McKay's Welles

Zac Efron is astute, capable and alert as the young-lad protagonist in Richard Linklater's Me and Orson Welles, a light-hearted period drama set against the creation of Welles' Ceasar, a modern-dress adaptation of Shakespeare's classic, at Manhattan's Mercury Theatre in 1937.

But Christian McKay's performance as Welles is the thing to see and hear. He's got the deep timbre, the stentorian voice, the attitude, the swagger, the size -- much better than Vincent D'onofrio's Welles in Ed Wood (which someone voiced for him anyway...right?), and a truly thrilling act of bringing a legend back to life. And it's not the first time he's played Welles, either.

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on September 11, 2008 at 6:43 PM

comment #1

BurmaShave Author Profile Page says ...

He's got it cold. D'Onofrio and Schreiber both had more resemblance, but he really does capture it. Let us not speak of Angus McFadyen in CRADLE WILL ROCK.

Posted by BurmaShave Author Profile Page at September 11, 2008 7:06 PM

comment #2

Arran Author Profile Page says ...

Yep, voice actor Maurice LaMarche did the voice in Ed Wood. Not the first or last time he's done Welles.

He also did The Brain from Pinky and the Brain.

Posted by Arran Author Profile Page at September 11, 2008 7:50 PM

comment #3

MilkMan Author Profile Page says ...

Zac Efron would make the perfect Robert Chambers if they ever decided to do It Was Just A Game: The Preppy Killer.

Posted by MilkMan Author Profile Page at September 11, 2008 8:02 PM

comment #4

soap-and-water Author Profile Page says ...

that the best welles impersonation i've ever seen, hands down.

now is anyone up for talking about confidential report / mr arkadin?

that's a hell of a fucking movie with a hell of fucking premise, where's the remake?!


Posted by soap-and-water Author Profile Page at September 11, 2008 8:04 PM

comment #5

Rod32303 Author Profile Page says ...

NOW I must see this. Jeff, how is Danes? I have a soft spot for in almost anything she does.

Posted by Rod32303 Author Profile Page at September 11, 2008 8:06 PM

comment #6

scooterzz Author Profile Page says ...

as i posted before you left town, you might want to give kaplows novel a go....it's a pretty charming read....

Posted by scooterzz Author Profile Page at September 11, 2008 8:17 PM

comment #7

MilkMan Author Profile Page says ...

F for Fake is my favorite Welles. That and his narration for that Nostradamus flick back in the early 80s the scared the holy bejeezus out of me.

"And the, in the year 2937, the world will end."

Posted by MilkMan Author Profile Page at September 11, 2008 8:31 PM

comment #8

astrophore Author Profile Page says ...

f for fake is fan-fucking-tastic. oja kodar is superhot there, which has nothing to do with its artistic integrity, but i need to mention it. welles regained the playfulness that he had as a younger artist.

one of these days we'll get to see the other side of the wind, and i hope the ascot fetishist bogdanovich doesn't do too much damage.

my sentimental welles favorite is still chimes at midnight -- i know thee not, old man. devastating.

Posted by astrophore Author Profile Page at September 11, 2008 8:40 PM

comment #9

joncro Author Profile Page says ...

RKO 281?
Schrieber?

anyone?

Posted by joncro Author Profile Page at September 11, 2008 11:48 PM

comment #10

Craptastic Author Profile Page says ...

Before Sunsrise/Sunset, Dazed & Confused... all classics in my mind.... But watching that clip made me think a little too much of The Newton Boys.

Posted by Craptastic Author Profile Page at September 11, 2008 11:53 PM

comment #11

The InSneider Author Profile Page says ...

Thank God Efron is "Alert." I hate performances when they aren't.... Seriously, what the hell does that even mean?

Posted by The InSneider Author Profile Page at September 12, 2008 2:35 AM

comment #12

LDKA0186 Author Profile Page says ...

Leave it to Wells to praise the one element no other critic likes about this flick. Not that I should be surprised; Efron's got perfect cheekbones and zero body fat. Maybe that's what "capable" is describing.

Posted by LDKA0186 Author Profile Page at September 12, 2008 4:58 AM

comment #13

bluefugue Author Profile Page says ...

What a strange effect. Facially there's not much resemblance, but the mannerisms and voice are on the money. It's like Orson Welles possessed someone who doesn't look like him.

Posted by bluefugue Author Profile Page at September 12, 2008 7:40 AM

comment #14

Joshua Mooney Author Profile Page says ...

Few things entertain me more than a good Orson impersonation. McKay's pretty good in this clip. D'Onofrio, physically, is Welles to a T in "Ed Wood," though he's rather blatantly dubbed, by LaMarche, who is by far the best Welles vocally. D'Onofrio went on to improve his Welles voice (purportedly)in the short "Five Minutes, Mr. Welles," well worth watching just for his Orson-eyebrows and physical gestures. I saw Jeff Still do a very fine Welles on stage in Austin Pendleton's "Orson's Shadow." I need to see "RKO 281" again. And... Zac Efron creeps me out.

Posted by Joshua Mooney Author Profile Page at September 12, 2008 8:28 AM

comment #15

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