THE FINAL CURTAIN
UK, 2002, 84 minutes, Colour.
Peter O’ Toole, Adrian Lester, Aidan Gillen, Julia Sawalha, Ralph Brown, Patrick Malahide, Ian Mc Neice, Dominic Cooper.
Directed by Patrick Harkins.
The Final Curtain is a black comedy written by John Hodge, writer of the Danny Boyle films Shallow Grave, Trainspotting, A Life Less Ordinary and The Beach. It is a star vehicle for Peter O’ Toole at his best.
The film is set in UK showbiz world, especially that of television. Peter O’ Toole portrays the host of a games show with families and audiences urging the families on to answer the questions correctly. He discovers a rival in Aidan Gillen who has a bizarre program where people risk electric current (Current Account) for higher and higher amounts of money. The rivalry builds to a head with each side stooping to violence and murder.
Adrian Lester portrays an award-winning novelist who is commissioned to write the autobiography of Peter O’ Toole’s character. Persuaded, he becomes involved, more and more cynical and suspicious – but, ultimately, has a successful book and is slated to direct the film of the book. Julia Sawalha portrays Aidan Gillen’s wily assistant. Patrick Malahide is the ill-fated doctor, assaulted as a stalker. Ian McNeice? is the priest who hears Peter O’ Toole’s confession – which has been filmed by a camera set up by Gillen’s assistant.
The film is over-the-top – but, because of the strong performances and the dialogue, is always interesting even when it shows horrifying behaviour.
1.The style of black comedy? Themes, characters, ironies?
2.The title and its use in the song, ‘My Way’? The song as a commentary on the characters and action?
3.Britain, the show business world, the 1970s, theatre? The 1990s and television? The satire on American business connections, doing business, style?
4.Stitch, the opening microphone, his saying he killed someone, his interview, his acquaintance with J.J. Curtis? The flashbacks and the film ending with the microphone being tapped?
5.Stitch’s journey: J.J. watching him as he had his attack, his winning the award, speech, J.J’s choice of him? The dinner, the discussion, the offer, the diplomacy, Stitch finally accepting? Travelling in the car with Curtis, talking with him, going to the board, listening in to the negotiations – with the American speaking through the microphone on the table? Getting more information about the incident in 1973, seeing the poster? Seeing the comedian with top billing? The visit to the institute, the discussion with the daughter? Seeing J.J. with Dave Turner, welcoming him on TV? Thinking that the doctor was a stalker, hitting him with the garbage lid? His being upset, J.J. using this information to blackmail him? Unable to resign? His growing to despise Curtis? The visits, the realisation in discussions with the comedian’s daughter? His hurrying to the final confrontation between J.J. and Dave? Writing down J.J’s last words? That he had killed his son? The book-signing, popularity, in the chair as the director of the film? The cynicism in the character and his portrayal?
6.Peter O’ Toole as J.J. Curtis, his narration for the book, The Boy from Nowhere? His background of poverty, his jobs, the visuals on the photos and the rings around his head in supporting roles? 1973, the story of his fight with the comedian, the comedian’s fall, the revelation about the daughter and her pregnancy, his not knowing, saying that he would have paid for the abortion? His getting the top billing – and not looking back?
7.His success, the show, the range of questions and options, the participants, families? The audience egging them on? His blunt words to the board, choosing the family that was to win? His liking one family and not the other? His reputation, the audience response, asking for God’s blessing? Wanting his show to go to the United States? The sitting in at the board meeting, negotiations, his naivety, the deals? The discussions about Dave Turner’s contract? His paying a journalist to hint at a pornographic link? His changing the electricity for Current Account? The man dying? His loathing of Dave? His going to confession, his admission of sins and guilt? His refusal to admit death? His ignoring the doctor, clashing with him, telling Stitch that he was a stalker, finally killing him?
8.The contrast with Dave Turner, young, introduced on television by J.J? Current Account, the risks, the contestants’ greed, the audience egging them on? The production and the producer? His drug-taking, sex contacts, the girls as Bo Peeps? His sense of failure, despair, his assistant telling him to tell the truth, the tabloids’ response? The comments from ordinary people? Filming the confession, putting it on television? The plane crash and his causing the death of the family?
9.Karen, being interviewed, working with Dave, her ideas, getting him to tell the truth to the tabloids, inventing the relationship with his mother, going to the confessional, taping it? Putting it on TV?
10.Monty, thirty years earlier, the headliner, the disappearance from the show, his fall, paralysed? His daughter, watching the confession? His relationship to Dave? Dave wanting revenge? The visits and the truth, Stitch’s discovering the truth?
11.The final set-up, the labyrinth, the chase, Dave wounding J.J? Their talking, Stitch’s arrival, the revelation about the father and son relationship, J.J. killing Dave? His final words about killing his son? Dave just simply wanting a father to be present, not just the story (with the flashback) of his being washed overboard while rescuing children? The final glimpse with the two profiles, dead, facing each other?
12.Black comedy about ambition, no bounds, the world of television, shows, audiences, the intercutting of interviews with the public? American-style business dealing? Scandals?
13.The effect of watching satire – with interesting characters, but black themes?
