Hollywood can be a difficult place sometimes for some people. Some people can handle the hustle and bustle of the city of angels more than others.  Look at Me: A Fictional Biography is a documentary about one particular individual named Taylor Olson. He wrote, directed, and starred in this movie, which is more than an autobiographical look at his life.

Taylor Olson is a struggling actor in Hollywood. He has an agent and goes to a lot of auditions. The problem is he gets a little nervous at these auditions and tends to end up kneeling over a toilet due to his consistent illness. In one instance, he needs to take photos he needs to give out to casting directors. These are called headshots. The photographer who is taking the photos hits it off and becomes romantically linked despite his sexual proclivities and preferences.

Olson shows multiple sides of his personality and his life in this film. His life is a bit hectic as he goes from place to place, all depending on who he’s with on a given night, week, or month. He uses his significant others whether they be a man or woman as his scene partners. He makes references to the legend Marlon Brando and sometimes becomes a version of him with how he uses the method Brando came to be known by. Method acting. 

In Hollywood, there are a lot of people who have self-worth issues or body issues.  Eating disorders are quite prevalent among the Hollywood elite. Mostly women have these issues but in this case, the Olson character is saddled with these ailments of body and mind. This story takes them to another level though. They take over his life and mind and become the crux of the story in the end. 

Olson wrote this story with himself in mind so he created a film with a three-act structure with literally three parts in it.  The third part is called Hark the Herald and has some interesting filmmaking choices in it. It uses a double situation and sound effects that show the situation Olson’s character is truly in. He genuinely suffers from a disease that hinders him quite a bit. He expresses this in full detail. I’m sure a lot of people can relate to this situation.

As an awkward, insecure, and lonely person myself I can relate to this man. I am not gay and don’t go that way at all but I am struggling with various issues myself. I can commiserate with his struggle to be accepted in his chosen profession and want to be a successful man. I too want to be taken seriously as a film critic. It’s a hard world to break into. Olson plays this character exceptionally well considering it’s modeled after himself. The rest of the cast of unknowns are fine as well in their respective roles.

Look at Me: A Fictional Biography is a little bit more autobiographical than Olson would like viewers to think it is. That’s fine though because he goes the extra mile to use various tricks of the trade in writing, and directing this story. Despite the odd nature of the film, it does have genuine subject matter that people can relate to within it. Eating disorders aren’t anything to play with. Especially in Hollywood. This was a fascinating look at this man and his quote-unquote fictional life.

4 stars

Dan Skip Allen