Review of Me and Orson Welles (2008) by Nathan F — 22 Dec 2009
Rick Linklater's indie family piece (think a more highbrow School of Rock) struggled with no distribution for over a year despite fairly positive critical press, and after watching it, it's easy to see why.
Who would want to watch this movie? It's too dull for the art crowd drawn in by Welles (played satisfyingly if widely by McKay), who will find the direction rather limp; I can't think of a single time where it seems like Linklater even tried to think outside the box on a shot.
The Efron crowd will likewise be put off by the lack of on-screen romantic tension; yes, Danes and Efron have a fling, but it's not as convincing as it should be; and Linklater doesn't even show them kiss! Damn production codes! Either way, the movie seems to think, like Welles, that its greatness is inevitable, so it hardly seems to try.
Scenes move around with little to no investment, chic name dropping abounds, and for a family film, its message goes down a bit bitter. Not that Richard hasn't made a few classics of his own, but let's face it: the odds are we'll never find ourselves sitting in a theater for a showing of Me and Richard Linklater.
This review of Me and Orson Welles (2008) was written by Nathan F on 22 Dec 2009.
Me and Orson Welles has generally received positive reviews.
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