ALARIS' REVIEWS

23rd October 2010
Me and Orson Welles (2008)

I have a fondness for films from the 1930s. Grim, trenchcoat noir with Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, or satirical farce with Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant.

Contemporary films, like Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (2008), make a good natured attempt to recreate the style, but usually fail to achieve the real sparkle of the classics. Me and Orson Welles, however, does a surprisingly good job.

Set in 1937, Richard Samuels (Zac Efron) is a plucky 17 year old high schooler, dreaming of the limelight. When he is cast as the obscure ‘Lucius’ in Orson Welles’ production of ‘Julius Caesar’, he discovers that the heady, frantic world of the theatre is not quite what he imagined.

Me and Orson Welles manages to capture the spirit of those classic films, if not the complexity, the poignancy, or the fun. The dialogue is full of rhythm and snap, with dry one-liners punctuating the scenes. The language in the film is imbued with a certain poetry, brimming with dramatic intent. The legendary actor/director, Orson Welles, was a dramatic figure, and this film reflects that.

The plot is steady, concentrating on the fraught weeks before the debut of ‘Julius Caesar’. If you enjoy movies about artists, egos, disaster and the learning curve, then you’ll probably connect with Me and Orson Welles, as I did. However, if you’re expecting more emotional punch, or more hijinks, then this drama will prove too light for you.

Despite Efron’s High School Musical (2006) credentials, he does a solid job of balancing Richard’s teenage bluster with his naiveté. I have to add that I’m impressed with his ability to look like he’s about to cry. Clare Danes seems in her element as the grounded, ambitious personal assistant, Sonja, walking a fine line between genuine affection and cool cynicism.

Christian McKay. I’m divided over whether to mention him at all, since he hardly seems to be acting the part of Orson Welles, and seems more to be inhabiting him. His cadence is impeccable, his oratory is intense – McKay delivers a brilliant, arrogant, charming, childish artist at his impassioned best. All the actors are well cast, but McKay is the only one I could genuinely believe was plucked from the 1940s and deposited in this film. Apparently, McKay has made something of a career from playing Welles in various productions, and the quality of his performance is a testament to practise.

Me and Orson Welles is an enjoyable portrait of the theatre scene in the late 1930s. Strong performances and engaging writing make this film a cut above average.

Verdict: A stylish 1930s drama about art, life, and putting on a show.

If you like Morning Glory (1933), you might like this.

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