When you watch a late period Orson Welles film, you know you're going to have to meet the film halfway. In his later years, Welles often struggled to get his films made, filming them over the course of years in a piecemeal fashion, raising money and filming scenes until his money ran out, and then starting again. And that sometimes means that they feel a little strung together...but at the same time, there's never any denying Welles' gift for cinema, from astonishing filming to his undeniable presence at all times. And even given all that, and given that I've quite liked Welles' other forays into Shakespeare, I wasn't prepared at all for the staggering accomplishment that Chimes at Midnight is. Essentially extracting the Falstaff sequences from Shakespeare's histories and turning it into an independent story, Chimes at Midnight follows Falstaff from his first appearances as young Henry's companion and constant troublemaker to his rejection and pathetic death, giving the character a full arc without changing a word of Shakespeare's dialogue. As you'd expect from Welles, the performances are top notch, especially the man himself - but really, is there a better role for Welles than Falstaff, an obese teller of tall-tales and self-aggrandizing anti-hero? But what truly staggers about Chimes is the visual style Welles brings to bear, creating something that shows off his love of noir while also showing an ambition that Welles wasn't often capable of in his later years. And nowhere is that more evident than in the justly revered battle sequence, where Welles takes reportedly less than 100 extras and created a sweeping, astonishing battle full of brutality, shocking violence, and true impact. And through it all, there's Falstaff, cutting a figure who's equal parts hilarious, pitiful, and charming despite all of his faults. Chimes is a remarkable film, one that feels deeply true to Welles' spirit - the tale of a charming man who's well loved but rejected by the respectable world, despite all that he's capable of. And Chimes reminds you just what Welles could do, from his wonderful presence to his gift for direction and visual flair, creating a Shakespeare film for the ages and one of Welles' masterpieces, hands down.
- Josh Mauthe
- Josh Mauthe
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