CC00002: Orson Welles
Submitted by lbangs on Tue, 02/20/2001 - 09:16
Tags:
- Citizen Kane (10)
- The Magnificent Ambersons (10)
- Touch of Evil (10)
- The Lady from Shanghai (10)
- Chimes at Midnight (9.5)
- Othello (9)
- The Stranger (8.5)
- Macbeth (7.5)
- Le Proces (7.5)
- Confidential Report (7)
Author Comments:
This is the second in a new series I call Critical Consensus. I am averaging the opinions of several excellent film critics to produce a list of each director's films. The films will each have a rating between 1 and 10. The films will be listed in a recommended viewing order, so new fans will have an idea of where the best place to start watching a director's work is. These are not my opinions, although, since I have chosen the critics used (and I'm using many), my taste will perhaps seep through a bit.
Terribly nerdy, I know, but maybe this will help people only now beginning to dabble into certain directors' bodies of work.
I am surprised that Lady from Shanghai is a 10. It is very good, but I have never heard it discussed with the Big Three.
The Lady from Shanghai has gained much critical ground this decade (I doubt it would have gained a 10 if I had compiled this list in 1990), although reviews for it nearly always contain a warning that it is one of Welles' most difficult films. I have only seen about half of it, but what I have seen, I liked.
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
The only two Welles movies I've seen are Citizen Kane and Touch of Evil. I found Touch of Evil unwatchable. I think I only made it a third of the way through. I was surprised by how poor the acting was, and it kept me from being engaged by the plot.
So am I a complete heathen? Am I alone in thinking the acting was terrible? Did it really pick up in the latter 2/3, hence the universal critical acclaim?
I can't help you here, seeing as I have never watched Touch of Evil. When I wanted to see it, it was nearly impossible to find for rental. When I finally found it, I read a restoration was heading for the big screen, so I put it off. Of course, that revival never came to my town, and now the film is in video limbo. Won't somebody please put that director's cut on DVD? After all, somebody already paid the megabucks to restore the film...
If you enjoyed Citizen Kane (which I love), you may enjoy The Magnificent Ambersons. These films are at least a bit similar in style and tone.
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
Maybe all I had to do was ask...
I just read that Touch of Evil will be released on DVD in October. I have no idea yet if it will be the original release or the restored version.
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs