Directed by Dave McCary and screenplay by Kyle Mooney and Kevin Costello from a story by Mooney, Brigsby Bear is the story of a man who lived in an underground bunker learns that his favorite TV show was created by the man who captured him prompting him to see the outside world and finish the show’s narrative. It’s a film that plays into a man who embarks into the real world after being held captive for so many years as his ideas of reality and fantasy become confusing. Starring Kyle Mooney, Claire Danes, Greg Kinnear, Matt Walsh, Jane Adams, Michaela Watkins, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Ryan Simpkins, and Mark Hamill. Brigsby Bear is a whimsical and heartfelt film from Dave McCary.
A young man who obsessively watches a TV show while living in an underground bunker learns he had been abducted by a couple where he returns to his real family and eventually decides to finish the show that his fake father created into a film. It’s a film that has a man dealing with reality and what happened to him while realizing that a new tape of his show isn’t coming forcing him to make a project relating to that show. The film’s screenplay by Kyle Mooney and Kevin Costello focuses mainly on the character of James Pope (Kyle Mooney) who lives in an underground bunker as he obsesses over this educational TV show about a bear who saves the universe as well as teach children ideas and math problems of the world. For James, it’s the only contact to the outside world that he has while he also created an online fan forum about the show unaware that no one knows about the show’s existence.
Upon his return to the real world and reunited with his real parents as well as learning he has a younger sister in Aubrey (Ryan Simpkins), James struggles with his new reality until Aubrey reluctantly takes him to a party where he manages to win a few people over through his discussion of his favorite show that it interests a few people. Even one of the detectives of his case in Detective Vogel (Greg Kinnear) takes interest in what James is doing as he wanted to fulfill a lifelong dream of acting as he used to act in plays before becoming a detective. With Aubrey eventually joining in, James finds a fulfillment in creating this film version of his favorite TV show with the props of the show that Detective Vogel retrieved from the station. Yet, James’ project makes his parents uneasy thinking he wouldn’t adapt to society following a stunt he pulled during filming where he took the blame for everyone. It would play into James’ need to focus on this project rather than adapt to a world he doesn’t know much about.
Dave McCary’s direction is full of imagination and whimsy which play into this clash of reality and James’ need to create a reality that is based on the fantasy of the TV show that he loved. Shot on location in Utah, the film does play into a world where it starts off as this strange and offbeat sci-fi film where this family is living underground as if the world had been destroyed by a nuclear holocaust until the police arrive to arrest James’ captors. There are some wide shots of the locations in McCary’s direction yet he’s more focused on the interaction between characters and James’ enthusiasm for this TV show that he loved. Notably in the creation of James’ film where there is that element of amateurish, homemade filmmaking that is full of creativity thanks in part to a friend of Aubrey in Spencer (Jorge Lendeborg Jr.) who would create visual effects and be James’ closest collaborator in all aspects of the film.
There are dramatic elements in the film as it relates to James’ parents desire to connect and bond with him as they bring in their family therapist Emily (Claire Danes) who suggest some things that she believes would help James. Still, McCary maintains a low-key approach to the drama in favor of something more light-hearted in its approach to humor as well as James’ journey about the world around him including those who participated in the TV show that his fake parents created. Even in what would become James’ vision for this film as he would do what he can to create something faithful to the TV show but also as a closing chapter in his life. Overall, McCary creates a touching and witty film about an abducted young man who seeks out to finish his captors’ TV special into a film.
Cinematographer Christian Sprenger does excellent work with the film’s cinematography as it is largely straightforward with some grainy video footage for the TV show presentation as it was shot largely on video. Editor Jacob Craycroft does nice work with the editing as it is straightforward with some rhythmic cuts that play into the humor and drama. Production designer Brandon Tonner-Connolly, with set decorator Cynthia A. Neibaur and art director Andy Eklund, does amazing work with the look of some of the amateurish sets that James and Spencer created along with the props from the show. Costume designer Sarah Mae Burton does fantastic work with the clothes and costumes of the show including the homemade costumes that were created along with the casual look of the people in James’ life.
