r,s,t,u,V,w,x,y,z

A tender moment between Maurice (a now delicately wanton Peter O'Toole) and Jessie (Jodie Whittaker), his self-styled "Venus."

Less than two hours, and counting--better get my two bits in:

Flanked by a cast that includes Harry Potter's own Leslie Phillips; The History Boys' Richard Griffiths; and Vanessa Redgrave, Peter O'Toole, The Man of My Dreams since my childhood days, proves, yet again, that the older the vintage, the more supple, the softer, the more nuanced, the more exquisitely balanced...(please forgive my extended use of skill sets in the above, but this is my idol I'm talking about) is the wine. As in 1982's My Favorite Year, O'Toole is--well, playing himself, albeit an older, more supple, softer (enough, already). As Maurice, an aging and highly respected actor, he's still a charming roue, who can still tip the bottle; who still admires the ladies. This time, he focuses his attention on a twenty something (if she's that old) young woman, Jessie (Jodie Whittaker), whom he nicknames, "Venus." Yes: this is a reinterpretation of the ages-old Pygmalion story, but it is modern--it is hip, with even all the right songs that your not quite as aging critic doesn't really know the names of. And, yes: he's ageless (and yet...). Phillips and Griffiths play off their venerated chum as if no one had to rehearse a scene, and O'Toole and Redgrave plain don't have to act (they've known each other for decades, I'm sure). And I'm sure that Whittaker will never forget the chance of a lifetime she was handed, to have toddled on the lap of The Lion In Winter. This performance has been hailed a tour de force for O'Toole: I can think of many other times, beginning with forty-odd years ago, when, even as a child, he mesmerized me. What's missing from his mantel is the Best Actor Oscar, earned in his own right. Ninina is hoping; and wishing--at the very least, can't the Academy split the statuette in half, or, or??? Something tells me that Forest Whitaker wouldn't, in the long run, mind...
"Esta aqui mi madre?" Perhaps Raimunda (Penelope Cruz) is asking herself in the opening graveside scene in Pedro Almodovar's "Volver."

These are not "normal" Ninina reviews. That's all right: I'm allowed. I should probably write the following en espanol, pero...Penelope Cruz is back in her element; directed by the great Almodovar, for whom she serves as a Muse. It's not every day you can set your wrongs right; it's not every day you can become aware of the twists and turns that'll steer you in the right direction. I have read that this tale of twisted love, forgiveness, and redemption, has autobiographical elements for Almodovar: if that is so, he has opened up the gate to his soul in front of us. As in All About My Mother, he's funny; he's serious; he's funny; and back again. He's so...Spanish: "the Spanish melancholy," I described it to a more serious-minded Latina than myself. She agreed in an instant. The scene at the wake for the Tia Paula grabbed me the most: kisses; kisses, everywhere. On both cheeks, of course. Almodovar is fond of ensemble casts, with one star shining through, just a little more brightly, but not to the detriment of the others. That is how he deals with Penelope Cruz (Raimunda): you can almost hear him gently nudging her, coaxing her: a bit here; a bit there. Their camaraderie--yes, their chemistry--is evident. It is also there with Carmen Maura, who plays Irene, her "ghost" of a mother; with
Lola Duenas (Sole), her sister: it plain tickled me, how espanola she was!; with Blanca Portillo, in her poignant role as the family friend, Agustina; and, indeed, with Yohana Cobo, who, as Raimunda's daughter, Paula, is inadvertently aware of her family's tale on the fringes of her existence. Almodovar both wrote and directed Volver. I still remember how excited he was when All About My Mother won the 1999 Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. If Penelope wins this year--she's up for Best Actress--will he be as equally thrilled? Claro que si!

I told you these were not "normal" Ninina reviews...(Written Sunday, 2/25/07.)