In 1955, Russian author Vladimir Nabokov stood the world on its ears with a devastatingly sexy novel called "Lolita," the story of a middle aged man sexually obsessed with a pre-pubescent twelve-year old girl. Some literary experts classify it as one of the most important novels of the 20th century because finally, the wraps had been removed off public dissemination of something called sexual repression. Until that book became known worldwide, sex in movies was only hinted at, never explored. Here we are, more than fifty years after the shocker hit the bookshelves followed by the motion picture and Lord knows how many spinoffs can be attributed to that theme, give or take ages, circumstances etc.
"Venus" is just one more example of the impact of Nabokov's masterpiece and in this case we have a way over-the-hill 74 year old English Shakespearean actor played by Peter O'Toole obsessed with a teen girl who is the daughter of the niece of his best friend, also an aged actor. The girl was sent to care for O'Toole's friend who can't stand her which conveniently allows O'Toole's lust to blossom.
"Venus" is by no means a "dirty movie." It's suggestive, trite, very slow moving but still allows O'Toole's mastery at acting to come through strongly enough to have given him a nomination for Best Actor of 2006. Although his performance is excellent, I feel it doesn't warrant the Oscar so if he does win one, it'll be based on sentimentality rather than merit. Keep in mind although he has been nominated for seven Oscars:
MY FAVORITE YEAR (1982) THE STUNT MAN (1980) THE RULING CLASS (1972) GOODBYE, MR. CHIPS (1969) THE LION IN WINTER (1968) BECKET (1964) LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962)
he's won none except for a special honorary award statue in 2002. This might FINALLY be the year as his career come to a close.
"Venus" is just one more example of the impact of Nabokov's masterpiece and in this case we have a way over-the-hill 74 year old English Shakespearean actor played by Peter O'Toole obsessed with a teen girl who is the daughter of the niece of his best friend, also an aged actor. The girl was sent to care for O'Toole's friend who can't stand her which conveniently allows O'Toole's lust to blossom.
"Venus" is by no means a "dirty movie." It's suggestive, trite, very slow moving but still allows O'Toole's mastery at acting to come through strongly enough to have given him a nomination for Best Actor of 2006. Although his performance is excellent, I feel it doesn't warrant the Oscar so if he does win one, it'll be based on sentimentality rather than merit. Keep in mind although he has been nominated for seven Oscars:
MY FAVORITE YEAR (1982) THE STUNT MAN (1980) THE RULING CLASS (1972) GOODBYE, MR. CHIPS (1969) THE LION IN WINTER (1968) BECKET (1964) LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962)
he's won none except for a special honorary award statue in 2002. This might FINALLY be the year as his career come to a close.