Review: Me and Orson Welles (Linklater, 2009)
February 5th 2010 02:36
Me and Orson Welles (Linklater, 2009)
Richard Linklater’s Me and Orson Welles (based on a novel of the same name) combines fiction amongst the factual story of the opening of Orson Welles’ production of Julius Caesar at the Mercury Theater. The play was avante-garde and very well could have failed, thus taking down the Mercury with it. But it didn’t and Welles and his cast and crew would go to thrive at the theater and beyond its walls. One person who didn’t exist during this era in Welles young life (he was only 21 years old in 1938 when the film takes place) was the character of Richard Samuels played by Zach Efron. Efron plays Richard with bright-eyed wonder and innocence. His character is at times too earnest and whiney but it’s still a nice performance that proves he is more than a pretty face. Richard’s tale is a standard one; that one event that shapes the rest of your life, shapes who you are and who you will become. It’s engaging but the real story here are the scenes in the theater with Orson Welles, played by a virtual unknown named Christian McKay.
McKay is flat-out brilliant. His performance is a tour de force of anger, obsession, and passion. McKay embodies Welles through and through and the only fault within his performance is something beyond his control; he simply looks too old to be playing a 21 year old. Nevertheless, this can be completely overlooked. McKay should have received an Academy Award nomination this past week and the only reason he didn’t was because no one has seen this film. Sadly, even though Linklater is a respected and known name, the majority of his films have been low-budget and even though one would expect easier distribution for a man of his acclaim, the industry is still unkind to the indies and money is a necessity for proper distribution; the film barely received a limited release and distribution for the thousands of screeners needed was far too costly. Apparently some screeners were shipped but one must assume there weren’t enough to sneak McKay into one of the coveted five slots for Best Supporting Actor. There are a couple of moments in Me and Orson Welles in which we are treated to a glimpse behind Welles’ façade. These brief instances are fascinating and should make viewers long for a full-out biopic with McKay reprising his role. It’s also lovely to see Claire Danes on screen again; an actress whom is terribly underused and under-appreciated. Everyone should seek out this film, no matter how tall the task. You won’t be sorry.
| 25 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
