Reflecting O’Toole's theatrical legacy, this film is structured into four acts each introduced by a quote about O’Toole that encapsulates his life during a specific period.
Each act expands into a holistic narrative addressing questions such as his self-belief, his alcoholism, his relationships with women, his belief in socialism and his selective embrace of Irishness.
While O’Toole's words (gleaned from hundreds of hours of archival interviews) act as a narrator of his own journey, Jim Sheridan further explores the story through interviews with O’Toole’s family, artists, actors and directors that knew him well.
"Provocatively stylized biographical documentary."
TV INSIDER
"Features rare and thrilling footage from O’Toole’s stage work."
LOS ANGELES TIMES
****[Four Stars]
THE TIMES
****[Four Stars]
DAILY MAIL
****[Four Stars]
THE TELEGRAPH
“Riveting.”
DAILY MAIL
"Intense, lovingly compiled documentary...Kenneth Branagh, Brian Cox, Anthony Hopkins, Derek Jacobi, Stephen Fry and many more, in clips from archival material, gush about what an inspiration he was, loving to drink to excess but being ultra-disciplined when it came to work."
THE TIMES
"A compelling new chronicle of the Lawrence of Arabia star’s life and work. Several contributors, notably Kenneth Branagh and Brian Cox, characterise O’Toole as a lupine presence."
THE IRISH TIMES
"This was an absorbing profile of one of our greatest actors and an archetypal hellraiser."
THE TELEGRAPH
"An epic, two-hour documentary that unpicks the actor's personal life and career, with contributions from his ex-wife Sian Philips and Derek Jacobi."
RADIO TIMES
"Unmissable."
RTE Guide