Me and Orson Welles
In Richard Linklater's (Dazed and Confused, A Scanner Darkly) drama, High School Musical's Zac Efron stars as young actor, Richard, who dreams of stardom in 1930s New York.
Richard Samuels lucks his way into a minor role in the legendary 1937 Mercury Theatre production of Julius Caesar, directed by a youthful Orson Welles (played by newcomer Christian McKay.) Over the course of a week, Richard makes his Broadway debut, finds romance with an ambitious older woman, and experiences the dark side of genius after daring to cross the imperious, brilliant Welles.
- Director:
- Richard Linklater ('A Scanner Darkly', 'Fast Food Nation', 'School of Rock', 'Dazed and Confused', 'Slacker')
- Writer:
- Holly Gent PalmoVincent Palmo Jr.
- Cast:
- Zac EfronChristian McKayClaire DanesBen ChaplinEddie MarsanZoe Kazan
Reviews & comments
Recommended
Richard Linklater hits us with a massive pile of 1937 in his kinda sorta not really biopic of brilliant visionary and legendary douchebag Orson Welles, as seen through the unfairly gorgeous eyes of a youthfully ambitious actor. Efron is vibrant as the teen lead, hitting the right balance of charm and ignorance while Christian McKay churns out a masterful...
Great film
This is a film about Richard Samuels played by Zac Efron who tries out for a role in the Mecury Theatre production of Julius Ceaser in 1937 directed by Orson Welles played in a great performance by Christian McKay. Richard falls for a girl played by Claire Danes who helps run the production. This is a great film about the theatre and realising your dream of...
Variety
pressThere are moments, especially when Welles is alternating between acting as Brutus and directing everyone else, that it’s possible to forget you’re watching an actor and really believe you’re beholding Orson Welles at work.
TVNZ
pressCombined with a sweet central romance between Efron's character and Claire Danes' manager, Me And Orson Welles is an unexpected treat, well worth two hours of your time.
The Times
pressIn the end, the film fails as a character portrait, a drama or a snapshot of an era, while simultaneously offering tantalising hints of each.
The New York Times
pressArt is a fairy tale we choose to believe in, and this movie, a fiction confected about real people, is too good not to be true.
Roger Ebert
pressThe impersonation of Welles by Christian McKay in Me and Orson Welles is the centerpiece of the film, and from it, all else flows. We can almost accept that this is the Great Man.
Hollywood Reporter
pressChristian McKay's impersonation of young Orson Welles is sensational in this enjoyable, though slight, historical fiction about a teen who spends a memorable week with the legendary wonder.
Empire Magazine
pressA really satisfying backstage drama, this is an exhilarating tour around a man whose talent was almost as big as his ego.
Christchurch Press
pressNew York, November 1937. George Gershwin has recently died, Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart are the toast of Broadway and teenager Richard Samuels (Zac Efron) is determined to get his own slice of theatrical fame.
Variety
pressThere are moments, especially when Welles is alternating between acting as Brutus and directing everyone else, that it’s possible to forget you’re watching an actor and really believe you’re beholding Orson Welles at work.
TVNZ
pressCombined with a sweet central romance between Efron's character and Claire Danes' manager, Me And Orson Welles is an unexpected treat, well worth two hours of your time.
The Times
pressIn the end, the film fails as a character portrait, a drama or a snapshot of an era, while simultaneously offering tantalising hints of each.
The New York Times
pressArt is a fairy tale we choose to believe in, and this movie, a fiction confected about real people, is too good not to be true.
Roger Ebert
pressThe impersonation of Welles by Christian McKay in Me and Orson Welles is the centerpiece of the film, and from it, all else flows. We can almost accept that this is the Great Man.
Hollywood Reporter
pressChristian McKay's impersonation of young Orson Welles is sensational in this enjoyable, though slight, historical fiction about a teen who spends a memorable week with the legendary wonder.
Empire Magazine
pressA really satisfying backstage drama, this is an exhilarating tour around a man whose talent was almost as big as his ego.
Christchurch Press
pressNew York, November 1937. George Gershwin has recently died, Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart are the toast of Broadway and teenager Richard Samuels (Zac Efron) is determined to get his own slice of theatrical fame.
Recommended
Richard Linklater hits us with a massive pile of 1937 in his kinda sorta not really biopic of brilliant visionary and legendary douchebag Orson Welles, as seen through the unfairly gorgeous eyes of a youthfully ambitious actor. Efron is vibrant as the teen lead, hitting the right balance of charm and ignorance while Christian McKay churns out a masterful...
Great film
This is a film about Richard Samuels played by Zac Efron who tries out for a role in the Mecury Theatre production of Julius Ceaser in 1937 directed by Orson Welles played in a great performance by Christian McKay. Richard falls for a girl played by Claire Danes who helps run the production. This is a great film about the theatre and realising your dream...
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