDevitt		(as Emma Mac-Devitt)

Set Decoration by
Sophie Phillips

Costume Design by
Natalie Ward

Makeup Department
Nana Fischer	....	hair stylist
Nana Fischer	....	makeup artist
Daniel Phillips	....	hair designer
Daniel Phillips	....	makeup designer

Production Management
Alistair Hopkins	....	post-production supervisor
Gerardine O'Flynn	....	production manager
Josh Yudkin	....	unit manager
Sean Cooney	....	post-production executive (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Dan Channing-Williams	....	third assistant director
Jessica Hurles-Laws	....	second assistant director (as Jessica Hurles)
Barrie McCulloch	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Rob Anderson	....	construction manager
David Calitz	....	carpenter
David Chettleborough	....	carpenter (as Dave Chettleborough)
John Folly	....	carpenter
Kate Halsall	....	art department assistant
Katy Harvey	....	standby art director
Springer Horrill	....	prop master (as David 'Springer' Horrill)
Guy Hunt	....	standby construction
Roger Kiff	....	carpenter
Shay Leonard	....	prop hand
Gert Rademeyer	....	carpenter
Sui Rajakaruna	....	assistant art director
Pete Taylor	....	carpenter
Penny White	....	dressing props
Steve Wilson	....	carpenter
Peter Woods	....	dressing props
Jackie Yau	....	prop buyer

Sound Department
Tim Alban	....	re-recording mixer
Christopher Atkinson	....	sound assistant (as Chris Atkinson)
Chris Atkinson	....	sound assistant
Nick Baldock	....	sound effects editor
Peter Baldock	....	supervising sound editor
Ben Carr	....	assistant sound editor
Adele Fletcher	....	assistant dialogue editor
Danny Hambrook	....	sound recordist
James Hamilton	....	foley supervisor
Adam Laschinger	....	production sound maintenance
Jessie Taylor	....	assistant re-recording mixer
Chris Treble	....	foley editor
Adele Fletcher	....	adr editor (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Ben Bradley	....	digital artist
Stephen Elson	....	visual effects producer
Garrett Honn	....	digital compositor
Per Karefelt	....	digital compositor
Donal Nolan	....	digital compositor
Tristan Porter	....	digital compositor
Petra Schwane	....	digital compositor
Val Wardlaw	....	visual effects supervisor
Per Karefelt	....	r&d support: Baseblack (uncredited)
John Kozak	....	r&d support: Baseblack (uncredited)
Chris Panton	....	digital compositor: Baseblack (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Simon Baker	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Tony Byrne	....	clapper loader: "b" camera
Emmet Cahill	....	grip
Tristam Cones	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Alex Crowe	....	camera trainee (as Alexander Crowe)
Nicola Dove	....	stills photographer
Hamish Doyne-Ditmas	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Brian Fawcett	....	electrician
Brian Fawcett	....	lighting trainee
Dan Lowe	....	rigging gaffer
Sally Low	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Iain Mackay	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Nathan Matthews	....	additional electrician
Jem Morton	....	key grip
Luke Redgrave	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Lewis Ronald	....	video assist
Tony Rowland	....	grip: "b" camera
Ricky Stelling	....	rigger
Nick Wall	....	additional stills
Julian White	....	chief lighting technician
Matt Wilson	....	electrician

Casting Department
Vanessa Baker	....	adr voice casting (uncredited)
Brendan Donnison	....	adr voice casting (uncredited)
Alice Searby	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Martin Chitty	....	costume assistant
Charlotte Sewell	....	additional costume assistant
Tamsin Wright	....	wardrobe mistress

Editorial Department
Stephen Bearman	....	digital film scanning
John Claude	....	digital colorist
Kim Gaster	....	associate film editor
Paul Shore	....	digital data manager
Greg Barrett	....	senior digital grade producer (uncredited)

Music Department
David Arnold	....	composer: additional music
David Arnold	....	musician: additional bass guitars/keyboards
David Arnold	....	score producer
Steve Chrisanthou	....	producer: Idle Studio
Isobel Griffiths	....	musician contractor
Jake Jackson	....	assistant music engineer
Steve Orchard	....	score recordist
Rob Playford	....	music technician
Corinne Bailey Rae	....	composer: additional music
Emily Rogers	....	music editor
Rob Playford	....	music programmer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Douigie Andrews	....	driver: camera car
Gavin Bolton	....	driver: minibus
Paul M. Brennan	....	driver (as Paul Brennan)
Karl Caffrey	....	driver
Mark Clancy	....	driver: minibus
Tim Hambley	....	driver: minibus
Kevin Jones	....	driver: minibus
Phil Mallot	....	driver: Ms. Redgrave (as Phil Mallett)
Mickey McKenna	....	driver: minibus (as Mickey Mckenna)
John Ott	....	driver: grip
Bob Parker	....	driver
Johnny Scotty	....	driver: minibus
Brian Tame	....	driver: props
Lewis Wakefield	....	driver: minibus
Ron Wheeler	....	driver: minibus
Paul Wise	....	driver: minibus
Carmen Saccone	....	driver: catering (uncredited)

