kfrench1008's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting at times but too bogged down by details. We don't really need to know about every single time Welles had to beg for money to continue this project (and there were many) or every minute detail about the production. It comes to life a bit when John Huston strides through the action, but overall a bit mind-numbing. I'm glad the movie is finally completed, but if you want the story of how it was made, stick to the Netflix documentaries.
theartolater's review against another edition
4.0
I'm kind of obsessed with Orson Welles. It's not a full-on obsession like I have with some exploitation/grindhouse directors, but Welles in all his glory is a really interesting character. Orson Welles's Last Movie is effectively a light, readable history of Welles's last days trying to get The Other Side of the Wind off the ground, and it's a great look into the dysfunction of Hollywood in many regards, about Welles dealing with the post-Hays Code shift, and so on.
I'm not sure how much this has for people who have more than a passing knowledge. I found it to be a fun read with some insight, but nothing significant like I'm sometimes used to. Still, this is absolutely a great read for people with interest in movies or a desire to learn more about late-era Welles.
I'm not sure how much this has for people who have more than a passing knowledge. I found it to be a fun read with some insight, but nothing significant like I'm sometimes used to. Still, this is absolutely a great read for people with interest in movies or a desire to learn more about late-era Welles.
omnibozo22's review against another edition
5.0
Great artists are often shits as human beings. The book about the attempts to finish Welles's last movie makes abundantly clear why Welles's career never recovered from Kane. His personal weaknesses and manipulative personality doomed him, even in the cesspool of Hollywood peers. The book was produced before the latest effort to complete the film, which has finally happened. I was a financial backer for the project, giving a massive $25 to project, no doubt saving it from oblivion once again. For some reason I can't imagine, they left me out the credits. I haven't watched the making-of video yet, but will.
apattonbooks's review
4.0
Great book, written in parts like a movie script outline and seemingly well researched. It gave me the revelation that there are a sea of Wells made movies that I have not seen so that is in my future.
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