The visual effects work of Andrew Sherman is brilliant for its approach to amateurish visual effects and usage of practical effects to create something as if it was homemade. Sound editor Leslie Shatz does superb work with the sound as it create some sound effects for the film along with some usage of naturalistic sound in various parts of the film. The film’s music by David Wingo is wonderful for its usage of ambient and electronic pieces to play up the feel of the 1980s as if the TV show was created in the 1980s while music supervisor Kier Lehman provides a mixture of music for its soundtrack that includes acts like YACHT, Kyle, DecadeZ, Vessel, Join the Riot, and Nate Heller.
The casting by Courtney Bright and Nicole Daniels is great as it feature some notable small roles and appearances from Andy Samberg as mental hospital patient James befriends late in the film, Tim Heidecker as an actor in a movie James sees with his dad, Kate Lyn Sheil as an actress who appeared on the TV show as an object of affection for James, Alexa Demie and Chance Crimin in their respective roles as a couple of Aubrey’s friends in Merideth and Logan, Beck Bennett as a detective in Deputy Banner who becomes suspicious about James’ activities, and Claire Dane in a terrific small role as the Pope’s family psychiatrist Emily who is trying to understand James only to make suggestions that proved to be not helpful to his well-being.
Jorge Lendeborg Jr. is superb as Aubrey’s friend Spencer who becomes fascinated by the TV show that James tells him about where he would upload episodes to YouTube and become James’ key collaborator in the film. Matt Walsh and Michaela Watkins are fantastic as James’ real parents in their respective roles as Greg and Louise Pope who are trying to re-establish their relationship with their son while being confused by his obsession for the show while Ryan Simpkins is wonderful as James’ younger teenage sister who initially doesn’t want to do much with him only to become a collaborator for his film where they start to bond.
Mark Hamill and Jane Adams are excellent as James’ captors in their respective roles as Ted and April Mitchum with Hamill as the creator of this TV show who has also been James’ protector with April as the maternal figure where the two try to protect James from the ugliness of the world. Greg Kinnear is brilliant as Detective Vogel as the man who brings James back home while becomes interested in what James is doing prompting him to return to his love for acting by taking part in the film. Finally, there’s Kyle Mooney in an amazing performance as James Pope as an abducted young man who is a big fan of a TV show he believed everyone knows only to learn he was abducted yet is more concerned about the next episode forcing him to create his own film where it’s a charming and heartfelt performance of a man whose innocence is his key to living.
Brigsby Bear is a sensational film from Dave McCary. Along with its ensemble cast, touching script, dazzling visual effects, and old-school approach to amateurish filmmaking. It’s a comedy-drama that touches all of the right places while not being afraid in expressing sentimentality in a young man wanting to finish the creation that his abductors had created. In the end, Brigsby Bear is a phenomenal film from Dave McCary.
© thevoid99 2019
Based on the novel by Robert Kaplow, Me and Orson Welles is the story of a 17-year old kid who meets Orson Welles who is about to stage his production of Julius Caesar. Directed by Richard Linklater and written by Holly Gent Palmo and Vincent Palmo Jr., the film is an exploration into a young man discovering the world of theater and dealing with the big personality that is Orson Welles who is played by Christian McKay. Also starring Zac Efron, Claire Danes, and Ben Chaplin. Me and Orson Welles is an extraordinary film from Richard Linklater.
The film is about a 17-year old high school student who goes to New York City based on his interests in the arts where unexpectedly runs into Orson Welles and his Mercury Theater company who are doing a modern-day play of William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. The boy gets a small part as he also falls for a production assistant as he finds himself in the intense world of theatrical rehearsals as well as the massive personality of Welles. Notably as there’s egos involved as well as deadlines as it’s all seen by this kid who has to deal with all of that as well as doing whatever it takes to not upset Welles is a giant that can squash him.
The screenplay plays into a week in the life of Richard Samuels (Zac Efron) who is fascinated by the world of art and theater as he’s also a fan of Welles’ work in plays and radio. While Richard has aspirations to be part of it, he finds himself in that world by accident all because he wowed Welles with his charm and the ability to do a drum roll properly. The script showcases all the ins and outs of what happens in a play rehearsal where things can go wrong and there’s a lot of pressure out there. Yet, no one is as more intense than Welles as he’s a man who is a perfectionist and is hoping that everyone does their part right including the musicians in the background and the technical crew. Though Richard is aware of Welles’ personality, he has no idea how dangerous it can be to the point that Welles is also a man who sleeps with various women including the production assistant Sonja Jones (Claire Danes) whom Richard falls for.
