Customer Reviews

Phillips: "You've been loved Maurice. You've been adored." O'Toole: "Yes. So have you Ian. You just didn't always notice it!" - By: Mark Barry at Revival Records, Berwick Street, 21 Aug 2007
This could have a groan to watch, even pervy (it actually isin places) - but it's still an absolute gem.

While Peter O'Toole grabs the lion's share of attention, there are many other reasons why this so works. One of them is a stunning turn from Leslie Phillips who up until now has been all but a National jokein Britain (in the nicest way - he's been acting since the Fiftiesin light-hearted & often bawdy British comedies). The two together are never anything less than brilliant. Phillips knows he's up against real acting talent, but every time he matches it with his most brilliant & layered performance ever. And he's subtle too. Their scenes together are worth their weightin gold.

Part of the reason is the fantastically funny, observational & touching script from Hanif Kureish which should have pulled a statue. There's a scene where two nurses are chatting over Peter O'Toole - one sticking a needlein his armin some god-forsaken National Health Service room - & they just don't see him - he might as well not be there - why - because he's old - & therefore doesn't count anymore. It immediately cuts to himin the next scene at home - head lowered - sat on the side of a bed - hurting at the realization of his aged fate. Then he slaps his own face three times & tells himself to "get up you old fu**er" & get on with life! O'Toole has the gravitas & clout to pull this off. Both scenes are crushingly sad & real, & yet both say 'so' much - using precious little to achieve it! It's fantastic writing combined with master-class acting.

There's another scene with Richard Griffiths (superb British actor who played Uncle Montyin Withnail & I) & Leslie Phillips; they'rein a London cafe the three dotty curmudgeons frequent, when Phillips bemoans the fact that his new girl lodger Jessie (played by Judie Whittaker - dubbed "Venus" by O'Toole after visiting the famous paintingin The National Gallery) has drunk all his best booze & eaten him out of house & home. He's frantic. The two boys react - not with sympathy & tea - but by relentlessly taking the Michael out of his overreaction! It's just hysterically funny, well paced & packed full of wisdoms.

Maurice's (O'Toole) reaction to Venus is entirely different. She, of course, with her short skirts, Northern accent & lip that knows no subtlety - represents life, youth, woman. And for a man who's beenin love with them all from the moment he could ditch his nappy & chase them down the street - she's irresistible. Their romance at-a-distance is slowly boiled & admittedly at times, it seems highly unlikely, but they play it so well together, you believe it. There are slightly pervy moments as I said & awkward scenes where he can't help himself & gets physical, & she calls him "forward". But he is - as a man - dying - & he can't stand it - he has so much to give still, if only someone will stop looking at him as old, & instead see him as a viable human being. It's all beautifully handled, insightful &in its own way - ballsy stuff - because these things need to be said & addressed.

The music is provided by the lovely Corrine Bailey Rae, a British soul singer (like a softer version of Tracy Chapman meets Mica Paris) - soulful songs & strumming moments pepper the nicely used London locations. Later scenes with his long-suffering wife Vanessa Redgrave are genuinely touching too - another great actress adding class to an already classy project.

There are times when O'Toole looks ill, that this maybe his last role, but then that voice comes through, or he does an "act-or's turn", or he smiles at Leslie Phillips & hugs him - & lifetimes of friendship come through. In another scene Phillips' character Ian says as they sip whiskeyin a gentleman's club reminiscing on their pasts, "I love this horrible place. It reminds me, of what I wanted to become." Maurice orders another 'large one' for him & his sad friend - get blotto - at their age, who gives a fiddler's f**k!

Of course the central relationship between Maurice & Jessie goes to crap & a series of events threaten to wreck it. We're not looking at traditional happy endings here, but compromises - as all living is. It ends as it began - on a beach - with the waves of the free sea lapping on the shore - fresh & untamable.

I loved this film. Please don't let the subject matter put you off.
In one particularly moving scene, O'Toole's character Maurice quotes an appropriate Shakespeare Sonnet to Venus about her loveliness - & to finish this review - so shall I.

"So long as men shall live & eyes shall see...
So long lives this, & this gives life to thee".

Put this movie high or your rental/to buy list.