WALTZING WITH BRANDO is one of the most entertaining, enjoyable, and eye-opening films of the year! And it delivers a tour-de-force, award-worthy performance from Billy Zane. Billy Zane IS Marlon Brando.
Written and directed by Bill Fishman based on the book by architect Bernard Judge, Waltzing With Brando: Planning a Paradise in Tahiti, WALTZING WITH BRANDO takes us to Tahiti and Marlon Brando’s private island of Tetiaroa in the early 1970s when Brando hired architect Bernie Judge to design and develop an ecologically and environmentally friendly compound/hotel for Brando at a time before energy efficiency and ecologically correct materials were the norm, and on an island (or more appropriately, an atoll) that had no electricity or modern conveniences. Living on the island and becoming friends with Brando, Judge saw firsthand Brando’s commitment and understanding of the bigger picture for our planet and the global future. Eventually, embracing Brando’s passion for the environment, particularly the interdependence of ecological architecture on Tetiaroa, we see the dreams of two men meld into one common goal, giving way to a deep friendship and great insight into Marlon Brando, a truly enigmatic man and legend.
There is a beauty and humanity that emerges in the film and within the character of Marlon Brando as, thanks to Fishman’s story structure and development, we see Brando in a simpler time and how forward thinking he was, as well as how he encouraged and pushed Bernie Judge to step outside of his architectural comfort zone and think outside of the box at a time when “ecology” was in fashion, but environmental correctness was not yet in the zeitgeist. The result is a beautiful portrait not only of Brando, but of Bernie Judge and how Brando changed him.
Overcoming the challenges of what some may perceive to be a “dry read” of Judge’s book given the architectural design and building processes discussed at length therein, Fishman finds kernels of “the real Brando” and emphasizes and celebrates anecdotes that showcase Brando’s sense of humor and his private persona, achieving a beautiful full-bodied balance between the Hollywood Brando versus “dropping the mask” and his need and want for peace, quiet, calm and his caring about the environment. Packed with humor, scenes that showcase events like Brando’s thoughts on having electric eels provide electricity for the island or purifying urine for drinking water to solve the potable water issue are true. I found the personal revelations and freeing persona of Brando in WALTZING WITH BRANDO particularly effective and spot on, thanks to my own casual acquaintance with him over a number of years in the 80s and more than a few light-hearted conversations, which included talk of pets, his island, movies, and even the weather. And fueling that balance in depicting Brando beyond the words on the page is Billy Zane.
Zane transforms into Marlon Brando, embodying his very essence with humor, intelligence, curiosity, and passion. The voice, the physical mannerisms, the playfulness, the humor, and even the dissatisfaction and frustration within the world. All are perfection. And eye-opening. I have to wonder if Zane either watched Stevan Riley’s documentary “Listen to Me Marlon” which is the culmination of hours and hours of Brando’s recordings of his self-hypnosis sessions, or listened to any or all of those hundreds of hours of Brando’s recordings to capture the true essence and vocal nuance of Brando. So spot on with the voice, the mannerisms, the humor, the sadness. Billy Zane is Oscar-worthy in what is perhaps the pinnacle of his already outstanding career. Just brilliant.
But when you talk about brilliance and perfection, you have to look at the exemplary work of Zane’s make-up artists for the film, Michael Mekash and Kerry Herta, along with his wig maker, Diana Choi. It is their work that completes the physical transformation of Billy Zane into Marlon Brando, as no matter what the scene, you will find yourself doing double takes, wondering if Brando has returned from the dead; the physical cloning is so well done. Then add Zane’s nuanced emotional performance, and you will be asking, Is it live or is it Memorex. The hair and make-up work extends beyond scenes on the island or in Los Angeles and into recreations of some of Brando’s seminal roles in films like “Apocalypse Now”, “The Godfather”, “Superman”, “The Last Tango in Paris”, “Mutiny on the Bounty”, “Streetcar Named Desire”, and more. It is important to note that these sequences are not insets of film clips, but actual recreations of specific scenes from some of Brando’s most famous films. The result is chillingly fantastic.