Richard Linklater’s direction is quite engaging for the way he presents the world of theater in all of its moments on and off the stage where everyone is making sure nothing goes wrong. Notably as Welles is waiting for something bad to happen just to ensure that he can overcome that obstacle. Shot in Pinewood Studios in Britain with some locations in New York City, the film does play to a moment in time where America is coming out of the Great Depression and people are looking for art to find an escape from troubled times. Yet, there’s also moments that plays into Welles’ life such as a scene in an ambulance where Welles talks about The Magnificent Ambersons to Richard as a book as he hopes to make it something more in the future.
The direction has Linklater create some amazing compositions to showcase that world of late 1930s New York City that is very vibrant and colorful while maintaining that air of intimacy in the theater. The film’s climax comes in the performance of Julius Caesar where it is presented with such bravado and poignancy as it also shows how far Richard has come from this boy who knew very little into finally understanding his role as Lucius in the play. The film does play into that theme of someone coming-of-age in Richard as he goes into a major growth from boy to man while having a fuller understanding of what it means to be an artist. Overall, Linklater crafts a very dazzling yet captivating film about art and growth.
Cinematographer Dick Pope does brilliant work with the film‘s very colorful yet lush cinematography from the scenes set in the exteriors in day and night to the more extravagant use of lights for the film‘s climatic play scene. Editor Sandra Adair does wonderful work with the editing to create some rhythmic cuts to capture the intensity of the stage performances as well as some lighter moments in the scenes outside of the theater. Production designer Laurence Dorman, with set decorator Richard Roberts and supervising art director Bill Crutcher, does fantastic work with the set pieces from the look of many of the sets in the city including a museum that Richard goes to as well as the stage setting for the climatic play.
Costume designer Nic Ede does excellent work with the costumes from the dresses the women wear to the suits and uniforms the men wear for the play. Visual effects supervisor Robert Duncan does terrific work with the minimal set dressing for many of the exteriors of 1937 New York City without embellishing things way too much. Sound editor Ian Wilson does superb work with the sound to capture the level of noise that happens throughout the rehearsals and the things that happens on and off the stage. The film’s music by Michael J. McEvoy is a delight as it plays to the upbeat jazz music of the late 1930s as music supervisor Marc Marot also uses music of that time including some notable standards.
The casting by Lucy Bevan is amazing for the ensemble that is created as it features some notable appearances from Saskia Reeves as voice actress Barbara Luddy, Imogen Poots as a radio broadcast assistant, Al Weaver as an unappreciated set designer named Sam, and Zoe Kazan as an aspiring writer named Gretta that Richard meets early in the film and later befriends her. Other memorable yet fantastic supporting roles include Kelly Reilly as the lead actress Muriel Brasser, James Tupper as the very generous Joseph Cotten, Leo Bill as the mischievous Norman Lloyd, Eddie Marsan as the very anxious stage manager John Houseman, and Ben Chaplin in a terrific performance as the very dramatic stage actor George Coulouris.
Claire Danes is wonderful as production assistant Sonja Jones as a woman who is driven by her career as she hopes to work for David O. Selznick while intrigued by the ambition of Richard whom she seduces. Christian McKay is phenomenal as Orson Welles as a man who is full of bravado and ambition as well as an intensity where McKay is able to bring Welles back to life. Finally, there’s Zac Efron in a marvelous performance as Richard Samuel as a 17-year old high school student who is fascinated by the world of theater and art as he becomes part of that world while knowing what he must do when dealing with someone like Welles as Efron is able to stand on his own and bring depth to his character.
Me and Orson Welles is a remarkable film from Richard Linklater that features superb performances from Zac Efron and Christian McKay. The film is definitely a very intriguing look into the world of theater as well as Orson Welles’ time as a playwright. It’s also a coming-of-age film that works in the way explores a young man discovering that world as he also learns what it means to be an actor. In the end, Me and Orson Welles is a riveting film from Richard Linklater.
