Jason KingMe and Orson Welles (8/10)
September 11th 2010 21:48
:
Zac is Moving Up but This is Christian McKay's Film
Category: No Category
Me and Orson Welles (8/10)
Me and Orson Welles is a superb little art house film that has recently started in a few Sydney art house cinemas. It tells the story of a young potential actor in 1937 who auditions for a small part in Orson Welles' Mercury Theatre Production of Julius Ceasar. It was released about 6 months ago in the US and had limited success but critical acclaim and stars teen heart-throb and future Mrs Jason King, Zac Efron and sensational standout UK actor Christian McKay as Orson Welles.
I was enthralled and absolutely loved this film. It was also a must see film for me because I am very curious to see how Zac Efron would go finally acting in a film with some strong talent. I actually think he is a superb actor with amazing onscreen presence and have enjoyed everything he has been in and for more than just watching him with his shirt off
. I have immense respect for him and think he is going to rise above the ranks to become one of the most talented actors in Hollywood. Firstly, he is smart dumping the remake of Footloose to star in this film and secondly he is seeking guidance from my god of film, Leonardo, on role selection. This is by far one of the smartest moves any actor could make. Leo has NEVER picked a piece of rubbish and went from teen heartthrob to serious adult actor in the blink of an eye. I have faith that Zac's looks will get him a long way and on that journey he will learn all the skills to make him a long term seasoned actor. I just pray he keeps away from partying and that Hilton whore.
Studios have marketed this film as an Efron film in the hope of pulling in at least one tenth of the High School Musical crowd, in which case it would make more than enough money to keep financiers smiling. I do find Efron enjoyable to watch in this and you can see him making his break from High School Musical. It is not overly different in its basic plot to a High School Musical as it is about a production being put on with the Zefron singing and having fun while falling in love with a beautiful girl. The difference is the supporting cast in this film. While it is a Zefron marketed film it is really a Christian McKay starring movie. McKay's performance has been dubbed the "perfect" portrayal of Welles and his Welles has earned him worldwide recognition, acclaim and multiple awards and nominations. When Zefron is onscreen with him he is completely overshadowed by this superior performance. While many US critics are using this as a tall poppy tear down on Zefron I see it more as a learning experience for him. He is not bad in anyway in his performance it is just that he shares screentime with people way more skilled than him. He manages to hold his own but it is clearly evident he has a way to go until he reaches the performance calibre of McKay and even other supporting actor Clare Danes. Lucky thing that Clare Danes - she has jumped both Leo and Zefron in a film role. Not bad Ms Danes
I read one US critics comments about Zefrons performance that made me laugh. He felt that Zefron was just too pretty to be in this film, he also felt that everytime he was delivering lines he was attempting to make women orgasm. He also, and very strongly declared, he was heterosexual - me thinks someone got a man crush - understandable - Zefron is the hottest thing in film at the moment. What I did enjoy was the irony of how Zefron's character, Richard, actually reflects Zefron himself. Richard has come from school where he starred in the high school production and is now trying to break into the big time by scoring a role in Welles' production. It is the perfect bridging role for Zefron - while out of his comfort zone it is still dealing with subject matter he knows. Now my fingers are crossed for Zefron's next project, Charlie St Cloud, a book I truly love.
Th film is directed by directing chamelion Richard Linklater who can move from Dazed and Confused to School of Rock to Before Sunrise to A Scanner Darkly and then something like Me and Orson Welles, it is very impressive that he can alter styles, types of stories, which audience the film will appeal to and still pull off a great film. I love that he has chosen Welles as his latest subject to explore. I know pretty much next to nothing about Welles besides what I have heard. This is something I need to remedy, such an interesting character and personality who really is a genius and has no problem being an absolute dickhead to everyone around him to explore his genius. In business courses you learn of three types of people you will encounter in a working day. These are tuna, sharks and dolphins. Tuna are a school fish and go about their business while keeping to themselves and can be easily led. Tuna are easily eaten by sharks who are the type of people who are absolutely ruthless in achieving their goals and will eat anyone in their wake to achieve their goals. Then there are dolphins (of which I was categorised). These are a happy oceanic mammal that have fun and can do anything and when required can kill a shark. This is the type of people business workers should strive to be. They can be pleasant to be around but will not take shit. I suggest a 4th kind of person into this mix. Orson Welles, the invincible shark, this guy will eat regular dolphin sashimi to get his goals.
