MOVIE REVIEW …
ME AND ORSON WELLES
During the chaotic filming of the infamous 1967 spy spoof Casino Royale, two of its stars – Orson Welles and Peter Sellers – fought constantly. Known for their artistic temperaments and egocentric manners, their clashes almost derailed its production. Despite their reputations preceding them, even Sellers became intimidated by the Welles mystique – something which Me and Orson Welles explores in its semi-fictional take on his fearsome legend.
In 1937 Orson Welles (Christian McKay) attempts to direct ‘Julius Caesar’ – the first Shakespearean production on Broadway. Wanting someone for the role of Lucius, he finds the perfect candidate in aspiring actor Richard (Zac Efron). Richard can hardly believe his luck, especially when he falls for stage assistant Sonja (Claire Danes). His joy soon becomes tainted as he deals with Welles’ demands resulting in a dramatic lead up to the play’s opening night.
Based on Robert Kaplow’s novel, Me and Orson Welles is an insightful study in the power of ambition. Using Welles as a symbol of what can be achieved by following dreams, he becomes the yardstick by which Richard and Sonja can develop their own goals. Played with forceful magnetism by Christian McKay, Welles comes across as an intellectual bully unafraid in maximising early 20th Century media to his advantage. Despite his imperious nature, his results shone through powerfully with his incalculable contributions to the entertainment industry still being felt.
Capably assisted by Efron and Danes, director Richard Linklater balances his central subject with some fine supporting characters. Successfully capturing their camaraderie as they help establish Welles’ Mercury Theatre, he acknowledges the important role they played. The cinematography he employs during ‘Julius Caesar’s’ staging is superb and brings its dramatic dynamisms to the fore. This effectively shows how Welles’ pursuit in pushing the boundaries of such works enlivened a stagnant theatrical scene where audience’s expectations became higher in the post-Depression and pre-World War 2 era.
Me and Orson Welles is an engrossing portrait of someone who doggedly bought the best out of himself and those around him. Branded with the ‘difficult’ tag like other perfectionists, the Welles captured here would have worn it with as much pride as his keenly self-acknowledged talents would allow.
Movie Review Rating 8 / 10
Movie Review by Patrick Moore
Me and Orson Welles released in Australia on Thursday 29 July 2010.
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