by Cookie N Screen
It's easy now to look back upon the vast body of someone's cinematic work and proclaim genius. To fervently salivate over each film, whether well-known or unfinished in attempts to devour each of their artistry. That's simple to do because as our tastes turn, we can retrospectively say, "they were ahead of their time. Bravo."
From where we sit now, thirty years after his death and a hundred years after his birth, it would seem at odds with his acclaim to say Orson Welles work was similar to that of the likes of Van Gough. This is the man who created renowned film Citizen Kane, his official directorial debut! But just seconds into documentary Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles, you know that his later life and career were far from acclaimed.
It's easy now to look back upon the vast body of someone's cinematic work and proclaim genius. To fervently salivate over each film, whether well-known or unfinished in attempts to devour each of their artistry. That's simple to do because as our tastes turn, we can retrospectively say, "they were ahead of their time. Bravo."
From where we sit now, thirty years after his death and a hundred years after his birth, it would seem at odds with his acclaim to say Orson Welles work was similar to that of the likes of Van Gough. This is the man who created renowned film Citizen Kane, his official directorial debut! But just seconds into documentary Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles, you know that his later life and career were far from acclaimed.
Though the history of Welles is impossible to squeeze into one documentary alone, Magician: The Astonishing life and work of Orson Welles focuses on his cinematic work and his struggles with Hollywood. To mark his centenary, the film looks at how he fell out of favour with the industry but became prevalent as an independent filmmaker - powering most of his money from appearances and acting into creating classic films that now reach critical acclaim. As he continued to struggle, up until his death, Welles would strive to produce ahead of the curve masterpieces. Spliced with interviews with Welles and other directors influenced by his work such as Martin Scorsese and Richard Linklater - director Chuck Workman has showcased the visionary in all his splendour as well as creating a droll portrayal of Welles with an underbelly of truth.
This is an intellectually and wittily edited film where Workman balances stock footage of Welles' films with interviews. The icon himself often delivering punchlines to his stories, the enthralling nature of this documentary centres on his eloquent rolling speech, natural humour and determination. Conveying both the hilarity and the insistence of Welles, Workman captures the essence of a man who never gave up on filmmaking - pouring his heart, money and soul into making art. Workman, and his merry band of interviewees, capture this intricately whilst still giving Welles a voice that has starkly been missing from our lives.
This is an intellectually and wittily edited film where Workman balances stock footage of Welles' films with interviews. The icon himself often delivering punchlines to his stories, the enthralling nature of this documentary centres on his eloquent rolling speech, natural humour and determination. Conveying both the hilarity and the insistence of Welles, Workman captures the essence of a man who never gave up on filmmaking - pouring his heart, money and soul into making art. Workman, and his merry band of interviewees, capture this intricately whilst still giving Welles a voice that has starkly been missing from our lives.
The haunting presence in the film is how his genius and Hollywood’s money making attitude ultimately failed him. Despite creating masterpieces such as Citizen Kane, his subsequent work would not accrue the same attention and the production companies would drop Kane faster than a lead balloon. Removal of his budgets half way through productions, studio input and Welles’ own battle with perfection meant a lot of his films were left unfinished or unseen. Whilst he continued acting to accommodate his ambitions, his “failure” as a director was squandered by critics, audiences and studios. Directly opposing our views now, many seeing his work with the likes of Falstaff: The Chimes at Midnight or A Touch of Evil as incredible works of art (with the former somewhat seen as batter than Citizen Kane).
Where Workman falters in his film is skimming chunks of Welles’ more successful artistic life, such as the stage productions and theatrical work, in favour of scrutinising an industry that nearly choked the passion out of him. Though, arguably, the world of Welles’ is too vast and plentiful that this is less a failure of Workman and more a struggle to compact everything into the documentary without over-saturating the movie. Rather than drifting seamlessly over everything, Workman chooses to concentrate on his directing skill and for that, unearths secret a plebeian Welles fan may not know - especially the abhorrent strange-hold the industry had on a man who was simply passionate about the filmmaking business.
There is no denying the rippling effect that Welles had on directing and films that, as BFI enter an entire season in celebration, we’re all feeling the wave of talent lap upon us once more. Magician serves as a testament to a monument that left a gigantic legacy unmatched by those who followed (sorry everyone). Whilst the documentary doesn’t make new ground in his story, especially to those well-rehearsed in his life, it still illuminates with his presence and terrifically spotlights his directing career.
Where Workman falters in his film is skimming chunks of Welles’ more successful artistic life, such as the stage productions and theatrical work, in favour of scrutinising an industry that nearly choked the passion out of him. Though, arguably, the world of Welles’ is too vast and plentiful that this is less a failure of Workman and more a struggle to compact everything into the documentary without over-saturating the movie. Rather than drifting seamlessly over everything, Workman chooses to concentrate on his directing skill and for that, unearths secret a plebeian Welles fan may not know - especially the abhorrent strange-hold the industry had on a man who was simply passionate about the filmmaking business.
There is no denying the rippling effect that Welles had on directing and films that, as BFI enter an entire season in celebration, we’re all feeling the wave of talent lap upon us once more. Magician serves as a testament to a monument that left a gigantic legacy unmatched by those who followed (sorry everyone). Whilst the documentary doesn’t make new ground in his story, especially to those well-rehearsed in his life, it still illuminates with his presence and terrifically spotlights his directing career.
Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles is out in cinemas July 3rd.
It will be part of the BFI's Orson Welles Season: Awesome Welles. Read about it now.
Also read our reviews of The Third Man and Citizen Kane
It will be part of the BFI's Orson Welles Season: Awesome Welles. Read about it now.
Also read our reviews of The Third Man and Citizen Kane
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