The Final Curtain (2002)

Director:

Patrick Harkins

Writer:

John Hodge (written by)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A rivalry develops between a showbiz veteran and an upstart newcomer. |

Plot Keywords:

Game Show | Television

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Peter O'Toole	...	J.J. Curtis
Adrian Lester	...	Jonathan Stitch
Aidan Gillen	...	Dave Turner
Julia Sawalha	...	Karen Willet
Ralph Brown	...	Timothy (Channel Controller)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Dorothy Atkinson	...	Betty (Contestant)
Inday Ba	...	Caroline Stitch
Todd Boyce	...	Pete lanyard
Dominic Cooper	...	Young Priest
Sally Dexter	...	Linda
Henry Goodman	...	Ed Nbrezki (voice)
Kenneth Hadley	...	Cleethorpes Paper editor
Nick Holder	...	Mike
Anna Jaskolka	...	Mrs. Arkwright
Claudia Lander-Duke	...	Arkwrights' Daughter
Patrick Malahide	...	Dr. Colworth
Ian McNeice	...	Priest
Emily Richards	...	Awards Presenter
Toby Robertson	...	Lord Kelvin
Iain Rogerson	...	Mr. Arkwright
Zita Sattar	...	Sylvia (Contestant)
Martin Savage	...	Billy (Contestant)
Simon Scott	...	TV Interviewer
Jonathan Shaw	...	Charlie Arkwright
Charles Simon	...	Monty Franklin
Rohan Siva	...	Stanley (Contestant)
Sharon Swyer	...	Limo Girl
Malcolm Tierney	...	Estate Agent
Mark Williams	...	Declan Farrell

MPAA:

Rated R for language, some violence and brief drug use.

Runtime:

Argentina:85 min | Sweden:84 min (Gothenburg Film Festival)

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Technicolor) | Colour

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Argentina:13 | USA:R | Germany:12 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Brocket Hall, Lemsford, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

DNA Films

Soundtrack:

Die Fledermaus Overture

Dark, different, twisted genius, I love it!

This was a film I came by when randomly perusing the local video shop in search of something I hadn't already seen. So upon reading that it was from the makers of 'Shallow Grave' I was intrigued and decided to make it my choice of viewing for the evening.

This is the dark tale of two gameshow hosts one of the good old fashioned family entertainment style, whilst the other being the young, flash next generation of host both entirely intent on taking the war for ratings to the bitter extreme. Dirty tricks and slanderous misdemeanors spiral from mere sleaze to the most deplorable of acts in as each tries to outdo the other. So if your sick of clichéd Good Vs Evil stuff where good inevitably wins against the odds then this is a film for you where Evil fights Evil to neithers avail.

Despite the apparent disgusting nature of two lead characters the clever scripting and direction leaves the audience heartbroken when when both characters come to an unpleasant demise as the characters are put across with such care as to show real human tenderness masked by there greed and lust for revenge. All this laced together with an unhealthy dose of the cynical black humour that made 'Shallow Grave' such a hit, makes 'The Final Curtain' an undiscovered gem for the cult movie connoisseur.

Though be warned, this film may to be everyone's taste for those fans with a lighter sense of humour that enjoys being engulfed in such whimsical comedies as 'Goldmember' or perhaps 'Anger Management' then this will mean two things 1)You probably won't like this movie 2) Your a moron.

But if you do not come into this last group then this film is a must see.