Richard Linklater Films: It’s Impossible to Learn to Plow by Reading Books - Slacker - Dazed & Confused - Before Sunrise - subUrbia - The Newton Boys - Waking Life - Tape - School of Rock - Before sunset - Bad News Bears (2005 film) - A Scanner Darkly - Fast Food Nation - Bernie (2011 film) - Before Midnight - Boyhood - Everybody Want Some!! - The Auteurs #57: Richard Linklater Pt. 1 - Pt. 2
© thevoid99 2013
Directed by Baz Luhrmann, William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet is a modern take on the famed tragic love story involving two young people from feuding families falling in love with each other. With a screenplay Luhrmann and Craig Pearce, the film is the chance to redefine the famed Shakespeare story in a modern setting while retaining Shakespeare’s dialogue to maintain his language. Starring Leonardo diCaprio, Claire Danes, John Leguizamo, Brian Dennehy, Pete Postlethwaite, Paul Sorvino, Diane Venora, Harold Perrineau, Miriam Margoyles, Paul Rudd, and Vondie Curtis-Hall. William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet is a dazzling film from Baz Luhrmann.
The story of Romeo & Juliet is often told in many variations as it is about the tragedy of two young people who fall in love in the middle of a war between their families. By setting it in present time where guns replace swords and cars instead of horses, Baz Luhrmann and co-screenwriter Craig Pearce allow the story to be told for a new audience who might not be able to understand William Shakespeare’s story. As a result, not only does Luhrmann and Pearce were able to be faithful to Shakespeare’s tragedy as well as retain his language but also find a way to make it relevant for a teenage audience as well as be engaging enough for older audiences.
While the script does make some alterations for the story in order to make it more dramatic, Luhrmann and Pearce do maintain that sense of faithfulness in the story while not using exposition to explain the feud between the Capulets and the Montagues other than they’re just two businessmen who hate each other. Caught in the middle of this feud are their children Juliet Capulet (Claire Danes) and Romeo Montague (Leonardo diCaprio) who prefer not to be involved as Juliet is already set to marry a governor’s son in Dave Paris (Paul Rudd) while Romeo is reeling from a break-up. Meeting at party at the Capulets mansion, the two fall in love as they have no idea who they are yet realize what families they’re from. Still, neither Romeo nor Juliet have a care in the world of what their families would think as they hope their union would bring peace to their feuding families though there are those like Juliet’s cousin Tybalt (John Leguizamo) who sees Romeo and the Montagues as villains.
Characters like Juliet’s nurse (Miriam Margoyle) and Father Lawrence (Pete Postlethwaite) would play their roles as those who would try to create the peace between the two families yet events would shatter this peace leading to Romeo’s banishment from Verona Beach and Juliet’s own despair. Even as Father Lawrence would try to do things to get the two together in the film’s third act yet the schematics of what Shakespeare would do to convey the tragedy that is to come.
Luhrmann’s direction is definitely stylish in its presentation as he shoots the film largely in Mexico with bits of Miami as Verona Beach. Filled with an array of dazzling shots and some gorgeous scenery of the locations, the direction is definitely off-kilter in the way the modern world is presented where it’s a mixture of rich and poor where both feuding families go into these locations. While Luhrmann is known for creating images that can be very dazzling and often over-the-top at times. There are also moments where Luhrmann knows when to slow down and create something that is simple and understated such as the scene of Romeo and Juliet seeing each other for the very first time through a fish tank. The way Luhrmann presents this meeting has images that are just beautiful in the way the faces reflect in the glass as there’s a lush musical accompaniment in the background.
It’s one of those moments that shows Luhrmann’s skills as a filmmaker and as a storyteller while he finds a way to inject bits of light humor in the romance while letting Shakespeare’s dialogue flow naturally through the young actors. Even in the way he frames some of the scenes such as the scenes in the church where Luhrmann creates a lot of colorful imagery and maintain that sense of beauty and tragedy that is to happen. The use of TV news footage also helps maintain an air of suspense to establish the chaos of the feud as well as the film’s climax while both films open and end with an anchorwoman (Edwina Moore) reciting the opening and closing text of Shakespeare’s words. Overall, Luhrmann creates a sensational yet entrancing take on William Shakespeare’s romantic tragedy.
