Breakinger A Brilliant Conflict

Ketrivie It isn't all that great, actually. Really cheesy and very predicable of how certain scenes are gonna turn play out. However, I guess that's the charm of it all, because I would consider this one of my guilty pleasures.

SeeQuant Blending excellent reporting and strong storytelling, this is a disturbing film truly stranger than fiction

Cassandra Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

dissident320 It's not much of a stretch to think that Peter O'Toole didn't have much difficulty playing an aging actor. Despite playing a character quite close to his real self he does imbue a lot of emotion into the role. I found his relationship with Jodie Whittaker (Jesse) to be interesting mixed with sadness. You almost get a sense that he's ashamed about having feelings for her but pursues her despite himself. Her initial feelings border on pity but he soon charms her into something more meaningful.Overall it's a quiet movie that is boosted by strong performances throughout. It is an age that isn't shown often in movies and quite frankly probably makes many uncomfortable. But as I get older I can see that it's a reality that doesn't have to carry so much stigma and sadness. It's worth a viewing and might make you view old age in a different light.

bondboy422 I waited to see this film for along time. Tricky subject -- older actor falling for young girl. It could be quite ugly.We have Peter O'Toole as Maurice the greatly celebrated actor-- we have Leslie Phillips playing Ian one of his contemporaries and Jodie Whitaker as young relation of Ian's. Peter 'lifeforce' O'Toole gives once again one of those performances that cuts through the potential trickiness with great power. Jodie Whitaker realises he is famous and uses him for what she can get - then slowly and gradually begins to warm to and appreciate him. This is hugely touching film with strong performances from great British actors and Jodie Whitaker isn't phased by any of it-- she is very impressive. There is also a lovely musical score with beautiful songs by Corinne Bailey Rae which definitely soften the subject. Clever direction too from Roger Michell.

mike dewey Fantastic amalgamation of cinematography, music, story lines, punch lines, acting prowess and whatever else went into this "fictional" biography of the actor Peter O'Toole. OK, It's not supposed to be a biography at all, but I guess it's a pretty good summation of the life and past times of our star actor. This film is not for those who relish the fast-paced, "in your face" formulaic fare. Rather, it is a slow moving, subtly comfortable and dry-witted story about some aging London thespians (O'Toole and Leslie Phillips) who find their lives turned topsy-turvy when Phillip's grand-niece is inserted into their rather mundane existence.Mr. O'Toole goes "ga-ga" over the new gal (Jodie Whittacre as Venus), but he does it with restraint and calculation, and with large doses of humorous innuendos and tongue-in-cheek bawdiness! That sounds very nice and maybe somewhat superficial, but what underlies all this is a man's total acceptance of his past glory and of his new situation in life as an old man whose time is dwindling, whose body is literally falling apart. His memories and sense of humor and destiny (and Venus!) are all he has left and he makes the the best of it, due in no small part to the wonderfully unique relationship he develops with the young lass. Note also the scenes with Vanessa Redgrave, who plays the estranged wife. No tear-jerking gushing of over-sentimentality abounds (just a few well placed boo-hoos!) when they reminisce about their past. Rather, an innate acceptance of what had transpired in their relationship that is visibly manifested by their infusions of ample doses of dry humor. It's like "What, me worry?" because what does it all really mean in the final analysis, including how many "columns" you'll get? In addition to the wonderfully subtle yet emphatic acting by the aforementioned actors and the marvelous script and cinematography, one would have to include kudos for a most poignant soundtrack by both Corrine Bailey Rae and David Arnold. It encompasses not only an eclectic mix of wonderful musical styles and textures, but also a savvy insertion of these tracks at the proper moments in their respective scenes. I really feel that many moviegoers and reviewers seem to place the musical score as somewhat beneath the rest of a given film's ingredients. Take the score out of this film and you lose some of the film's innate charm. In total, however, it becomes a wonderful piece.

selffamily Peter O'Toole takes my breath away. As the movie started I didn't think I would enjoy it, but I was sucked in by the magic. O'Toole, Phillips and Griffiths show us where old actors go - their graveyard if you like - and when Phillips' great niece is thrust upon him, and he is revolted, O'Toole starts to be nice to her and falls madly for the image of young womanhood and all it had meant to him. There are splendid scenes with his wife, played as ever flawlessly by Vanessa Redgrave (all hail to thee) and we are captivated by the unravelling story of an old man's final passion and its inevitable final curtain. Betrayed by the young woman's controlling boyfriend (watch out for him, he can act without speaking) O'Toole is then spiralling downwards and outwards from this life, and somehow inveigles the girl to take him to his seaside haunt. He dies happy, with wet feet and she is changed for ever. It's true, it's not a comfortable watch,(but it's not creepy and it is funny) but I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Where will we ever find their like?