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As a surprise, Linklater unveils his latest
Well, sort of a surprise. … Richard Linklater filled the “Special Screening” slot this morning at SXSW with his small gem “Me and Orson Welles,” which received a warm hometown welcome at the Paramount. The two-thirds-filled house laughed, clapped, loved it.
Linklater, sporting a killer Western shirt embroidered with characters from Howard Hawks’ “Rio Bravo,” admitted he wasn’t supposed to be showing the movie this early (even though it played Toronto last year), since it won’t be released until October. What the hell, he said. He couldn’t not play it at longtime friend Janet Pierson’s first SXSW as the fest’s producer and leader.
The movie — based on Robert Kaplow’s novel and adapted by Austin writers Holly Gent Palmo and Vincent Palmo, Jr. — is about “art, youthful ambition and the blessing and curse of those compelled to put on a show,” Linklater told the crowd.
It’s a lovely movie, a richly appointed ’30s period piece set inside Orson Welles’ famed Mercury Theater in New York. It follows Zac Efron’s ambitious teenage actor as he finagles his way into Welles’ stellar troupe, using wiles, charm and confidence. It’s about learning the showbiz ropes the hard way by the hardest teacher, the blustery and bumptious Welles.
In a searing star turn, Christian McKay plays Welles as a seductive but insufferable supernova of gaseous ego and barking entitlement. Though not the late rotund Welles, he nevertheless takes up all the space around him and steals its oxygen, leaving those nearby gasping.
McKay’s lusty and rollicking Welles is the wild-eyed ringleader of a constellation of stars, from producer John Houseman (Eddie Marsan) to Joseph Cotton (James Tupper). They are mounting an ambitious, career-making production of “Julius Caesar” and we are history’s bedazzled witnesses.
Elegant and smooth, “Me and Orson Welles” evinces Linklater’s knack for character-driven chamber pieces, fluttering with sharp dialogue while exploring the brambles of love and the dour realization that egos and great art are sometimes horribly, wonderfully indivisible.
More about the movie HERE.
Linklater’s towering SXSW success
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By over it
March 17, 2009 3:51 AM | Link to this
What is this guy famous for again? I think it was one movie 15 years ago, right? Thats what drives me nuts about this town, the scene tends to latch on to that one artist who has a hit, and thats the main director/band/singer/artist we hear about for like 15 years. No one else is given a platform no matter how good they are, and thus the industry in this town becomes stagnant. Seriously, Linklater? Are there really no better movie makers, or different groundbreaking movie makers in this town with ALL the artists here. I would find that hard to believe. Until SXSW opens up to more than a small circle of artist, and let more outside opinion influence what is seen, it will continue to remain irrelevant. BTW, hasnt Linklater been wearing that same shirt for like 15 years? Really, get over this guy already.
By mumford
March 17, 2009 1:14 AM | Link to this
geeze, when is linklater going to make another cult classic? how long’s it been since slacker and dazed? where’s the ideas man?!?!? hook up with mike judge and do some funny for krissakes.