Genre:
Mystery
Release Date: 04/18/2006
Dubbed: English
Sound: DD1
Run Time: 99 Minutes
Distributor/Studio: Criterion
Also known as
Mr. Arkadin, this flawed late effort by director
Orson Welles recalls the structure of
Citizen Kane, centering around an investigation into the past of a powerful millionaire. This time around, however, the millionaire is very much alive; in fact, it is Gregory Arkadin (
Welles) himself who orders the inquiry, claiming to suffer from amnesia. The investigator soon gets a taste of the difficulty of his task, however, when several witnesses to Arkadin's past suspiciously turn up dead. Indeed, the closer he comes to the truth about Arkadin, the more he fears that he himself may be the next victim. While it aspires to intense suspense,
Confidential Report suffers more than most of
Welles' films from budgetary limitations and erratic shooting habits, with the final result often seeming choppy and needlessly confusing. Nevertheless, any
Welles effort is by definition at least partially worthwhile, if only for further demonstration of his brilliant visual sensibility.
~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide
;)
