"The Kid Stays in the Picture" tells the first-hand account of the life of Robert Evans, with narration from the audio version of his memoir. The title is in reference to the big break Evans received in the mid-1950s by studio head Darryl F. Zanuck when everyone else was against the inexperienced actor playing the lead in a film. From his short-lived on-screen career he quickly moved up the ranks to become a major Hollywood producer. What follows is ninety minutes of deep-voiced narration, a steady flurry of pictures upon pictures, and a consistent stream of namedropping. The first person narration has a vibe that doesn't let up that screams "I love me, so you should too". As wonderful as "Chinatown" and other such films he was quote-responsible for are the flick feels a lot like a love note to him self for all to see. It's got wonderful pacing, but it feels so empty. Sure, it briefly abandons rule numero uno of the usual biopic, which is to leave out the bad parts and the real character flaws, but even those glimpses of humility are under-involving. There's just so little going on besides an old man looking back on those years he clawed his way up into the comfort of his own legacy. It's not as interesting as it should have been, even if it's as truthful as it can get.
