The indie filmmaker talks about his new film me and orson welles. After a chance meeting with the famed director, a highschool student zac efron gets a small part in orson welles famous production of julius caesar. Claire danes, zoe kazan, christian mckay, zac efron. Molto apprezzato dalla critica e con protagonista il teen idol zach efron, non e pero misteriosamente mai arrivato nelle nostre sale.
Remember that orson welles himself didnt always look like orson welles. The problem with films about theater is that they tend to feel theatrical. A cinemanx and isle of man film presentation, in association with framestore features, of a cinemanx and detour filmproduction. The opening twenty minutes of the film showcases waltz at his most spellbinding. Not only was he an amazing director, but also an accomplished actor and in theater, film and radio. Zac efron will star as high school senior richard samuelsan age and grade level the actor knows wellwho, while walking the streets of. Starring zac efron, claire danes, and christian mckay. Over the course of a magical week, richard makes his broadway debut, finds romance, and experiences the dark side of genius after daring to cross the brilliant 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. While working on the production, he falls in love with sonja jones, the production assistant. Zac efron is thrown into the middle of orson welles mercury theatre company on the eve of the. Based in real theatrical history, me and orson welles is a comedic comingofage story about a teenage actor who lucks into a role in julius caesar as its being reimagined by a brilliant, impetuous young director named orson welles at his newlyfounded mercury theater in nyc, 1937. If you can tick at least one of these boxes then youre in for a good time. Me and orson welles 2009 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. Relishing a lost production sightings by terry teachout wsj. Trailer for the richard linklater film, me and orson welles. Now a major motion picture from acclaimed director richard linklater, starring zac efron, claire danes, and ben chaplin. American writerdirector richard linklater talks about me and orson welles, his new comedydrama based on the early career of legendary director.
The story looked tailormade to cater to my tastes the clothes, the music, the theater of the time period, i love it all. Based on a historical novel by richard kaplow, it has the period details down pat, but it feels selfconsciously meticulous, unable to really enjoy its script about the backstage foibles of a theater production. Theyll love me when im dead 2018 tvma 1h 38m critically acclaimed films actors, crew members and others who were there discuss the tumultuous creation of orson welless final, unfinished film, the other side of the wind. His father was a welltodo inventor, his mother a beautiful concert pianist. Everything you need to know about me and orson welles movie. According to feeney, welles, on his syndicated radio show orson welles commentaries, on abc radio, publicly invites the officer to turn himself in.
The film is set in 1937, and the plot follows a young student zac efron who finds love in the theater after being cast in a production of julius caesar directed by orson welles christian mckay. A schoolboy stumbles upon a major role in welless production of julius caesar in this sublime adaptation of robert kaplows book, says philip. Directed by richard linklater, he has managed to turn this comingofage film into a shakespearean theatrical production. Below is a list of orson welles films in total broken into films where orson welles served as director and as actor. A cinemanx and isle of man film presentation, in association with framestore features, of a cinemanx and. His dreams are realised when he meets a youthful orson welles christian mckay and lucks a place in his legendary production of julius caesar. Dec 14, 2009 the opening twenty minutes of the film showcases waltz at his most spellbinding. Theyre less about human beings than about actors pretending to be actors pretending to be human beings.
Black magic is a 1949 film adaptation of alexandre dumass novel joseph balsamo. Me and orson welles is a fictionalised account of orson welles production of shakespeares julius caesar in new york in 1937. I hope orson welles got used to seeing his name on toptenfilmsofalltime lists. 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. Part of a film a day part of essential films to watch you really are a god created actor richard. In a whirlwind week in 1937 in new york city, a young aspiring actor named richard is thrown into the middle of orson welles mercury theatre company on the eve of the opening of welles historic. 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. The film itself is average, but its mckays performance that will make this film last long in your memory. When i saw the trailer for the upcoming film me and orson welles, i knew i had to read the book on which the movie is based. Me and orson welles, recently released on dvd, brings a.
Richard linklater thinks hes pretty good and has signed him up for his next movie me and orson welles. Tweetemail tweetemail orson welles will probably forever be considered one, if not the best directors to ever live. Dec 05, 2009 christian mckay, left, and zac efron in richard linklaters me and orson welles. His citizen kane and the magnificent ambersons are considered to be two of the greatest films ever made. A week in the life of aspiring actor richard samuels efron, where he finds himself cast in orson welles staging of shakespeares julius caesar and falling for an older woman danes. The roundtable themes and symbolism in welless films. Other unfinished films and unfilmed screenplays too much johnson. Me and orson welles is a perioddrama film directed by richard linklater and starring zac efron, christian mckay and claire danes. Adapted from the novel by cormac mccarthy, the film follows a man. Zac efron wins hearts and applause as richard, the me of this celebratory curtain call for when dreams and the theater.