Joining in the production excellence of WALTZING WITH BRANDO is that of cinematographer Garrett O’Brien. Every image speaks volumes. Key to the telling of this story is the lighting and lensing and the transformative nature of Tetiaroa and nearby Moorea. Watching, it’s as if the islands are enveloping Brando and Bernie and letting an unfettered bromance between friends develop.
Just when you think you’ve seen the most exquisite image ever, O’Brien dazzles us with something else: a breathtaking sequestered waterfall, a panoramic vista of a light blue sky meeting light blue water with white sand, and a solitary figure of Brando in the distance. Breathtaking beauty and striking metaphors for Brando and his world.
The atmospheric light in Tahiti and Moorea, and Tetiaroa is unique due to its purity of being smack dab in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The air quality is “clear,” which allows for sunsets after the sun has set below the horizon, giving way to pink sun rays shooting upward from behind the horizon. During the day, sunlight “skips” off the water and pushes a bluish light into homes along the beach, something unique to this region. The result is gorgeous. With every frame and every bit of nature that unfolds, you understand why Brando loved the island so much. WALTZING WITH BRANDO gives new meaning to filming during “golden hour,” and O’Brien captures it all.
Transition scenes are celebratory of the island’s natural inhabitants, and we get up close and personal with crabs and other crawly things, as well as the beauteous verdant foliage. Interiors were shot in older style Tahitian homes with thatched roofs and sleek patinaed dark wood interiors located along the beach or on higher ground overlooking the water and beach, giving way to strong, striking silhouettes. Nature even gets wider lenses. Everything we see celebrates nature, and Marlon Brando melts into it, larger than life, but a part of the natural fabric. Adding to that natural fabric is the contrast in visual language, color, and light for scenes shot in Los Angeles, which are softer, more gray, somewhat desaturated, and locked down.
The movie scene recreations are outstanding, done completely from scratch, right down to matching color grading and focal length to the original movie scene, according to O’Brien and Fishman.
But Billy Zane needs a partner in WALTZING WITH BRANDO, and here that dance partner is Jon Heder as Bernard Judge. As much as Zane resembles Brando even without make-up, Jon Heder resembles Bernie Judge. (NOTE: Stay through the credits and you’ll see for yourself.) Surprising is Heder’s casting in a role that, while comedic at times, requires some dramatic acting, and he pulls it off beautifully. Deferring to Zane’s Brando as a father figure, a boss, and a friend, Heder proves quite adept at deftly shifting Bernie’s position in Brando’s world depending on Brando’s mood. Heder seamlessly goes with the flow opposite Zane, which, quite often, leads to some of the most humorous and heartfelt moments.
Also on the dance card is Richard Dreyfuss as Brando’s manager/accountant, Seymour Kraft. As comes as no surprise, Dreyfuss is a hoot. Tia Carrera also pops up, appearing as the self-proclaimed Queen of the island, Madame Leroy. A fun turn for Carrera, especially as she goes toe-to-toe with a somewhat hapless Bernie Judge. Glorious is her traditional costuming and jewelry, courtesy of costume designers Charlie Altuna and Erica Howard.
Michael Yanovich’s edit captures the island vibe of calm and tranquility while infusing the energy of Brando’s passion for his compound/hotel and Bernie’s sometimes frenetic panic to please Brando. There is a lovely, almost yin and yang in the edit.
The icing on the cake of WALTZING WITH BRANDO is composer Matei Bratescot’s score. There is a sensitivity to the score as it blends with some traditional Tahitian music as well as some contemporary music of that 1969-1974 time period. There’s a magic and beauty to the score, punctuated with light-hearted touches of instrumentation that is enchanting.
An award-worthy best performance of Billy Zane’s career. Jon Heder steps outside the box and ups his game. A wonderful adaptation by Bill Fishman. Superb production values all around. Award-worthy hair and make-up. A love letter to the real Marlon Brando. Make sure that WALTZING WITH BRANDO is on your cinematic dance card.
Written and Directed by Bill Fishman
Based on the book by Bernard Judge
Cast: Billy Zane, Jon Heder, Richard Dreyfuss, Tia Carrera
by debbie elias, 09/08/2025
WALTZING WITH BRANDO is in theatres September 19, 2025.
