Richard linklaters me and orson welles is a hard one to put your finger on. Starring ben chaplin, claire danes, zac efron, zoe kazan. Richard linklaters new film, me and orson welles, is a fiction about a young actor who meets welles played by christian mckay and manages. A teenager hired to star in orson welles production of julius caesar becomes attracted to a careerdriven production assistant. Me and orson welles 2008 directed by richard linklater. In the directors chair richard linklater on making me and orson welles. Empty toronto international film festival toronto at the heart of me and orson welles is an uncanny impersonation of the young orson welles by english actor christian mckay. It is based on a novel regarding the circumstances surrounding welless 1937 production of william shakespeares julius caesar for the mercury theatre, and stars christian mckay, claire danes, and zac efron.
Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing me and orson welles near you. Soon after richard linklaters latest feature me and orson welles debuted at the toronto film festival in 2008, there was a flurry of oscar talk for actor christian mckay. Based on the semifictional novel by robert kaplow and set in new york city around the time of the opening of the mercury theater, the film is rich in period detail. Me and orson welles is a perioddrama film directed by richard linklater and starring zac efron, christian mckay and claire danes. Hes the kind of kid that loves everything creative in the world, is romantic, and is confident and sure of himself. To me, it is a cautionary tale about what happens when you separate art from morality. Me and orson welles 2008 fullhd movie cast me and orson welles 2008 fullhd movie english subtitle me and orson welles 2008 fullhd movie release date me and orson welles 2008 fullhd movie. The movie me and orson welles feels like it has a similar trajectory. Me and orson welles 2009 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. Orson welles was an american actor, director, writer, and producer who is best remembered for his innovative work in theatre, radio, and film.
The inside story of orson welless last movie vanity fair. Despite its jaunty pace and ratatat banter, it takes a while for me and orson welles to find its groove. The most wellknown filmmaker to the public this side of performerp94487alfred hitchcockalfredhitchcock, orson welles was the classic example of the genius that burns bright early in life only to flicker and fade later. Zac efron wins hearts and applause as richard, the me of this celebratory curtain call for when dreams and the theater. The impersonation of welles by christian mckay in me and orson welles is the centerpiece of the film, and from it, all else flows. The story of a whirlwind week in 1937 nyc when a young aspiring actor zac efron is thrown into the middle of orson welles mercury theatre company on the eve of the opening of welles historic staging of shakespeares julius caesar. In a whirlwind week in 1937 in new york city, a young aspiring. You can watch me and orson welles online on videoondemand services netflix, hbo now, paytv or movie theatres with original audio in english. Highschooler richard samuels lucks into a role in a daring broadway production of julius caesar. Me and orson welles is a heartfelt movie about a theaterstruck high school teenager unceremoniously ushered into the mercurial world of orson welles. Orson welles artistic ambitions were as large as his appetites for wine, women and food. Me and orson welles is about the theater, or at least the theater as it was in the 1930s. Christian mckay who, as orson welles in me and orson wellesgives what i believe is the most exact and uncanny screen portrayal of an historical figure, ever. Me and orson welles stars zac efron of high school musical as richard, a 17yearold who wants to be on the broadway stage.
His 1938 broadcast of the radio drama the war of the worlds had caused mass panic at the time and is now considered a legend. In the film fade to black 2006, a fictional thriller set during welless 1948 journey to rome to star in the movie black magic, danny huston stars as welles. Me and orson welles movie photos and stills fandango. Trailer for the richard linklater film, me and orson welles. It is november, 1937, and teenager richard samuels zac efron dreams of making it on broadway.
Its got comedic elements, a baseline dramatic framework and then. Also, even efron couldnt ruin a film as great as me and orson welles. A schoolboy stumbles upon a major role in welless production of julius caesar in this sublime adaptation of robert. Me and orson welles 2009, based on robert kaplows 2003 novel, stars zac efron as a teenager who convinces welles christian mckay to cast him in his 1937 production of julius caesar. Based on a historical novel by richard kaplow, it has the period details down pat, but it feels selfconsciously meticulous, unable to really enjoy. Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies. Take one of the most interesting and theatrical productions in theater, present it is as film and make the same film about its inception. Orson welles, that brilliant beast of the prewar theatre jungle, is here reduced to a gentle moggy, says peter bradshaw. Orson welles ambitious movie version of joseph conrads novella heart of darkness could have been the greatest american film never made. Orson welles career began with robust shakespearian orations, soared with highly touted cinematic masterpieces, floundered in later bgrade films and ended with weary, rumbling baritone hawks for frozen peas and cheap wine. Remember that orson welles himself didnt always look like orson welles. He was a master of makeup and disguise, and even when appearing in the first person, liked to use a little putty to build up a nose he considered a tad too snubbed.
This seems absolutely absurd now, given the popularity of linklater, and the fact that this is a pretty great film. This movie has been premiered in australian hd theatres in 2008 movies 2008. Fast, funny and rather too eager to please, the documentary theyll love me when im dead tells the story of the making and nearunmaking of orson welless final film, the other. Clockwise from top left, scenes from the lady from shanghai, the trial, chimes at midnight. Me and orson welles boasts a breakout performance by christian mckay and an infectious love of the backstage drama that overcomes its sometimes fluffy tone.
You may have heard that the orson welles part of me and orson welles is a remarkable, even staggering, work of imposture. His best theatre role was in the 1937 broadway play caesar. The screenplay by holly gent palmo and vincent palmo jr. Starring zac efron, claire danes, and christian mckay. Based on robert kaplows novel of the same name, the story, set in 1937 new york, tells of a teenager hired to star in orson welles production of julius.
I mean, me and orson welles was not even picked up by a distributor, and ended up being self distributed by the production company. One day he runs into welles christian mckay, years before citizen kane but already a famous new york. His father was a welltodo inventor, his mother a beautiful concert pianist. Me and orson welles boasts a breakout performance by christian mckay and an. After about an hour, welles turned off the tv, saying from here on, it becomes their movie. Orson welles 1937 staging of julius caesar for his newly founded mercury theatre is widely regarded as one of the most audacious, memorable, and exciting plays ever performed in america. The inside story of orson welless last movie after nearly 50 years, the other side of the wind was finally finished and set to premiere this month at cannes, until the illfated opus hit yet.
And the first thing to learn is never upstage mercury theatres genius director, 22yearold orson welles. Breezy period film not meant for tween zac efron fans. Based on robert kaplow s novel of the same name, the story, set in 1937 new york, tells of a teenager hired to perform in orson welles s groundbreaking stage adaptation of william shakespeare s julius caesar. Mckay sounds exactly like how orson wells sounds, thats amazing i had to watch this trailer twice. Collect bonus rewards from our many partners, including amc, stubs, cinemark connections, regal crown club. Me and orson welles boasts a breakout performance by christian mckay and an infectious love of the backstage drama that overcomes its. It is based on a novel regarding the circumstances surrounding welles s 1937 production of william shakespeares julius caesar for the mercury theatre, and stars christian mckay, claire danes, and zac efron. The me in me and orson welles is richard zac efron a high school student who gets himself a part in orson welles production of julius caesar at the mercury theatre. Me and orson welles ist ein filmdrama aus dem jahr 2008. Me and orson welles is a 2008 period drama film directed by richard linklater and starring zac efron, christian mckay, and claire danes.