Tuesday 13 May 2014

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2009: Christian McKay in Me and Orson Welles

Christian McKay did not receive an Oscar nomination, despite being nominated for a BAFTA, for portraying Orson Welles in Me and Orson Welles.

Me and Orson Welles tells the of Welles's production of Julius Caesar as seen through the eyes of a wannabe actor with a small part named Richard (Zac Efron). As fluffy famous people stories go I've seen far worse I suppose.

Christian McKay does play Orson Welles and benefits greatly from the fact that he looks quite a bit like the real Orson Welles. McKay goes further than that putting on the Welles voice which might not be dead on I suppose, but it is certainly more than close enough and even more importantly feels natural in his performance. McKay also carries himself the way Welles would in his film performances and in interviews in that there was almost a distinct way in which he would interact with another. There is almost a separation about him in that he interacts like no one else, and McKay plays Welles as if Welles is almost performing in a certain way. It is not even necessarily to entertain anyone else but rather McKay pretty much plays it as Welles way of stroking his own ego at all times.

McKay definitely does bring to life the elements of that charm Welles showed particularly well as Harry Lime in The Third Man. McKay never gets to the great level Welles did in the performance but he does not fail to find some of it though. McKay creates the flamboyance of Welles well and fills the room in just the right way to make it so his presence is always known. McKay brings the slyness in that the charm is almost a deception. Although there is obviously no reason to find him likable McKay makes Welles oddly likable just because he makes him the sort of man you'd want to be around simply to watch. Although the film presents him as a genius it does not present him as a perfect artist as it also depicts him as an egomaniac who is not opposed to the temper tantrum.

One of the film's weakness is although it delves into Welles's less savory quality it gives them very little depth often having people talk about them rather than showing it and for the most part reducing them to a few outbursts. McKay delivers them well by sort of dropping the act yet still keeping it at the same time when Welles loses his reserve. It's bizarre combination of a man losing his composure yet purposefully ACTED at the same time, but McKay does pull it off quite admirable as his outbursts seem like a perfect fit for his Orson Welles's persona that he created from that point. McKay has another quieter outburst later, McKay does that less flamboyantly which fits since there is not a crowd, and although short he uses it well to show a little more about Welles.

The problem with McKay's work has nothing to do with his performance. The problem comes from the fact that the film takes such a narrow view of Welles as either a charming egotistical man or a despicable one. When there might have been a scene for more of him the film chooses to let someone else tell you about it instead of actually allowing McKay to show it. The restrictions on him really do limit McKay's work here considerably and it does end up feeling like the portrait of this Welles is far from complete. McKay still does a very admirable job here and is easily the best thing about the film. Honestly I would really like to see Christian McKay revisit Welles again but in a better film that would delve further into the man than the fairly thin depiction we are given here.

6 comments:

Michael McCarthy said...

EXACTLY how I felt about it. He felt like the real Orson Welles but the script really only hinted at actual depth to his character rather than actually expressing it.

RatedRStar said...

=D oh msybe my hero wont finish last =D.

Luke Higham said...

Yes, Fassbender has 6 noms.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: What are your overall top 5 for both Lead & Supporting Actress in 2009. Ratings & Thoughts as well.

Robert MacFarlane said...

Richard Linklater has done MUCH better than this. By the way, have you seen A Scanner Darkly, Louis?

Louis Morgan said...

Luke:

Actress:

1. Carey Mulligan - An Education - 4.5(She captures both the immaturity and maturity of her character quite beautifully)

2. Gabourey Sidbe - Precious - 4.5(Sidbe is very good in her role as she makes Precious an honest victim who you can empathize with throughout her terrible struggle)

3. Saoirse Ronan - The Lovely Bones - 4(The film is terrible but Ronan does give an admirable and assured performance in the lead. I would have liked to see a better film built around her work)

Helen Mirren - The Last Station - 4(She's a bit over the top at moments but she enlivens the film as much as she can which otherwise is far too standard of a tale)

Katie Jarvis - 3.5

Supporting Actress:

1. Monique - Precious - 5

2. Marion Cotillard - Public Enemies - 4.5

3. Samantha Morton - The Messenger - 3.5(She not my favorite part of the film but I thought she gave a pretty genuine performance for the most part)

4. Cara Seymour - An Education - 3.5(Despite having a very limited role I actually thought she was the most realistic and compelling out of the supporting ladies in the film)

5. Maggie Gyllenhaal - Crazy Heart (I guess)

koook160: No but I want to.