I can see that to pull off the role of Orson Welles, McKay became that invincible shark. He is mesmerising and non stop. I think McKay would have needed a few months off after this stellar performance. It should be noted that McKay is playing Welles when he is meant to only be 27 - to me he looked a lot older but this is only fact and will have no impact on your viewing pleasure. McKay is going to go so far although he will have to do incredible performances to better his performance in this role. I also enjoyed that the film plays more as an actual theatre production than a film itself. The sets are minimal and rely heavily on dialogue and performance. Most of the budget would have gone on a) paying actors and b) recreating the time through costume and set design. It plays beautifully. When I watched this film I had just come out of watching NZ film BOY with a good friend. I was pretty tired and wasn't sure I could make it through a second film. My friend fell asleep before the opening credits of this one and is not much of a movie goer but was happy to stay for me. He slept through the entire thing and my body got its second wind ten minutes into this film. Everyone just lit up the screen and I was mesmerised by everything going on.
Me and Orson Welles is out now at limited art house cinemas. It is a great little film and one that should be watched, for looking at Zefron make people orgasm or for McKay's performance alone. Well worth 8 out of 10.
Me and Orson Welles is a superb little art house film that has recently started in a few Sydney art house cinemas. It tells the story of a young potential actor in 1937 who auditions for a small part in Orson Welles' Mercury Theatre Production of Julius Ceasar. It was released about 6 months ago in the US and had limited success but critical acclaim and stars teen heart-throb and future Mrs Jason King, Zac Efron and sensational standout UK actor Christian McKay as Orson Welles.
I was enthralled and absolutely loved this film. It was also a must see film for me because I am very curious to see how Zac Efron would go finally acting in a film with some strong talent. I actually think he is a superb actor with amazing onscreen presence and have enjoyed everything he has been in and for more than just watching him with his shirt off
. I have immense respect for him and think he is going to rise above the ranks to become one of the most talented actors in Hollywood. Firstly, he is smart dumping the remake of Footloose to star in this film and secondly he is seeking guidance from my god of film, Leonardo, on role selection. This is by far one of the smartest moves any actor could make. Leo has NEVER picked a piece of rubbish and went from teen heartthrob to serious adult actor in the blink of an eye. I have faith that Zac's looks will get him a long way and on that journey he will learn all the skills to make him a long term seasoned actor. I just pray he keeps away from partying and that Hilton whore.
Studios have marketed this film as an Efron film in the hope of pulling in at least one tenth of the High School Musical crowd, in which case it would make more than enough money to keep financiers smiling. I do find Efron enjoyable to watch in this and you can see him making his break from High School Musical. It is not overly different in its basic plot to a High School Musical as it is about a production being put on with the Zefron singing and having fun while falling in love with a beautiful girl. The difference is the supporting cast in this film. While it is a Zefron marketed film it is really a Christian McKay starring movie. McKay's performance has been dubbed the "perfect" portrayal of Welles and his Welles has earned him worldwide recognition, acclaim and multiple awards and nominations. When Zefron is onscreen with him he is completely overshadowed by this superior performance. While many US critics are using this as a tall poppy tear down on Zefron I see it more as a learning experience for him. He is not bad in anyway in his performance it is just that he shares screentime with people way more skilled than him. He manages to hold his own but it is clearly evident he has a way to go until he reaches the performance calibre of McKay and even other supporting actor Clare Danes. Lucky thing that Clare Danes - she has jumped both Leo and Zefron in a film role. Not bad Ms Danes
I read one US critics comments about Zefrons performance that made me laugh. He felt that Zefron was just too pretty to be in this film, he also felt that everytime he was delivering lines he was attempting to make women orgasm. He also, and very strongly declared, he was heterosexual - me thinks someone got a man crush - understandable - Zefron is the hottest thing in film at the moment
. What I did enjoy was the irony of how Zefron's character, Richard, actually reflects Zefron himself. Richard has come from school where he starred in the high school production and is now trying to break into the big time by scoring a role in Welles' production. It is the perfect bridging role for Zefron - while out of his comfort zone it is still dealing with subject matter he knows. Now my fingers are crossed for Zefron's next project, Charlie St Cloud, a book I truly love.