Other crew
Luis Miguel Antunes	....	catering assistant (as Miguel Antunes)
Joanna Bacon	....	unit nurse
Paul M. Brennan	....	runner (as Paul Brennan)
Colin Burrows	....	electronic press kit producer
Karl Caffrey	....	runner
Sally Caplan	....	head of premiere fund: UK Film Council
Roger Contina	....	catering assistant
Jonah Coombes	....	location manager
Chris Cullum	....	health & safety officer
Matt Curtis	....	titles designer (as Matt Curtis AP)
Rod Dewinter	....	location security
Graham Easton	....	completion bond: Film Finances
Will Evans	....	head of business affairs: UK Film Council
Synnöve Godeseth	....	trainee: FT2
Paul Grindey	....	business affairs: FilmFour
Michael Groom	....	production assistant
Danny Heffermen	....	location security
Sue Hills	....	script supervisor
Vinnie Holden	....	head of production finance: UK Film Council (as Vince Holden)
Nick Hussey	....	aide-de-camp: Mr O'Toole
Josh Hyams	....	production co-coordinator
Chris Irvine	....	business affairs: FilmFour
Vinnie Jassal	....	location assistant
Steve Joberns	....	auditor: Shipleys LLP
Tracey Josephs	....	head of production: FilmFour
Michael Luisi	....	business affairs: Miramix Films
Leila McAlister	....	caterer
Charles McDonald	....	unit publicity
Peter McPartlin	....	business affairs: Miramax Films
Liz Miller	....	unit publicity
Fiona Morham	....	head of production: UK Film Council
Jamie Newton	....	electronic press kit director
Clive Noakes	....	laboratory contact
Kevin O'Shea	....	insurance: AON/Albert G Ruden
Bob Parker	....	runner
Lewis Partovi	....	IT supporter
Shreepali Patel	....	electronic press kit director
Rose Pomeroy	....	catering assistant
Mike Reaney	....	assistant production co-ordinator
Megan Roberts	....	floor runner
Javier Rodiguez	....	catering assistant
Alexander Ross	....	production legal services: Wiggin LLP
Carmen Saccone	....	catering assistant
Matthew Sanders	....	unit publicity
Asha Sharma	....	location assistant
Simon Shepard	....	physiotherapist
Guy Sheppard	....	production legal services: Wiggin LLP
Anthony Stagles	....	location security (as Ant Stagles)
Shane Stanfield	....	location security
Tracey Taylor	....	assistant production accountant
Sarah Teboul	....	production accountant
Peter Touche	....	unspecified: Ingenious Media
Lucy Villiers	....	assistant: Mr O'Toole
Lisa Williams	....	assistant to producer
Lesley Wise	....	unspecified: Ingenious Media
Joy Wong	....	international head: The Works
David J. Groom	....	production runner: dailies (uncredited)

Thanks
Rosemary Allan	....	acknowledgement: Pembrokeshire Beach painting by
Eleanor Brooks	....	acknowledgement: Valerie's paintings by
Gary Davies	....	thanks
Mr. Dometakis	....	thanks
Kristin Jones	....	thanks
Patrick McEnellay	....	thanks (as Pat McEnallay)
Bob Miller	....	thanks
Louise Seymour	....	thanks
Hugh Whittaker	....	thanks
Esme Young	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Miramax Films (presents)
• FilmFour (presents)
• UK Film Council (presents)
• Free Range Films

Distributors

• Miramax Films (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• A-Film Distribution (2007) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Alfa Films (2007) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Atlantic Film (2007) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista Pictures (2006) (UK) (theatrical)
• Tour de Force (2007) (Norway) (theatrical)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Future Film (2008) (Finland) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Baseblack (visual effects)

