"RKO 281" evidently tries to get most of the facts and the period details right, but any movie portraying real-life celebrities invariably lives or dies in casting. That's where Ross's film is very hit-and-miss. I'm not saying that an actor needs to be the spitting image of a person to play them convincingly, as there are other ways to capture someone's essence on screen. Yet, Liev Schreiber and John Malkovich seem mis-cast as Orson Welles and Herman Mankiewicz, respectively. They are both terrific actors, but their own screen personae are so unique that I never once forgot I was watching Schreiber and Malkovich. Out of the two, Schreiber suffers the most because Welles' face and personality is far better known than Mankiewicz. He gives a decent performance, but it feels a little tentative, never fully leaning into Welles' trademark devilment and garrulous blend of smarm and charm. He also makes a game attempt at Welles' unmistakable voice, but even that wavers from scene to scene. Having two of the three key parts in "RKO 281" mis-cast might sound disastrous, but thankfully, the supporting roles save the day. James Cromwell is authoritative as Hearst, an elderly tyrant with only the faintest inkling of a soul beneath the fierce exterior. He even allows us to feel a little pity for the man. Just a few years after his Oscar nomination for playing the kind-hearted farmer in "Babe," this and his chilling turn in "L.A. Confidential" put that cozy screen presence to bed. At his side, Melanie Griffith is arguably the M.V.P of the movie, providing heart and a touch of jaded wisdom as Marion Davies, a bird in a gilded cage who realizes she may have given up too much by committing her life to Hearst. Further down the list, Roy Scheider, Brenda Blethyn, Fiona Shaw, Liam Cunningham, and David Suchet (shrewdly essaying Louis B. Mayer) all bring a touch of class to their roles. Despite misgivings about the two leads, the range of acting talent on display provides a richness and a depth that deserved a longer movie. Overall, "RKO 281" is an entertaining look behind the scenes that may not fully satisfy hardcore "Citizen Kane" aficionados, but it's a great jumping-off point for more casual fans who want to find out more about one of the best movies ever made.