The Big Brass Ring (1999)

The Worst Film Ever

Film Perfection

Fantastic!

n my opinion it was a great movie with some interesting elements, even though having some plot holes and the ending probably was just too messy and crammed together, but still fun to watch and not your casual movie that is similar to all other ones.

Orson, we hardly knew ye, thanks to this rendition...Well, we THINK we know what you were trying to say (put a diaper on pet monkeys?), but how will we ever be sure? How disappointing to have to sit through what could have been a great plot, ruined by overly dramatic accents (from French and Southern U.S. to Spanish) and the actors' mumbling/poor movie sound value in general. It made this film impossible to follow, let alone let viewers differentiate who was who and how to sort out each connection. That detail alone leaves a viewer playing with the remote's volume to try and catch all the insinuations and/or real plot points. These actors ALL need diction lessons, and the mix of the "cast"--bad choices--was annoying, annoying, ANNOYING. NO chemistry whatsoever, especially with that French reporter--UGH--she needs to find a new "career." What a waste of a powerful vehicle. And don't get me started on the incontinent monkey--WTF was THAT all about??

William Hurt plays Gubernatorial candidate William Blake, in the final days of his election campaign. Nigel Hawthorne is Kim Mennaker, a svengali figure from Blake's childhood, who lives in Cuba for some reason, and has evidence which can sink Blake's election chances. Actually, by halfway through the movie, half of Missouri seems to have this evidence, and why nobody actually uses it is about as bewildering as why Hurt wanders about all night with a monkey on his shoulder, which he had previously complained had urinated all over him - unless that's a pun on a monkey for his back. As usual, William Hurt is boring (look, I'm sorry, but he just is). Nigel Hawthorne, on the other hand, is incapable of being less than good, though his character is really quite ridiculous.An understated movie, which, I admit, has emotional subtleties and plot complexities which keep it above average, but which ultimately don't save it from being a bit soporific. I'll give it 6.0. Worth watching, but don't expect to be dazzled.

I haven't seen such a textured, layered piece of work in a long time. Granted I had to watch it twice to get everything in it. But I've had to say that about "Touch of Evil" and "The Big Sleep" as well. This film is a masterpiece about American politics and character. I would recommend this movie to anyone as one of the best films of the year.

Very well done feature film based on an unfilmed screenplay by the late Orson Welles. Although Hickenlooper has put a fair deal of original ideas into it, you can *feel* Welles' touch all over it. A politician running for the senate as an independent tries to stifle a dark shadow from his past. A must for Welles fans as well as for all those who enjoyed clever entertaining movies.