the new movie Venus assays the slow bloom and maturation of a petulant adolescent commoner, and her charged relationship with an aristocratic, aging actor old enough to be her grandfather, and possibly even great-grandfather. The title is a tip of the hat not to beauty in merely the classical sense, but rather the hold and sway that physical attractiveness affords, the advantages it frequently provides. More than ably holding down the screen opposite the legendary Peter O’Toole is newcomer Jodie Whittaker (above right), a 24-year-old recent graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with but a handful of stage and television credits to her name. Still, says director Roger Michell, Whittaker “ticks all the boxes.” For the full feature piece, from FilmStew, click here.