Dec 18, 2009 tweetemail tweetemail orson welles will probably forever be considered one, if not the best directors to ever live. A special edition of thumbnails commemorating the 80th anniversary of orson welles war of the worlds broadcast on october 30th, 2018. Me and orson welles is a 2009 american film directed by richard linklater about the life of a high school student, richard, who gets a part in orson welles production of julius caesar at the mercury theatre. When orson welles crossed paths with hitler and churchill the dick cavett show duration. Christian mckay, left, and zac efron in richard linklaters me and orson welles. Film education resources film library me and orson welles.
Peter bogdanovich on buster keaton, superheroes, television, and the effect of time on movies. Me and orson welles has plenty to offer fans, be they of theatre, old movies, or high school musical. The film was shot in london and new york and on the isle of man in february, march, and april 2008, and was released in the united states on november 25, 2009 and the united kingdom on december 4, 2009. In 1937, a teenager is cast in the mercury theatre production of julius caesar, directed by. Orson welles film is an audiovisual medium, and few genres or styles take advantage of films audiovisual potential to quite the same extent as film noir. Over the course of a magical week, richard makes his broadway debut, finds romance, and experiences the dark. The trial stands as one of the most accomplished booktofilm adaptations, and in welles rich career, its a film that ranks among the very best. Me and orson welles 2008 teenage student richard samuels zac efron lucks his way into a minor role in the legendary 1937 mercury theatre production of julius caesar, directed by a youthful orson welles strikingly portrayed by newcomer christian mckay. The impersonation of welles by christian mckay in me and orson welles is the centerpiece of the film, and from it, all else flows. An irresistible romantic farce that reads like a whos who of the classic american theater, me and orson welles is set during the launch of the then twentytwoyearold orson welles debut production of julius caesar at the mercury theatre on broadway.
Based on robert kaplows 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 shakespeares julius caesar. Christian mckay, at center, as orson welles in me and orson welles. Oct 06, 2010 when orson welles crossed paths with hitler and churchill the dick cavett show duration. This article is enriched by the addition of a very rare scan of orson welles script of the trial from simon and schusters 1970 the trial modern film scripts, a book that has been outof. Some footage is included in the documentaries working with orson welles 1993, orson welles. Me and orson welles is a 2008 period drama film directed by richard linklater and starring zac efron, christian mckay, and claire danes. Zac efron can actually act, he just chooses not to, and also, orson welles was a mean motherfucker. Christian mckays portrayal of orson welles is the main reason to go and seek out this picture. Full list of orson welles films classic movie favorites. Thats a central weakness of richard linklaters disappointing new period drama me and orson welles, a terminally bland comingofage story about a pretty young man with the worlds most awesome afterschool.
Film education resources me and orson welles the film. Although based on actual events, the film links two separate stories a love story involving fictional character richard samuels zac efron and the actual staging of the play. The blackjack the cop uses bursts the soldiers eyeballs and blinds him, and welles takes up the soldiers cause, vowing to identify the asyetunnamed officer. One man band 1995, and most extensively theyll love me when im dead 2018. Set in the 18th century, the film stars orson welles in the lead role as joseph balsamo, a hypnotist, magician, and charlatan who also goes by the alias count cagliostro, and nancy guild as lorenzamarie antoinette. While working on the production, he falls in love with sonja. Based on a historical novel by richard kaplow, it has the period details down pat, but it feels selfconsciously meticulous, unable to really enjoy. Teenage student richard samuels zac efron lucks his way into a minor role in the legendary 1937 mercury theatre production of julius caesar, directed by a youthful orson welles strikingly portrayed by newcomer christian mckay. Based on robert kaplows novel of the same name, the story, set in 1937 new york, tells of a teenager hired to perform in orson welless groundbreaking stage adaptation of william shakespeares julius caesar. It must have seemed that black had turned white and upside had turned down when orson welles, a man used to being praised as the youngest this and most brilliant that, began to. Despite its jaunty pace and ratatat banter, it takes a while for me and orson welles to find its groove. Too much johnson is a 1938 comedy film written and directed by welles. Co dela film vyjimecnym je umisteni deje na prkna divadla mercury, kde. Jul 15, 2015 the blackjack the cop uses bursts the soldiers eyeballs and blinds him, and welles takes up the soldiers cause, vowing to identify the asyetunnamed officer.
Zac efron may look like a young brat but one cant deny that he is a good actor. With its crackling dialogue and jaded narrators, brooding and haunting scores, nonlinear and often elliptical editing, and striking visuals, the technique of film noir can be a potent demonstration. And the first thing to learn is never upstage mercury theatres genius director, 22yearold orson welles. With zac efron, claire danes, christian mckay, zoe kazan. In yet another fictional biopic like my week with marilyn, me and orson welles is about a larger than life character,and a time and a place. 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. Public domain i t is difficult to recapture the excitement orson welles generated 50 years ago among. The indie film maker talks about his new film me and orson welles. Me and orson welles ist ein filmdrama aus dem jahr 2008. Highschooler richard samuels lucks into a role in a daring broadway production of julius caesar.
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