This movie proved to be a bit ahead of its time, as several films have recently come out that follow a similar structure--that of many important characters, but no main character (Magnolia and Traffic). The film is fact-based, but admittedly takes liberties. The main arc of the film is the story of Orson Welles' production of the play of the same name.
The cast is excellent: Hank Azaria, John Turturro, Bill murray, Joan and John Cusack, the guys from tenacious D, etc. all give brilliant performances. The stroy's characters are mostly upper-class snobs and down and out actors looking for theater work during the depression. This film also hints at the future of film, as Orson Welles and William Randolph Hearst are characters in the film, moving in similar circles, seemingly on a collision course that happens later when Welles depicts Hearst in Citizen Kane. Robbins wrote and directed the film, and he should be applauded for meticulously weaving in so many interesting characters and powerful themes into a film. This is unheard of for this media, and many good writers would be hard pressed to communicate this much text in a 500 page novel. This film has been overlooked.
The cast is excellent: Hank Azaria, John Turturro, Bill murray, Joan and John Cusack, the guys from tenacious D, etc. all give brilliant performances. The stroy's characters are mostly upper-class snobs and down and out actors looking for theater work during the depression. This film also hints at the future of film, as Orson Welles and William Randolph Hearst are characters in the film, moving in similar circles, seemingly on a collision course that happens later when Welles depicts Hearst in Citizen Kane. Robbins wrote and directed the film, and he should be applauded for meticulously weaving in so many interesting characters and powerful themes into a film. This is unheard of for this media, and many good writers would be hard pressed to communicate this much text in a 500 page novel. This film has been overlooked.