The Other Side of the Wind (2018)

 Well, I'm glad I've seen it.  Congratulations to Netflix for making it possible. 

From reading a history of the film, Welles' wasn't trying to make a masterpiece, but an interesting, low-budget movie that would turn a modest profit and lead to bigger things.  So, I wasn't expecting another Citizen Kane or for OSOTW to knock my socks off.  And it didn't. but there are some brilliant scenes, some interesting scenes, and some not so brilliant scenes. Sadly, it just doesn't cohere as story. It feels, despite its 2 hour length,  like an unfinished film without dynamic characters or a plot. Like others have written, I suppose Welles' would've shot more scenes and/or edited the movie down to 90-100 minutes. 

As is, the film has no emotional Hook.  Was it to be a black comedy or satire? Maybe that would've become more clear, if Welles could've completed it.  As for the acting: Huston is good, but just plays John Huston. Everyone else is good in the parts they are given, but you can tell they aren't playing off each other and/or are improvising. 

Summary: I'm reminded of the Hollywood executive who cabled the studio "We've got 4 million dollars of film, and no movie". Here, we have a collection of scenes - some of them very good - but no real story or engaging characters.  Could Welles have done something with it? Probably. Recommended for anyone interested in Orson Welles Rating ***