Me & Orson Welles (B or 3/4 stars)
The "me" in the title of this film, 'Me & Orson Welles' (directed by Richard Linklater) is aspiring actor Richard Samuels (Zac Efron), a high school-hating 17 yr. old who comes to NYC in the Fall of 1937. There, he meets & starts a casual friendship with Gretta Adler (Zoe Kazan); a friendship based on a shared love of a profession in the creative arts. And during this impromptu NY trip, Richard is picked by Orson Welles (Christian McKay) to appear in his Mercury Theatre production of 'Julius Caesar'. Welles is a notoriously difficult boss - whatever Orson wants, the cast & crew damn well better deliver. One second, he is vicious & dismissive. The next, he's the perfect mentor; bringing Richard with him to a radio studio & allowing him to watch him observe as Welles improvises lines in a live audio play. And some of Orson's requests are even of the sexual nature (his pregnant wife doesn't know that he also sleeps with women in the production).
Since Richard's role as Lucius is small, he is given ample time to hang-out backstage. 2 famous actors, George Coulouris & Joseph Cotton (Ben Chaplin, James Tupper), are involved in the play, & John Houseman (Eddie Marsan) is Welles' partner in the business side of things. For Richard, however, the theater's real attraction, aside from working with a 'great' like Orson, is Sonja Jones (Claire Danes), his secretary. Richard is taken under her wing, & pursues her with the kind of vim & vigor that can only a young man in love can have. All the while, Welles is struggling to finish his play in time for the opening. He knows that his name will either be strengthened or hampered in the theater community by the success of it. And as opening night unfolds, Richard, having witnessed Welles' demonstrative, sexual, & genius behavior(s), has to decide if acting in 'Julius Caesar' is worth the cost of being demeaned by him, AND, losing Sonja to him, as well.
'Me & Orson Welles', based on a semi-fictional novel, is all about the theater; specifically in the 1930's. If you like the theater, like the 1930's milieu, & like Orson Welles, than this movie is probably for you. Of course, if you like Zac Efron (the headliner), than I suppose that helps. But for me, the movie is all about British newcomer, Christian McKay. He may not be the 'lead' character, but he IS the centerpiece of the film. Orson Welles was a towering inferno of talent, presence, smarts, & ego. I've seen the real Orson Welles in films, & I must say that this Christian McKay has fully inhabited Welles' guttural voice, cadences, charm, arrogance, imperiousness, & flamboyance to a tee. Not only that ... the actor even looks like him. It's simply marvelous.
The movie itself isn't as grand. Modest, lightweight, lacking fire; certainly in comparison to McKay, himself. But there are 'niceties' to be found everywhere. The tone of the film is heartfelt & nostalgic. I like its idealistic view of the theater: from a long-lost time when having a showbiz dream, harboring a bit of talent, waltzing off of the streets, & into a major theater production just seemed possible. I appreciate the backstage drama that unfolds (reminding me of when I was in plays in high school). Director Richard Linklater devotes a good 20 min. (near the end) to exacting re-creations of scenes from Welles' 'production of Julius Caesar'; showing how opening night might have went 73 yrs. ago. Again, it's likely that only theater-buffs would appreciate this, but I digress.
I also enjoyed the film's approach to romantic possibility (btwn. Richard & Gretta, the girl he met in the beginning of the film). Zac Efron is the main character, but he takes a backseat to McKay. Efron is solid as the star struck youngen, & serves the plot well; showing that he can do a bit more than preen & sing boy-bandish tunes (a la High School Musical). But to supress his heartthrob stature, one wonders if he made his portrayal too bland. Claire Danes is lovely & witty as the smart secretary, Sonja. I found her acting to be effortless; which I haven't always said about her in the past. And her easy chemistry with Efron is a quiet joy to watch. Overall, 'Me & Orson Welles' is just a pleasant, credible flick about a time & place that Orson Welles lit up like a flame. Check it out.
Since Richard's role as Lucius is small, he is given ample time to hang-out backstage. 2 famous actors, George Coulouris & Joseph Cotton (Ben Chaplin, James Tupper), are involved in the play, & John Houseman (Eddie Marsan) is Welles' partner in the business side of things. For Richard, however, the theater's real attraction, aside from working with a 'great' like Orson, is Sonja Jones (Claire Danes), his secretary. Richard is taken under her wing, & pursues her with the kind of vim & vigor that can only a young man in love can have. All the while, Welles is struggling to finish his play in time for the opening. He knows that his name will either be strengthened or hampered in the theater community by the success of it. And as opening night unfolds, Richard, having witnessed Welles' demonstrative, sexual, & genius behavior(s), has to decide if acting in 'Julius Caesar' is worth the cost of being demeaned by him, AND, losing Sonja to him, as well.
'Me & Orson Welles', based on a semi-fictional novel, is all about the theater; specifically in the 1930's. If you like the theater, like the 1930's milieu, & like Orson Welles, than this movie is probably for you. Of course, if you like Zac Efron (the headliner), than I suppose that helps. But for me, the movie is all about British newcomer, Christian McKay. He may not be the 'lead' character, but he IS the centerpiece of the film. Orson Welles was a towering inferno of talent, presence, smarts, & ego. I've seen the real Orson Welles in films, & I must say that this Christian McKay has fully inhabited Welles' guttural voice, cadences, charm, arrogance, imperiousness, & flamboyance to a tee. Not only that ... the actor even looks like him. It's simply marvelous.
The movie itself isn't as grand. Modest, lightweight, lacking fire; certainly in comparison to McKay, himself. But there are 'niceties' to be found everywhere. The tone of the film is heartfelt & nostalgic. I like its idealistic view of the theater: from a long-lost time when having a showbiz dream, harboring a bit of talent, waltzing off of the streets, & into a major theater production just seemed possible. I appreciate the backstage drama that unfolds (reminding me of when I was in plays in high school). Director Richard Linklater devotes a good 20 min. (near the end) to exacting re-creations of scenes from Welles' 'production of Julius Caesar'; showing how opening night might have went 73 yrs. ago. Again, it's likely that only theater-buffs would appreciate this, but I digress.
I also enjoyed the film's approach to romantic possibility (btwn. Richard & Gretta, the girl he met in the beginning of the film). Zac Efron is the main character, but he takes a backseat to McKay. Efron is solid as the star struck youngen, & serves the plot well; showing that he can do a bit more than preen & sing boy-bandish tunes (a la High School Musical). But to supress his heartthrob stature, one wonders if he made his portrayal too bland. Claire Danes is lovely & witty as the smart secretary, Sonja. I found her acting to be effortless; which I haven't always said about her in the past. And her easy chemistry with Efron is a quiet joy to watch. Overall, 'Me & Orson Welles' is just a pleasant, credible flick about a time & place that Orson Welles lit up like a flame. Check it out.