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Created Oct 27, 2013 01:53AM PST • Edited Feb 19, 2019 01:58AM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Good 3.0

   Color Me Kubrick isn’t for everyone. It was worth viewing for me because of its lens into the London show biz scene and its masterful Malkovich performance. I’d wager the more you know show business the more you’ll like this true show biz story about some nasty funny business. BTW, it’s also very gay.

   John Malkovich heads a huge cast that’s listed alphabetically at IMDb, a needlessly unhelpful orientation. Speaking of orientation, Malkovich affects a distinctly homosexual one essaying the real conman who impersonated Stanley Kubrick in the 90s. The great thespian delivers an overtly showy performance as this gay hustler. Was Malkovich guilty about hogging the spotlight, so suggested burying his name in the middle of a 5 page cast list? Who knows.

   Alan Conway told eager Londoners he was the famous Stanley Kubrick, yet didn’t look or act like him. They gave him sex, money and other favors in return. Never mind that the real Kubrick was a straight husband and father. He was reclusive so no one knew differently. The worst was said to be when Conway “signed Stanley’s name on a bank loan for a gay club in Soho”.¹

   Written by Kubrick’s assistant on Eyes Wide Shut, Full Metal Jacket, The Shining, A Clockwork Orange and 2001: A Space Odyssey, and directed by the Assistant Director of Eyes Wide Shut amongst other Kubrick pictures, Color Me Kubrick is an intimate account of an only-in-show-biz story.

   Brian W. Cook and Anthony Frewin include several homages to their master’s films – music and all.

   And now the rest of the story that their movie leaves out.

   Alan Conway died in ’98, three months before Kubrick himself. Seven years later came Color Me Kubrick.

   ¹ Per Wikipedia

4. Acting

   Great 4.0

   John Malkovich offers up the Queen’s handshake. He’s a drama queen extraordinaire and every inch the eccentric, right down to his green polka dot socks. He affects a range of gayness, up to and including caftans. The gold ring he claims to have gotten from Helmut he wears beyond the second knuckle.

   Marisa Berenson & Honor Blackman are two notable names from the enormous supporting cast.

5. Male Stars Really Great 4.5

6. Female Stars Great 4.0

7. Female Costars Great 4.0

8. Male Costars Great 4.0

10. Film

    Good 3.0

    What drew me to the film is the same thing that drew people to the con, Kubrick, though it turns out to be in name only.

    Like the real life character it portrays, Color Me Kubrick comes on strong. I imagine if you’re a gay thespian, it’s must see. Though neither gay or a thespian, I still found it a hoot.

    Consider it also a love letter to London, from Belgravia to Little Venice.

11. Direction Very Good 3.5

12. Play Very Good 3.5

13. Music OK 2.5

14. Visuals OK 2.5
15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 1.9

    The movie is a tour through the London gay subculture.

17. Sex Titillating 1.8

18. Violence Gentle 1.3

19. Rudeness Profane 2.6

21. Reality

    Glib 1.1

    Goosed my CircoReality grade because it’s a dramatic recreation, not a documentary.

    Alan Conway gave his con the illusion of truth and power by being a name-dropper extraordinaire. Bruce, Marlon and Madonna all get thrown into the mix. He traveled in London’s urbane gay culture – clubs, bars, business, etc – and was prone to royal gay entrances. A raging alcoholic, he was a vodka drinker – powerful and easy to hide.

22. Circumstantial Glib 1.3

23. Biological Natural 1.0

24. Physical Natural 1.0