Customer Reviews

F for Fake [VHS]

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I thoroughly enjoyed this amusing quasi-documentary. But then, I'd sit through 90 minutes of Orson Welles sitting in front of a white sheet talking about anything. Has there ever been a more spellbinding narrative voice? His voice-over for the trailer of STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE made it sound like the Second Coming of Christ!

Some of the other reviewers here sound as if they could use some Ex-Lax. Chill out, will ya? This isn't supposed to be a profound statement. The old man's just having a little fun.

Having said this, I will immediately contradict myself by noting that the scene in which Welles ruminates on the longevity of art while contemplating Chartres Cathedral touched me deeply. In the context of his tattered career, and the ever-growing stature of his masterpiece CITIZEN KANE, it suggests that Welles at last attained some measure of peace with his life and achievements.

The DVD itself looks and sounds terrific.

With all the fury and venom expended on the question of what is art, this excellent film of Welles should be required viewing. Welles reminds us that, ultimately, the only art critic you need to worry about is yourself. Listen very carefully in this film to Welles recitation of Rudyard Kipling's poem; the crux of this film is contained in those lines. We are, each of us, Masters and Artists. What does it matter what anyone else thinks? Secondly, this film is also a little frightening. Almost 30 years after its making the tyranny of "experts" in everything from litigation to art continues to confound us. We continue to sacrifice common sense and our own autonomy to the "experts" . Finally, this film is just plain fun. Fake? EVERYTHING IS FAKE... everything is art... in spite of "experts".

His last major work as a filmmaker, Orson Welles' "F for Fake" (1973) survives as a rough-edged yet provocative essay on the art of fraud. In this instance, we have three noted subjects: art forger extraordinaire Elmyr de Hory, Clifford Irving (the novelist who conned the world as Howard Hughes' "authorized biographer") and Welles himself. Editing plays a vital role as the Great Orson maintains his semi-documentary juggling act for 90 minutes. Fittingly enough, "F for Fake" reveals more about the creator of "Citizen Kane" than the minor curiosities he examines. Welles ends his cinematic odyssey with an affectionate wink.

Orson Welles' only color film is THE ULTIMATE PROOF OF 'MISE EN SCENE' HAPPENING AT THE EDITING STAGE. Most of this film was shot by Francois Reichenbach before Welles got involved with it. Reichenbach didn't know what to do with his footage--how to best put it all together--so he asked Welles, whom he greatly admired, to see what he could do. Welles shot some scenes featuring himself to go around the documentary footage, came up with a narrative concept and EDITED everthing. The result? WELLES' PERSONALITY TOOK OVER. This is unmistakably a film that only Orson Welles could make. Welles uses his ingenious narration and every trick known to film editing to weave a philosophical meditation on the nature of truth and lies that has DEEP universal significance, but also particularly applies to the nature of all 'ART-ifice.' It's a very intellectual as well as supremely entertaining film which requires at least 5 viewings to even begin to be appreciated.

Life is short and everyone knows that Orson Welles was a genius - flawed or otherwise - so let me say that F FOR FAKE is a great and very wise film about . . . film. It's a Mobius strip - it keeps turning back on itself so that its primary subject takes turns with secondary and tertiary characters and ultimately mirrors the film's own creator. It's a film about how the truth of art is often conveyed through lies, and vice versa.

Let me also say that the overheated editing from a variety of disparate elements and different film stocks preceded Oliver Stone's own brain-fever techniques in films like JFK, NATURAL BORN KILLERS, and NIXON by nearly twenty years. Just imagine what Welles would have produced if the circumstances of his project financing had not been so dire.

As ever, Criterion has produced a marvelous version of this "only" color film from Orson Welles (another reason to see this movie - every other Welles film was in black and white).

Buy this DVD, along with Criterion's recent release of MR. ARKADIN (complete with the original novel on which Welles based the film). Great stuff . . .

I agree with most of the above but for me the best part of this excellent package is the "One Man Band" (Known in Europe as "The Lost Films Of Orson Welles".

It's an 88 minute look at a person truly in love with the art of movie making and I found it very touching and remarkable.

As an additional surprise some of the scraps of home shot movie included the finest acting I've seen from Welles. They also showed an acting range I had not realised he was capable of and hearing his offscreen direction of Oja was fascinating.

A very nice experience.

Marc

Wow, what a treat for Welles fans. This is a fascinating piece of work. So interesting and the editing is excellent. Wonderful appearances by Orson to tantalise the viewer (love the trick he plays on us at the end). It's a must see. A unique type of documentary film, solely concentrating on two outrageous fakers. From the feel & look of the movie, you can tell that Welles is having the time of his life, and that's good enough for me.

While I am in total agreement with all the rave reviews already here, I wanted to add one point. "F For Fake" is not only a delightful and profound film, it will also be a revelation for those who believe that Welles's later career was just one long steep decline. In its small way, "F For Fake" is as wonderful as any film Welles ever made. An absolute charmer and an unexpected late masterpiece from the man who virtually created the techniques of sound film with "Citizen Kane."

There is no Orson Welles movie, no matter how influential and well regarded, that I love more than this master piece. This is Orson Welles at his best: just chating along in an entertaining, funny, witty, profound way, teaching you so much about himself, about humanity and about Life, as if it was just a walk in the park - he makes it look so easy to be a genius.

If I had to choose the proverbial film I would take with me to a deserted island, this would be the one. This is the guy I want to talk to forever if I'm ever allowed in whatever Paradise he's in now.

This is all anyone needs to love the movies and Orson Welles. It is the one that will convert you into thinking you can't really have one without the other.

Criterion's release of this film is extremely good , but one should expect that for the price . They seem to have access to people and other supporting materials that other companies do not , but then again I'm sure these are factored in to the price .

Whilst being a fan of Criterion , I certainly do not buy all their releases , as I don't have that much disposable income .
Also , some of the films are not to my taste .
I don't wish to view a film simply because it is well regarded by critics , among other reasons .

Being a Welles fan and owning some of the Criterion Welles laserdiscs , I was very keen to own their first Welles-directed DVD . I was not disappointed .

This film is of its own genre and is interesting because of Welles's appreach - the film seems to have a personality itself . It is by no means serious - I find it fascinating in parts . Subjects like fakes and fraudulence need to be explored . Some great points are made about the art world and its pretensions , which I really enjoyed .

The documentary about Welles's unfinished projects is worth the price on its own , so if you don't like the film buy it for that feature .

This DVD comes highly recommended , to say the least.
It is not on the same level as other Welles films , but it is worth your while if you are a fan .