Seventeen-year-old Richard Samuels (Zac Efron) spends his days dreaming of the bright lights of Broadway. He gets his big break when he happens upon Orson Welles (Christian McKay) and his fledgling Mercury Theatre company. Richard impresses Welles with an impromptu audition and lands a bit part in the Mercury's forthcoming run of Julius Caesar.
With Welles's womanizing taking priority over rehearsals, chaos and calamity mark the production from the start. Before long, opening night has arrived and Richard will discover the terrible secrets of show business.
Lovely behind the scenes tribute to one week in New York's theatrical history when Orson Welles boldly staged Julius Caesar in modern dress. Christian McKay delivers a near-perfect voice match developed in Rosebud, his one-man tribute to Welles. I couldn't take my eyes off him when he was on screen. But it was Zak Efron the girls wanted to see at the Q&A. Claire Danes did a fine job as the upwardly mobile assistant who understands at a young age what she needs to do to further her career. (Wink)
Why do I keep thinking it's Alfred Molina playing Orson Welles o_0? Zac Efron might just be great someday, but he's gonna have to get alot dirtier and nastier to win me over, sorry Radcliffe. OW!
Sigh. It had its moments. I expected a lot more. Kinda sorry I wasted money watching it. Why does Claire Danes always have that 'deer in headlights' look about her?