By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4 cats
Director: Chuck Workman
Country: united_states
Year: 2014
Running time: 94
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4137324
TC says: “Having become a major Welles fan after seeing CITIZEN KANE for the first time (I’m embarrassed to admit that was only seven years ago), this look at the man, the myth, and the legend that is, was, and always will be Orson Welles is a tasty appetizer, but not a full meal. For people first discovering Welles, this provides a more than adequate overview of his life and career, and makes an excellent jumping in point. The footage of Welles himself, which is extensive, is fascinating to watch and to digest. People who have been fans for years will enjoy it but find themselves longing for something a bit more, perhaps even a multi-volume treatment of his life in the vein of THE STORY OF FILM. Still, it’s definitely a top notch overview, and I think I will find myself watching it over and over again one day.
“There’s definitely room for expansion and improvement here; the filmmaker barely touched on the later years of Welles’s career, where he was doing the talk show circuit quite frequently, with a 10 second nod to the infamous ‘Findus Foods’ voiceover and his Paul Masson job, and of course, not one mention of his work in the 1980s animated TRANSFORMERS film. I would have also preferred to have seen more on F FOR FAKE, which is one of his best works (Kim and I both love this film). I also would have preferred more on Welles ongoing legacy both as a legend, and as someone who has inspired countless other filmmakers. I would also love to see the book Lunches with Orson turned into a film a la MY DINNER WITH ANDRE, as it would be fascinating. Overall, fun, informative, but not nearly as in depth as its subject deserves. 4 cats”