Me and Orson Welles

[a_person]

Glad to say hello to a_person and Marialionza before the film.

Was going to write what a great/crap movie this was... if only we got to see it last night!!! Thanks ever so much to PhunkyG for the tickets... Remember we went Starbucks to get coffee! The receptionist told us it starts at 7.00pm and entry would be after 6.30pm. Came back at 6.40pm, she told us the movie started and it's fully packed!!! And turned us away!!!!!

A wasted trip trip but at last I got to see you guys. Ended up eating Chinese in Leicester Square and chating instead! Nevermind... I think I'm cursed, that's all!

[ejwrank]

I wondered where you ended up sitting as couldn't seem to see you in the screening room which wasn't huge so thought I'd spot you. Silly receptionist...what a waste of your time, a_person.

[kevinknapman]

I was also at the screening last night but I have to say that I wasn't overly impressed with the film. I'm a huge Orson Welles fan and loved Simon Callow's book covering that period but I felt it was a little too bland. Nicely shot and acted but I've seen this story done before and better. Both 'Cradle Will Rock' and 'RKO 281' were mentioned in the Q&A and I think this suffered in comparison. The love triangle at the centre of the movie was incredibly cliched and not entirely convincing due to a slight lack of chemistry between the three characters. I didn't particularly like Zac Efron's character either. At times I found him overly cocky and obnoxious, as a result I didn't feel emotionally invested in his story. The ensemble nature of the story also meant that whilst it was good to see a lot of British actors on screen, most of them didn't get a great deal to do. Why hire the likes of Saskia Reeves, Michael Brandon and Aidan McArdle and then waste them in pretty insubstantial roles? (Quite amusing seeing Scottish singer Eddi Reader as the nightclub singer though). However, I'm sure we'll be seeing a lot more of Christian McKay (Orson Welles) in the future though and it's always a joy to see Eddie Marsan on screen. As a fan of Richard Linklater's past work I was particularly disappointed but I did enjoy the Q&A afterwards even if he did commit some pretty serious crimes against fashion with that hideous shirt he was wearing!

[anakin]

Robert Kaplow's novel 'Me and Orson Welles' has been adapted into a new movie starring Zac Efron and Claire Danes. In a candid diary entry the author reveals his thoughts about the film - and the cast.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film ... ction.html

[Beate]

Saw this tonight with our last Picturehouse vouchers (boohoo!) and quite liked it, it was very entertaining and captured the 30's era very well.

However, unfortunately, I couldn't help but compare it to Shakespeare in Love, another film about a play and vain actors/directors, with a love story that can't go anywhere, but compared to it Me and Orson Welles falls very short of the mark as it's neither as funny, clever, witty nor romantic, so best go enjoy it for itself and forget you have ever seen other films about theatre, and it will be fine. Christian McKay as Orson Welles is terrific and Zac Efron acts his little heart out and isn't half bad.

7/10

Now I have no vouchers left whatsoever and have to start Nectarpoint-ing in Vue cinemas!

[andrews]

We saw this last night at the Odeon, Gateshead, and I have to say, I rather enjoyed it. It fell short of the mark on a few counts, but there was some excellent acting, particularly from
Christian MacKay as Orson Welles. Zac Efron did very well and has proved that he can act - I have not seen him in anything else.
Well worth a viewing - 7/10 from me.

[lilian1977]

Saw this last night, thought it was wonderful. Big fan of Zac Efron (and no I'm not 12, I'm 32...!) so it was lovely to see him prove he can actually act as well as 'serious' actors. Claire Danes was very natural and Christian MacKay IS Orson Welles. Oh, Ben Chaplin also turned in a good performance. Will be b*ying on DVD.

[a_person]

I went to watch this today at Vue West End (courtesy of Phunkygal - thanks again!) and it was going kind of okay but I don't know what happened from the middle onwards.... both my friend and I fell asleep!

[Ms Thrifty]

I've only just seen this but it was worth waiting for. I caught up with at what wasn't advertised but turned out to be a "Senior Screen" performance at Odeon Kingston, which made it all the better: only £4, a nice, quiet, appreciative audience (once we were past the total bedlam in the foyer, given that it's half term) and a huge cup of free tea or coffee, with biscuits. I must look out for more of those screenings!

As for the film, it definitely lived up to my expectations: no surprises but a good story, well told, and real old-fashioned entertainment. Just what I needed on yet another wet winter day...