Firstly, regarding the comments from "brocksilvey", they are very good except for the part that O'Toole should get an Oscar before he dies. It is important to note that O'Toole has won an Oscar. In 962 he won for Lawrence of Arabia, which is probably one of the best films ever made and he certainly gave a great performance.
I also agree that he was magnificent in "The Lion in Winter".
Now regarding "Venus". I did not like this movie subject matter, (a bit too dark for me). Nonetheless, I certainly appreciate the performances of both young and seasoned actors. It gets across the sense of loss that people who have lived in the limelight experience when they are no longer the center of attention. Also it exposes the general abandonment that many older people suffer as their friends and family of like-age begin to die. However, this movie does it without the usual over-the-top melodrama usually associated with "golden" age movies. Nor does it astray into unrealistic "old people can do anything" nonsense.
Well balanced and very well performed.
I also agree that he was magnificent in "The Lion in Winter".
Now regarding "Venus". I did not like this movie subject matter, (a bit too dark for me). Nonetheless, I certainly appreciate the performances of both young and seasoned actors. It gets across the sense of loss that people who have lived in the limelight experience when they are no longer the center of attention. Also it exposes the general abandonment that many older people suffer as their friends and family of like-age begin to die. However, this movie does it without the usual over-the-top melodrama usually associated with "golden" age movies. Nor does it astray into unrealistic "old people can do anything" nonsense.
Well balanced and very well performed.