Cinematographer Donald M. McAlpine does amazing work with the film‘s colorful cinematography with the use of lights in some of the film‘s interior settings as well as the nighttime exterior scenes along with some lush camera work in the daytime exterior scenes such as the trailer park Romeo was banished to. Editor Jill Bilcock does brilliant work with the film‘s hyper-stylized editing with some of the fast-cutting in the party and confrontation scenes along with some slow yet methodical cuts in some of the film‘s romantic and dramatic moments. Production designer Catherine Martin, with set decorator Brigitte Broch and art director Doug Hardwick, does great work with the look of the Verona Beach with its location dressing and places that Romeo often hangs out as well as some of the interiors of the church and Capulet mansion.
Costume designer Kym Barrett does fantastic work with the costumes from the clothes at the costume party many of the characters wear to some of the colorful casual clothing that Romeo wears and the dresses of Juliet as well as some of the design of the guns the characters carry. Visual effects supervisor Rebecca Marie does nice work with some of the film‘s minimal visual effects such as the minor backdrops of some of the exterior scenes. Sound editor Tim Holland and sound designer Gareth Vanderhope do wonderful work with the sound to capture the atmosphere of the parties as well as the chaos of some of the film‘s violent moments.
The film’s music by Nellee Hooper, Marius de Vries, and Craig Armstrong is superb for its mixture of lush orchestration and low-key electronic music to convey the sense of action and romance with Armstrong‘s string arrangements playing out the sense of romance. The film’s music soundtrack contains an array of pieces ranging from alternative rock, pop, dance, and soul music that is an intoxicating mix to play out the sense of romance and tragedy. Songs by Garbage, Everclear, the Butthole Surfers, Gavin Friday, Des’ree, Radiohead, Kym Mazelle, the Cardigans, and many others are just some of the reasons into why the film is so full of life as it helps elevate the film’s sense of drama.
The casting by David Rubin is incredible as it includes an outstanding collection of actors for this film. In small roles, there’s M. Emmet Walsh as an apothecary who runs a pool hall, Quindon Tarver as a choir boy, Edwina Moore as the anchorwoman, Vincent Laresca and Carlos Martin Manzo Otolora as a couple of Capulet soldiers, Zak Orth and Jamie Kennedy as a couple of Montague men, and Jesse Bradford as Romeo’s cousin Balthasar. Other notable small roles include Vondie Curtis-Hall as the police authority Captain Prince, Dash Mihok as Romeo’s peaceful cousin Benvolio, and Paul Rudd as the very dorky governor’s son Dave Paris who is set to be Juliet’s husband. Miriam Margoyles is wonderful as the nurse who is sort of a mother figure for Juliet as she also tries to help create the union with Romeo. Pete Postlethwaite is superb as Father Lawrence who sees Romeo and Juliet’s love as a chance to end a feud as well as trying desperately to bring true love to the forefront.
Christina Pickles and Brian Dennehy are excellent as Romeo’s parents who are concerned for Romeo while Paul Sorvino and Diane Venora are great as Juliet’s parents where they add a sense of extravagance to their roles. Harold Perrineau is brilliant as Romeo’s friend Mercutio who is a fun-loving man who tries to defend Romeo against the Capulets and Tybalt. John Leguizamo is amazing as Tybalt as a man who hates all Montagues where Leguizamo definitely goes all out for the role of this very vile man.
Finally, there’s the performances of Leonardo diCaprio and Claire Danes in their respective roles as Romeo and Juliet. Both actors bring in performances that are just phenomenal with diCaprio maintaining that mix of sensitivity and bravura as Romeo while Danes brings a sense of awkward innocence and angst to her role as Juliet. The duo are really the highlight of the film as they have great chemistry together and definitely display chops that they would unveil in the years to come.
William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet is a spectacular film from Baz Luhrmann that features sensational performances from Leonardo diCaprio and Claire Danes. Along with great technical work, a brilliant soundtrack, and a superb supporting cast. It’s a film that takes William Shakespeare’s romantic tragedy to the modern world and make it accessible for a new audience while having something Shakespeare fans can enjoy. In the end, William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet is an enchantingly rich film from Baz Luhrmann.
Baz Luhrmann Films: Strictly Ballroom - Moulin Rouge! - Australia - The Great Gatsby (2013 film) - The Auteurs #23: Baz Luhrmann
© thevoid99 2013
