Colour Me Kubrick

Colour Me Kubrick stars John Malkovich as Alan Conway, a charismatic con artist who has a peculiar fascination with Stanley Kubrick. What makes Alan's obsession unique is his desire to impersonate the renowned filmmaker. In reality, Alan has a complete misunderstanding of Kubrick's body of work, and his physical resemblance to the director is nonexistent. Still, Alan manages to convince a group of friends, acquaintances, and even a few of Kubrick's employees, that he is indeed the director himself. As news of Alan's claim spreads, the production team working on Kubrick's final film, Eyes Wide Shut, is initially confused by the supposed director's requests and lack of knowledge about the project. Despite their doubts, the team tries to work with Alan, partly due to their frustration with Kubrick's notoriously demanding work ethic. The production's script supervisor, Vivian Van Doren, played by Max Percy's sister, Maria MacLaine, is initially dismissive of Alan's claim, recognizing the obvious discrepancies between his appearance and that of the director. Nevertheless, Alan's persistence and charm manage to persuade her, at least initially, of his true identity. Meanwhile, as production continues, strange events unfold on set. Cast members and crew members who are familiar with Kubrick soon begin to notice that things are not quite right with the new 'director.' His methods and decisions are erratic, to say the least, often resulting in chaos on set. The cast, comprised of an ensemble of talented actors, including Marion Cotillard and Jim Broadbent, tries to make the best of the situation, unsure of what is happening or who this man is. Throughout the production, Alan struggles to maintain the illusion of being Kubrick. He constantly consults his fake script and makes decisions based on his own interpretations. He takes liberties with his directorial work, altering scenes, rewriting dialogue, and changing the cinematography to suit his own tastes. Vivian Van Doren grows increasingly skeptical of Alan's identity, but her doubts are brushed aside by the chaos that ensues whenever she tries to correct him. As Eyes Wide Shut draws to a close, Alan's facade begins to unravel. More and more crew members, and some cast members, catch on to his deception, and eventually, his reputation as the director is brought to light. In a particularly amusing scene, the film's cinematographer points out that Kubrick is actually at the helm of production, and the team rushes to get Conway away from the director's chair before Kubrick walks onto the set, ready to start filming. In a tense encounter between Alan and Kubrick, they finally come face-to-face, sparking a heated confrontation. Colour Me Kubrick expertly explores the consequences of Alan's deception, which slowly starts to crumble under the weight of reality. Despite his lack of knowledge about Kubrick's work, Alan's genuine enthusiasm for filmmaking is palpable. However, his inexperience ultimately leads to catastrophe, not only on the Eyes Wide Shut production but also in his personal life. In one poignant scene, Alan is seen struggling to replicate Kubrick's directing techniques on the film's set. Frustrated and embarrassed, he retreats to his hotel room, only to be met with the harsh realization that his ruse is about to be discovered. The audience is left to ponder the motivations behind Alan's antics and to consider whether he genuinely wanted to become famous by imitating Kubrick or whether his charade served as a means of self-determination, to create a life of his own, albeit one built entirely on the false premise that he was Stanley Kubrick.