Colour Me Kubrick

Colour Me Kubrick is a British-French comedy-drama film released in 2005. Directed by Brian W. Cook and scripted by Anthony Frewin, the film features the iconic John Malkovich in the lead role, supported by notable actors such as Jim Davidson and Richard E. Grant.

Colour Me Kubrick offers viewers an engaging account of events inspired by true stories of Kubrick impostors that existed during Stanley Kubrick's lifetime. Malkovich gives an exceptional performance as Alan Conway, a man who lived a fraudulent yet adventurous life posing as the famed director, Stanley Kubrick.

The plot navigates through Conway's exploits during the 1990s across London, where he deceives unsuspecting victims into believing that he is the reclusive film director. As Conway's schemes progress, he adopts various accents and changes his appearance often. He swindles people not for their money but for perks—which include free meals, drinks, and other benefits that come with celebrity status. Therefore, being Kubrick becomes less about financial gain and more about the thrill and lifestyle that his disguise offers.

As the film unfolds, the audience gets to witness the sheer audacity of Conway's deceptions, along with the vulnerabilities and gullibility of his victims. But it's not just purely manipulation — he also offers people dreams and promises, knowing they will buy into his tales. The pivotal charm of the movie is Malkovich's satirical portrayal of Conway, which adds a layer of dark humour to the narrative.

Richard E. Grant plays an absurd faux fashion designer who falls victim to Conway's tricks, while Jim Davidson is perfectly cast as Lee Pratt, a Frank Sinatra impersonator also targeted by Conway. The dynamic performances of the cast add a delightful depth of distinct personalities and behaviours.

The film showcases an intriguing interplay of different themes like obsession with fame, the potency of perception, identity theft, cunning manipulation, and the extents people might go due to their aspirations and illusions. It’s a commentary on the confusing, sometimes surreal world of celebrity where image often surpasses substance and reality blurs into fantasy.

The narrative is layered, involving multiple storylines that overlap and interconnect, making the audience wonder what is real and what is sham. The dirges that play out through the film's soundtrack by Bryan Adams add an unexpected note of pathos that complements the absurdity of the storyline.

One of the strongest aspects of the movie is the way it shows that while Conway is a confidence trickster, he's not without a degree of likability and a sense of humour. This is mostly due to Malkovich's beautifully layered portrayal, which is as captivating as it is entertaining. Moreover, the film never sheds the comedic aspect, despite the characters' voyages through emotional turmoil and evolving relationships.

The cinematography by Howard Atherton adds to the film's sardonic take on celebrity culture, with each frame taking cinematic inspiration from Kubrick’s own films—be it A Clockwork Orange or Eyes Wide Shut. The production design by Amanda McArthur too deserves special mention, as her work highlights the period and context of Conway’s antics brilliantly.

While Colour Me Kubrick is essentially a character piece centred on Conway, it also brings to the forefront the larger-than-life persona and mystery that was Stanley Kubrick, the man behind some of the greatest films in the history. Yes, it's a movie about an imposter, but it's also an indirect tribute to the cinematic genius that Kubrick was.

In conclusion, Colour Me Kubrick is a dark humoured, edgy, and captivating tale of a man's adventure with borrowed identity and the lives he touches along the way. Despite the absurdity of the premise, the film delves into real human emotions and aspirations, making it worth the watch. It is an intelligent, layered, deftly crafted film backed by a strong performance by John Malkovich and a well-portrayed supporting cast. It's a film that can be enjoyed by lovers of character-centric comedies, admirers of Stanley Kubrick’s works, and for those interested in narratives based on real-life events.