Color Me Kubrick (2005)

This is an interesting film, if for no other reason for the talent of Malkovich. His performance is a study of excellent acting: He is so good as a reckless alcoholic pulling off acts of incredible chutzpah that the viewer literally cringes and winches in fear of his becoming exposed. Its not long into the movie that I was completely accepting of the lead character's complete asocial pathology. I accepted such for what it was - without any hope of redemption, rehabilitation or remorse! The problem with the film is that since the character soon becomes so one dimensional, the scenes just flow as episode after episode in a manner, way, etc., that makes one long for some personal epiphany, crisis, etc. This flick would have played well as tongue-in-cheek biography with a heavy dose of comedy, much like the films about; e.g., Ed Wood, Larry Flynt, etc. The movie might have been bettor with some modest introduction to the lead character, allowing some empathy.

Fmovies: I was expecting to see this film for a long time because of the appearance of one of my favorite actors, Robert Powell. When it was released in France this film got many bad critics that nearly stopped me to see this film. I've seen it and now I'm 100% sure that French film critics are stupid and have nothing in their brains.

This film is a fine comedy, but if you laugh with typical American comedy, then you won't find it comic. And people forget that this film is about Alan Conway, NOT Stanley Kubrick! This guy (Conway) just posed as Kubrick, that's all. People who think that the view of the director is to show that Kubrick was homosexual are stupid and blind or simply didn't see the film!! So please understand that this film is ABOUT the guy who posed as Kubrick, THIS IS NOT A FILM ABOUT KUBRICK HIMSELF!!

So the film is OK, I spent a good evening and was pleased to see Robert Powell as the journalist with the nice voice. The cast was excellent, but to me Malkovich overacted and had a disturbing and nasty accent most of the time.

I saw this film recently at the Vancouver Film Fest and left thoroughly disappointed.

As other reviewers have pointed out, this film is rather one-dimensional. Easily 75% of the movie is Alan Conway (Malkovich) hanging out in bars trying to convince guys that he's Stanley Kubrick so they'll: a) give him free drinks and stuff AND/OR b) sleep with him. Which gets old pretty quick... Virtually no insight is given as to what drives Conway's need to escape the insignificance of his life.

Also, the repeated allusions to Kubrick's films are so heavy-handed that they some off feeling uninspired. A little more subtlety would have gone a long way, and prevented from reminding me of how superior Kubrick's films are in comparison to the one on-screen.

All in all, it's not a completely terrible movie. However, given the subject matter and the lead actor I definitely felt really let down by this film.

Color Me Kubrick fmovies. 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.

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.

Something of a labour of love, Colour Me Kubrick is a short biopic of con-man Alan Conway who successfully posed as Stanley Kubrick during the director's lifetime. Played by John Malkovich at his most enduringly camp, Conway charms the socks, money and underpants from a string of wealthy suckers and gay young men. A master of his game, he gets people to write large cheques to cover fictitious donations to charity dinners as readily as conning twenty quid off a rock band to buy them (and him) fags and alcohol.

Wildly exuberant and certainly colourful, the film is well directed and acted. Its main shortcoming are two fold. The plot, such as it is, comprises a series of extended sketches until Conway's eventual apprehension, which lends an air of repetitiveness. Secondly, although Malkovich's intensely colourful campness is a remarkable achievement, he stage centres in practically every scene and if you cannot fall completely in love with it, the effeminate preening eventually can look dated and rather irritating.

Colour Me Kubrick is a traditional camp comedy with lots of cross-references for film fans. If you enjoy the first five minutes you will love it, otherwise it may have you climbing the walls.