Colour Me Kubrick: A True...ish Story

Having just seen this movie, the most striking thing for me was how impressive Malcovich's performance was... that man can act. his accents were hilarious, his comic timing was impeccable, his blatant homosexuality was wonderful. it's really of this which carries the movie through, as the plot itself doesn't really have much substance to it. the entire film revolves around one character, and it is only really malcovich's character which gains any development at all, so it's just as well he does it well.

personally, i enjoyed the film immensely, but came away with a great appreciation of malkovich, rather than for the film itself.

Outrageous, delightful, astonishing one man show by the phenomenal John Malkovich. They tell us the story is a true-ish tale and they could have fooled me because it feels, the story and the character, like escapees from a Monty Python project. John Malkovich goes further that most people who ventures into a trueish story. Leonardo Di Caprio in "Catch Me If You Can" plays a true life con who gets away with the most incredible things but we buy that people buy it because there is something so believable in Di Caprio's persona. John Malkovich goes the opposite way. He doesn't care whether you believe it or not because he believes it. It is a spectacular performance and that alone makes Color Me Kubrick a must.

A very smart movie, which deals with several very interesting subjects. John Malkovitch is really incredible in his role.

The movie points out the craziness of A. Conway. It especially points out the vanity of the "victims", so much so that sometimes, you feel rather sympathetic towards the con himself. Each of his victims finds in his/her meeting with "Stanley Kubrick" something that makes him/her feel good about themselves or something that will profit him/her. Very often, the only thing he gets out of all this is a lot of drink and money.

The different references to actual Kubrick films are rather intelligent.

Honestly, the first scene is really a kick.

A film that is to be seen by any Kubrick fan.

Allow me to preface this whole review by saying that the more familiar you are with the works of Stanley Kubrick, the more enjoyable this film will be for you.

If you are only slightly familiar with Kubrick, and are not interested in seeing a John Malkevich playing an impressively nuanced, yet unprogressing character (after seeing, one has to admit it was quite the feat), then your $10 is probably better spent elsewhere. However, if you are like me and get a kick out any work that can thread in a Kubrick allusion without making any excuses, this film might be right up your alley.

Within this film there is no great commentary, no grand message, and no prevailing plot. What it does contain is one compelling character, one twisted journey, and whole host of inside jokes which, if you are in on the bit, make this film worth every penny of the ticket price. A confidence man, Alan (Malkevich), grifts his way through every episode of this linear yet non-Aristelean film by pretending to be the reclusive film director, Stanley Kubrick. Every episode is structured around an allusion (which Alan never seems to get because it appears as though he has never actually seen a Kubrick movie) to one of Kubrick's greatest scenes.

I believe giving too much more else will ruin the ride for those that care to take it. And, oh my, what a weirdly wonderful ride it is.

This film was strangely intriguing and had my full attention all the time. The dialogue is at times extraordinarily witty and it's a mix of sadness (emphasized by the music scores from both Clockwork Orange and 2001, as well as melancholy tones from Bryan Adams "I'm not the man I seem to be, but I'm the man for you..") and comedy depicting the double nature of the conman Conway. Malkowich slippery and at times very painful acting is one of a kind. It's amazing how his character bounces up again and again, he can't stop himself. Of course, as a social commentary this film is a hard judgment on the willingness for people to believe and get benefits from anybody who appears to be in a position of power.

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