The premise for this "based on a true...ish story" film is enough to fascinate anyone. Through the mid 1990's, Harrow-born conman Alan Conway pretended to be famous movie director Stanley Kubrick. He wined and dined with famous and not-so-famous folk, all of whom were over the moon to be in the presence of such an elusive genius. Conway's plan was accidentally brilliant, as Kubrick lived much of his life a recluse, no one knew what he looked like anyway.

Malkovich's performance of the gay alcoholic who chose to live as Kubrick, was inspired, holding a mirror to the vacuous character of the real Conway. But aren't real celebrities meant to be self-absorbed anyway? The beauty of this tragicomedy is that it also reflects real life. As a culture, we hanker after celebrity. No matter that there were glaring gaps in Conway's version of Kubrick, the other characters really wanted Conway to be Kubrick. They wanted to be graced by the presence of a star.

With such a grand deception there are bound to be moments of comic genius - and Malkovich played through these scrapes in such a deadpan manner that I was sitting on the edge of my seat wondering if he'd actually get away with it. Conway / Kubrick got so carried away with the audacious deception that it became apparent that it was more than a game, it was filling a hole in his personality. It was fulfilling his otherwise empty life, whilst taking advantage of people needy enough to really believe he was Kubrick. Some of the characters get sucked in big style, and are too embarrassed to do anything about it.

An outstanding directorial debut for Cook, Colour Me Kubrick is the culmination of many years of experience, including working with Kubrick on three films. Apparently in real life Kubrick wasn't too bothered that there was someone imitating him, so perhaps Conway was filling a hole for more than the people he deceived...