Me and Orson Welles

USA 2009, 113 minutes
Dir. Richard Linklater
Rating: [PG]
Genres: Drama / Performing Arts, Shakespeare, Film History

Feat. Zac Efron, Claire Danes, Christian McKay, James Tupper, Leo Bill, Eddie Marsan, Ben Chaplin

Synopsis: A fresh-faced newcomer (Efron) lands a role in an Orson Welles' 1937 Mercury Theatre production of "Julius Caesar", while also competing for the affections of an ambitious secretary (Danes).

Aroview: Dir. Richard Linklater impeccably evokes the charms of 30's New York for this traditional backstage drama that has great affection for the era and the performing arts. Nice to see teen idol Efron exploring more adult-oriented, arthouse fare, and he matches his dreamboat looks with grace and sensitivity here, but the film will be remembered most for Christian McKay, an authentic deadringer for Orson Welles whose astonishing performance seems to go well beyond impersonation. That it engages more though cultural and period detail than dramatic incident will endear it to theatre and nostagia buffs in particular.

Member Reviews

Average rating (Good Try). Showing 1-1 of 1 member reviews.

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2 stars (Good Try) Whilst the set designs and costumes are excellent the screenplay needed to be shorter. Restricting the pontifications to "on stage" would have helped and the disposing of the romantic sub-plot. ~Tubbs