Movies
There is something obnoxious about artists discussing art, F for Fake is no exception. What almost saves this documentary is the rather pleasant presentation. In the end, it can't hide the fact that Welles is handling the same themes that always tend to pop up in films like these, but it did make it a bit easier to sit through. Welles set out to make a documentary about Elmyr de Hory, a famous forger of artworks. He got so wrapped up in the concept of truth and lies that he expanded the docu. He takes the viewer on a path where truth and forgery begin to converge, forcing the audience to doubt everything they are seeing. I just didn't care too much for the message, also because other films have done a much better job since. The flashy editing and more experimental presentation did keep me interested, I'm sure that if Welles had gone with a more basic presentation I would've absolutely hated the film. Now, it was passable, but far from great.Read all
A pretty simple noir that fails to impress. The plot is rather basic, Welles is a terrible actor and the soundtrack doesn't do the film any favors. The cinematography is a little highlight though, Welles works well with contrast, but it's not at a level that could actually save the film. At least it was short.
Welles' final film, finally completed. I'm not a big Orson Welles fan, this pompous, self-important film about film didn't do much to change my mind about him. The editing is poor, the dialogue is grating and the running time is impossible to defend. He should've taken it to the grave with him.
A simple noir, which got a little extra popularity push because Welles directed it I assume. It's the only reason I can think of why this one stood out to people, as the film itself is very basic and neatly sticks to genre conventions. Unless you're a big noir fan, there's not all that much here. Michael partakes in a boat trip, organized by the wealthy Mr. Bannister. Michael's ulterior motive is getting closer to Mr. Bannister's wife Elsa, who on her part seems to be enjoying Michael's presence too. What Michael doesn't realize is that he's the one who is played for a sucker when Elsa involves him in a tricky murder plot. Performances are rather weak and overstated, the story is bland and predictable. The black and white cinematography is somewhat decent, but Welles did a lot better in the past. He simply rolls through the simplistic narrative here, which is not something I particularly care for. Very forgettable.Read all
