Review of F for Fake (1973) by Josh M — 27 Dec 2008
I don't even know how to begin to describe or classify this, other than to say that it was an absolute treat. In his last completed film, Welles basically made a cinematic essay on fakery, art forgery, magic, the role of art.
experts, and cinema, not to mention himself. In doing this, he threw together real footage, archival footage, interviews, re-enactments, dinner conversations, and an absolutely breathtaking display of editing, which all results in something that looks and feels like nothing I've ever really seen.
The best description I can give is that you spend an hour and a half with Welles, who tries to tell you his opinions of all of this, following the threads and jumping from topic to topic, taking time for philosophical interludes, and playfully toying with the audience.
The result is a love letter to filmmaking, and a must-see for any true film fan. It's playful, it's funny, it's daring, it's clever, it's moving, and it's beautifully filmed...
Just do yourself a favor and see it if you haven't. If you've never been able to see what made Welles so great, this ought to give you some strong evidence.
This review of F for Fake (1973) was written by Josh M on 27 Dec 2008.
F for Fake has generally received very positive reviews.
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