Le rideau final

J. J. Curtis is a fading star in the game show world. After seeing a young novelist named Jonathan Stitch win a prestigious award, Curtis hires the scribe to pen his biography. He believes it will bring him more attention, which he needs if he is to beat rival game show host and mortal enemy Dave Turner in the ratings war. As Stitch spends time with Curtis, he realises the man isn't the charming fellow he seems on television, but a ruthless manipulator that will do anything and everything to get what he wants. Will the aging host's machinations spell disaster for Stitch, or will he be beaten at his own game?

Directed by Patrick Harkins and written by John Hodge, 'The Final Curtain' is an uneven black-comedy that tells a somewhat familiar story- but tells it well. Touching upon themes such as the loss of fame and the search for legacy, the contrast between reality and appearance, as well as the relationship between art and life, the film explores some interesting ideas. Hodge's dialogue is witty and acerbic and- though a little one dimensional- most of his characters are believable. J. J. Is a particularly interesting subject, a man fuelled by his own sense of self-importance, and his struggle to secure his place in a rapidly changing industry is engaging.

However, the film is not without its flaws. The narrative is uneven and some of Hodge's characters are underdeveloped and exaggerated. Turner is a one-dimensional villain, who is both whiny and irritating - character traits only amplified by Aidan Gillen's over-the-top performance. Stitch is also something of a wet-blanket, who does not make for a very compelling central character. He lacks agency and personality, and his relationship with his girlfriend is poorly explored. Moreover, the twists and turns that populate the film's latter half are largely predictable and unsatisfying.

Oliver Curtis's cinematography isn't much to write home about either, being competent but unremarkable. While it tells the story and sets the mood, it lacks visual flair or style. Curtis uses conventional shots and angles, naturalistic lighting and muted colours, with some contrast and highlights to heighten emotions in certain scenes; though no image he captures is particularly memorable. Overall, his cinematography is adequate and functional, but not distinctive.

On the other hand, Kave Quinn's production design is commendable. She faithfully captures the look and feel of two very different game shows, one modern and the other traditional. Mark Thomas's score is atmospheric and grand, adding additional drama and tension to proceedings. Susannah Buxton's costume design is also worth mentioning, as it adds to the characters personalities and identities, as well as to the contrast between the two game shows.

'The Final Curtain' finds Peter O'Toole on top form as J. J. Curtis, delivering a performance that is a masterclass in menace. Charming, bitter and cynical, he plays the man as a sleazy arch manipulator in the style of J. J. Hunsecker. He dominates the film, and is clearly having a ball with the material. Alongside him, Adrien Lester does fine work as Stitch, even if the role isn't exactly demanding. He manages to convey the curiosity and conflict of the writer, who is torn between his admiration and disgust for Curtis, and has good chemistry with O'Toole. Aidan Gillen hams it up as Turner, seeming hell bent on chewing as much scenery as he can; though has some strong scenes when he chooses to underplay it.

'The Final Curtain' is an entertaining but flawed comic-drama exploring themes of television and fame, featuring sharp dialogue and a brilliant performance from Peter O'Toole. The film suffers from an uneven narrative and a predictable last act, but also boasts some compelling elements, such as the stirring score and the high-quality production design. Above all else though, it is worth watching for O'Toole's portrayal of J. J. Curtis, a fascinatingly complex character who will keep you hooked until the curtain falls.

I recently watched this film on the Sundance channel, and it was wonderful. The performances were great, and it was especially enjoyable to watch Peter O'Toole. I think he gave one of his best contemporary performances in this film. You can tell he is still a master at his craft. This is a great film to watch on a rainy afternoon - great story, great cast. This film is wonderful and it gives you a glimpse into the dark world of show business - the shrewdness, the sometimes shady dealings that get people where they are in the industry. The tale the film tells is well woven and well told. I would recommend this film for younger audiences (18+) who maybe have not seen some of Peter O'Toole's older films. I think it is a great way for them to see a true master who is still at the top of his craft even though he is in the autumn of his years. A great film!

Who on earth would enjoy a dark and cynical comedy full of unappealing characters and unpleasant plot twists? .I suppose I would, however unwillingly. Peter O'Toole plays the aging actor/entertainer JJ Curtis, whose fame now revolves around `The Big Prize', the tacky game show he produces and hosts. While trying to make a lucrative deal to air his program in the U.S., the competition rears its ugly head in the form of young Dave Turner, host of a different tacky and truly `shocking' game show (pun intended). Both are willing to play dirty to get the U.S. deal--in fact no tactic is too twisted or drastic for either men--and I promise you a few surprisingly nasty tricks.

Also thrown into the mix is Adrian Lester as the emerging writer (and narrator of this tale) Jonathan Snitch, an interesting surname since he is hired to write JJ Curtis' memoirs. JJ is particularly anxious to get his life story recorded for posterity since he has just been diagnosed with terminal cancer; and lest you think this condition makes his character more sympathetic--think again. Snitch stands out as the only decent character in the cast, and Adrian Lester does a superb job. Adrian Gillen deftly handles the unlikable Dave Turner, and Julia Sawalha (Saffy in the Brit TV series

Absolutely Fabulous) appears as Dave's hapless assistant.

Peter O'Toole, not surprisingly, is Absolutely Fabulous as JJ. The characters may be drawn with a wide brush, but O'Toole somehow finds the subtleties and nuances that make JJ a three-dimensional creature. I honestly think this is an award-deserving performance.

But, this film won't (and didn't) win any awards in America; in fact I wonder if anyone but the 10 of us rating it on this site saw the film. Black humor and a story that defies categorizing ensure a small audience for this quirky movie. But hey, I enjoy watching a movie and being surprised and deliciously horrified. I enjoy wonderful performances in a small but slickly executed production. I like a film that is not so bland that I've forgotten it 10 minutes later. It's not for everyone--but I hope it will find the audience it deserves.

Peter O'Toole may be the only reason to watch "The Final Curtain", and it's of course a fabulous performance, although he is not given much to work with. The main problem here is that all the other actors are painfully bad and the script doesn't have the spark of "Trainspotting". All these young actors simply lack the charm and the talent to stand up to O'Toole, so their characters are utterly unconvincing and clichéd.

It's a shame when you look at it because you can't help but feel that Peter O'Toole's enormous talent is not being used properly. The movie's good intentions are noted, but the satire is pretty thin under this undistinguished direction, and there are clumsy plot holes throughout. I don't mean to say that this is a bad movie, but it could have been much better. Watch it for Peter's multi-layered performance, there's nothing like it.

As I saw in the last review I read, not many in this country have even seen it, But I viewed it today on cable and thought it was worth some thumbs up on my TiVo. It was of a class with O'Toole's "The Ruling Class" and (tho' he's aged much since that) shows that he still has a flair for the slightly sick comedy that many of us love. All I can say is I'm happy for digital cable with all the choices and TiVo for finding things that I enjoy. None of the other actors were known to me and I did not recognize the gal from "AB-FAB" but overall, it was a fun movie to watch. Much better than the "lesson" movies that Hollywood has chosen to give us in recent years. I am happy to confine my movie viewing to those of vintage (30's and 40s), foreign (even with subtitles) and the offerings of IFC and Sundance.