Th film is directed by directing chamelion Richard Linklater who can move from Dazed and Confused to School of Rock to Before Sunrise to A Scanner Darkly and then something like Me and Orson Welles, it is very impressive that he can alter styles, types of stories, which audience the film will appeal to and still pull off a great film. I love that he has chosen Welles as his latest subject to explore. I know pretty much next to nothing about Welles besides what I have heard. This is something I need to remedy, such an interesting character and personality who really is a genius and has no problem being an absolute dickhead to everyone around him to explore his genius. In business courses you learn of three types of people you will encounter in a working day. These are tuna, sharks and dolphins. Tuna are a school fish and go about their business while keeping to themselves and can be easily led. Tuna are easily eaten by sharks who are the type of people who are absolutely ruthless in achieving their goals and will eat anyone in their wake to achieve their goals. Then there are dolphins (of which I was categorised). These are a happy oceanic mammal that have fun and can do anything and when required can kill a shark. This is the type of people business workers should strive to be. They can be pleasant to be around but will not take shit. I suggest a 4th kind of person into this mix. Orson Welles, the invincible shark, this guy will eat regular dolphin sashimi to get his goals.
I can see that to pull off the role of Orson Welles, McKay became that invincible shark. He is mesmerising and non stop. I think McKay would have needed a few months off after this stellar performance. It should be noted that McKay is playing Welles when he is meant to only be 27 - to me he looked a lot older but this is only fact and will have no impact on your viewing pleasure. McKay is going to go so far although he will have to do incredible performances to better his performance in this role. I also enjoyed that the film plays more as an actual theatre production than a film itself. The sets are minimal and rely heavily on dialogue and performance. Most of the budget would have gone on a) paying actors and b) recreating the time through costume and set design. It plays beautifully. When I watched this film I had just come out of watching NZ film BOY with a good friend. I was pretty tired and wasn't sure I could make it through a second film. My friend fell asleep before the opening credits of this one and is not much of a movie goer but was happy to stay for me. He slept through the entire thing and my body got its second wind ten minutes into this film. Everyone just lit up the screen and I was mesmerised by everything going on.
Me and Orson Welles is out now at limited art house cinemas. It is a great little film and one that should be watched, for looking at Zefron make people orgasm or for McKay's performance alone. Well worth 8 out of 10.
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Comment by K @ the Lair
Comment by Jason King
Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
Total Randomness
Comment by Hazel Castillo
Working Title
Cirrus Cloud
Parent Adventures
OK - back to your post. Zac Efron's really moving up! I think this guy's gotten a lot of break and he's playing his parts well. He's a pretty face alright, but he can also act. Exposing him to more complicated and sensitive roles is honing him much more as an actor.
I'm glad he's not just a pretty face who will soon fade out when he starts looking old to be a "teen".
Seeing Clare Danes on film again is also a big big Yay! She's a good actress but "underutilized" i think.
Comment by Jason King
Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
Total Randomness
Welcome back
Glad u think the same as I do about Zac - he keeps making money with that face and body but as long as he keeps picking stronger and stronger roles he can't fail. Like Leonardo I can't wait to see his career progress. Fingers crossed.
I also like seeing Danes on film again - just saw her a couple of weeks ago in Romeo and Juliet again at a drive in. It was cool.