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Men In Black 3

It’s not a sequel that needed to be made, but thanks to the charm of its leads and a tone that harks back to the wit and humour of the original, it’s a pretty enjoyable trip.

Bel Ami

The excellent female support cast saves this patchy effort, which is let down by its leading man and a flat screenplay.

The Dictator

A disappointing, often repulsive and mean-spirited mess of a film with seemingly only one real criterion on its agenda: to shock and offend.

The Woman In Black

Packed with atmosphere, this old-fashioned but deftly told ghost story delivers ample chills and thrills.

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Me And Orson Welles (Film)

by Cara Nash | July 26, 2010 14:42 | Edited July 26, 2010 14:44

Driven by charismatic performances, this charming film provides a captivating look into the world of the theatre.

Director Richard Linklater has forged a career out of making diverse and often unexpected choices, delivering arthouse gems like Before Sunset alongside mainstream favourites such as School Of Rock. While his choices may be unpredictable, Linklater has proven himself to be a consistently interesting filmmaker, and Me And Orson Welles is just as captivating and surprising as one would hope.

 

Set in thirties New York, Zac Efron plays Richard, a dreamy high school student who bluffs his way into Orson Welles' Mercury Theater. On the cusp of career success, a 22-year-old Welles (Christian McKay) recruits Richard to fill a minor role in his daring modern dress production of Julius Caesar. Richard becomes our usher into the theater world, with its endless rehearsals, backstage gossip, fights and romances, and opening night anticipation. Like the audience, Richard is swept up in the magic, and falls for a brassy production assistant (Claire Danes).

 

The naturally charismatic Efron proves that he has real credibility as an actor here, investing Richard with a mix of naivety and wide-eyed excitement. Danes is similarly appealing as the career-driven leading lady. It is McKay, however, who is the real scene-stealer, as he uncannily depicts Welles' mannerisms, from the cocked eyebrow and half-mocking grin to the booming jokes and dismissive taunts. His performance also captures the mad energy surrounding a man who never seemed to stop performing, revealing the charisma and brilliance that made people stick with Welles no matter how egocentric he became.

 

It would be easy for Welles to fall into caricature, or for the fairly conventional tale to feel bland, but Linklater avoids these pitfalls, and invests this charming film with real heart. The final scenes, which see Richard learn tough life lessons, are filled with all the bittersweetness of the finest coming of age stories.