Venus

This is alternately acerbic and tender in the same ways Grumpy Old Men is; although it has a larger share in both qualities, I would not say it is a much deeper film. Peter O’Toole is also a lecherous, wisecracking old man — and enough of a dude to capture the hearts of both a nubile young thing and an ever-stately Vanessa Redgrave. The relationship between the man at the end of his life and the young woman he takes a “theoretical interest” in is realistic and involving, but altogether I would not class this among the best films of last year, nor (is this blasphemy?) would I put O’Toole’s performance among the best of last year, or anywhere near his own best work. If he had won the Oscar, it would have been a de facto lifetime achievement award, and hell, they already gave him one of those!