The Etruscan Smile

Brian Cox gives one of his finest performances in this familiar but affecting drama about a cantankerous Scotsman facing his journey's end.

If nothing else, the movie makes a strong case for Cox's astounding resilience, an ability to take even the most routine gig and deepen its potential.

Rory is often a brute, but The Etruscan Smile forgives that all because he is being authentically himself. But at the cost of every other character?

Soap opera elements are unavoidable, but the film has energy and spirit, thanks to Cox's bright, charming performance.

While Cox's typically sterling performance is not quite enough to rescue The Etruscan Smile from succumbing to bathos, it goes a long way toward making the film palatable.

I'd have happily watched Cox flirt with Rosanna Arquette's museum curator for 90 minutes; her game attempts to parrot his Gaelic and a tentative kiss while gardening, knee-deep in soil, are strangely charming.

This is all about Cox's performance and, thankfully, he rises to the occasion with a gruff Scottish brogue and a delightful dose of grumpy old man.

The Etruscan Smile isn't a groundbreaking film, but it's a compelling character study of how one man deals with a terminal illness and how he tries to right some of the wrongs in his life.

The marvelous performance by Brian Cox is what puts a Bonnie proper kilt on the dull narrative and at least makes it bearable.

'Succession' star Brian Cox delivers a rich and winning performance in charming human dramedy.