Me And Orson Welles (2009)

Set in 1937, a high school senior (Zac Efron) with no experience finds himself cast in a small role in the legendary Mercury Theatre production of Shakespeare's JULIUS CAESAR directed by Orson Welles (Christian McKay). Based on the novel by Robert Kaplow and directed by Richard Linklater (BEFORE SUNRISE). I'm of two minds about this movie. On one hand, it's a wonderfully clever theatrical conceit. A dreamy look at the magic of theater and of art and of genius (in this case, Welles). Christian McKay gives a deliciously wicked portrait of Welles that goes beyond mere impersonation and inhabits the egotistical wizard. The film has an authentic 1930s atmosphere and film seems to owe something to some of Woody Allen's memory pieces (RADIO DAYS, SWEET AND LOWDOWN, CAFE SOCIETY etc.), even down to the underscore of 1930s records. That being said, I wish this fictionalized version had been done as a roman a clef rather than using real names because it plays as fiction, not as a biographical document. The sole survivor of the Mercury group Norman Lloyd (hideously played by Leo Bill) hated the film and labeled its narrative ridiculous and bearing no relation to the actual facts. This tarnishes the film because there's so much good about it. Hopefully, others will enjoy the film for what it is but realize what they're seeing is pure fiction. With Claire Danes, Ben Chaplin, Eddie Marsan and Kelly Reilly.