Other Companies

• AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services  insurance provided by (as AON/Albert G Ruben)
• Air Studios  music score recorded at (as Air Studios, London)
• Angels  costume hire
• Animals Okay  animals hire (as Animals O'Kay)
• Art4noise  ADR recording (uncredited)
• Art4noise  sound post production (as Art4Noise)
• Audiolink Radio Communications  walkie talkies supplied by (as Audiolink)
• BBC Motion Gallery  footage: "Strictly Come Dancing", courtesy of
• Boom Studios  re-recorded at
• Boom Studios  sound re-recorded at
• Bristol Old Vic  thanks
• Bristol University Theatre Collection  thanks
• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)  costume hire (as BBC Costume & Wigs)
• British Waterways Board  thanks (as British Waterways)
• Channel 4 Television Corporation  footage: "Hollyoaks" courtesy of (as Channel 4 Television Corp.)
• Clarity Post Production Sound  foley recorded by
• Clarity Post Production Sound  sound post-production (uncredited)
• Clearing House, The  negative checks
• Clearing House, The  script clearance
• Coin Street Community Builders  thanks
• Compuhire  video playback (uncredited)
• Dakota Music Services  music preparation (as Dakota Music)
• Drambuie  thanks
• EMI Records  acknowledgement: songs taken from the album Corinne Bailey Rae released on
• Edit Hire (New Technology)  editing equipment (as Edit Hire)
• English Heritage  thanks (as English Heritage Locations)
• Film Finance  completion bond (as Film Finances)
• Good Groove  acknowledgement: songs taken from the album Corinne Bailey Rae released on
• Idle Studio, The  music score recorded at (as The Idle Studio, West Yorkshire)
• Ingenious Film Partners  sale and leaseback financing provided by (as Ingenious)
• Keep Films  audio clip: "The Ruling Class", directed by Peter Medak, written by Peter Barnes, With Carolyn Seymour and Peter O'Toole, courtesy of (as Keep Films Ltd)
• Kodak  originated on motion picture film from
• Lavazza  thanks
• Lee Lighting  lighting equipment (as Lee Lighting Ltd.)
• Lofty's Lab  stills laboratory
• McDonald and Rutter  publicity
• Mersey Television  footage: "Hollyoaks" courtesy of (as Mersey TV)
• Midnight Transfer  digital grade
• Midnight Transfer  post-production facilities (uncredited)
• Midnight Transfer  rushes telecine
• National Gallery, The  acknowledgement: 'The Toilet of Venus' by Diego Velazquez filmed with kind permission of
• National Lottery  awarding funds from
• One Aldwych  thanks
• Panavision UK  camera and grip equipment
• Panavision UK  camera equipment provided by
• Production Copier Company  production equipment and services (uncredited)
• Prostate Cancer Research Foundation  thanks (as The Prostate Cancer Charity)
• Royal Court Theatre  thanks
• Salvo's  thanks
• Sapex Scripts  post-production scripts (as Sapex)
• Sarah Eastel Locations  thanks
• Shipleys  auditor
• Special Treats Production Company  electronic press kit (as Special Treaks Productions)
• Theatre Museum, Covent Garden  thanks (as Theatre Museum London)
• Westminster Kingsway College  thanks
• Wiggin  production legal services

MPAA:

Rated R for language, some sexual content and brief nudity.

Runtime:

95 min | Canada:95 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Ireland:16 | UK:15 | Australia:MA | Portugal:M/12 | Netherlands:6 | Singapore:NC-16 | Argentina:13 | Sweden:7 | Finland:K-11 | Brazil:14

Filming Locations:

Ealing Studios, Ealing, London, England, UK

Company:

Miramax Films

Trivia:

Jodie Whittaker's feature film debut, and one of her first on screen appearances.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the newspaper fight scene in the restaurant, the waitress is seen about a foot behind Maurice as he is initially attacked. From the opposite camera angle, the waitress alternates between being missing or about ten feet away.

Quotes:

Ian: How's Valerie?
Maurice: Phoning my continuously with complaints.
Ian: You're her husband.
Maurice: Am I?
Ian: Yeah. You did one of your runners, if you remember.
Maurice: Did I? But I never wanted to be independent.
Ian: I love it.
Maurice: I am about to die and I know nothing about myself.
Ian: You have been loved, though, Maurice. You've been adored.
Maurice: Yes. And so have you, Ian, a little bit. Except you didn't always notice it.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 79th Annual Academy Awards (2007) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Slavonic Dances Op. 72, No. 2 in E minor: Dumka (Allegretto grazioso)

My "Sideways" of 2006

If Peter O'Toole's mesmerizing, fearless, and endearing performance was the only positive aspect of Venus, it would still be well worth seeing.

I was pleasantly surprised that the sharp wit and general delightfulness promised by the theatrical trailer for this film delivered the goods.

Like the critically acclaimed and popular film from 2004, Sideways, this well-written bittersweet comedy celebrates what is means to be fully human by presenting us with complex, flawed characters who don't always behave the way they should- and our hearts end up bleeding for them as much when they're bad as when they're good.

With the simple story line about an aging British stage actor who develops an "interest" in his best friend's great niece, Venus artfully widens into a realistic exploration of how different relationships in our lives fulfill some needs, but not all, and how aging threatens aspects of our identity, but leaves other core pieces intact.

The scenes with "Maurice" and his actor friends are absolutely delightful and perfectly executed. The two wonderful scenes between "Maurice" and his estranged wife (a marvel of a performance by Vanessa Redgrave) are both heartwarming and heartbreaking.

The core of the story- the not-so-kosher, yet not-nearly-as-revolting as-you-might-think relationship between "Maurice" and "Jessie" (an impressive Jodie Whitaker) avoids all clichés and predictability found in Hollywood movies, and presents the viewers with a believable, engrossing slice of life, and fully invests them with an emotional stake in these characters' outcomes.

Venus is an expertly acted, beautifully written little gem that hopefully will not get lost among the more hyped (and over-blown) late year offerings. If The Academy decides to reward Mr. O'Toole with an Oscar for this performance, it will be one that is well deserved and won't be dismissed as "the sentimental choice." Treat yourself to the best adult comedy of 2006, and one of the best performances of the year.