Magician: The Astonishing Life & Work of Orson Welles

Magician: The Astonishing Life & Work of Orson Welles is a 2014 American documentary that paints a vivid and detailed picture of one of Hollywood's most exceptional multi-hyphenates, Orson Welles. Directed by Chuck Workman, the film attempts to burnish Welles' larger-than-life legacy that mystiques audiences to date, transcending the confines of time and tradition.

The documentary is a remarkable journey through the life and work of Orson Welles, the genius behind masterpieces like "Citizen Kane," "The Magnificent Ambersons," "Touch of Evil," and many more. This intensely engrossing visual narration provides an immersive insight into the artistic and personal life of the man rightly dubbed as the "Magician" of cinema.

The film primarily revolves around Welles, beautifully capturing his enigmatic persona, artistic prowess, and indefatigable spirit in the entertainment industry. Throughout the documentary, viewers get a chance to know the man behind the magnifying cinematic mask, as they delve deeper into Welles' off-screen persona, his struggles, his triumphs, and his undeniable artistic ingenuity.

Featuring riveting interviews with actors, film critics, historians, family members, and Welles himself, the movie brings out raw, first-hand accounts that further enrich the narrative. The documentary is blessed with the candid presence of Simon Callow, an acclaimed actor, and author known for his extensive research and biographical work on Orson Welles. Callow's unique perspective helps enhance the viewers' understanding and appreciation of Welles as a filmmaker and an individual.

Likewise, Christopher Welles, Orson's own son, delivers personal anecdotes and reflections, adding to the film's authenticity and emotional depth. Together with other interviewees, they provide insightful observations, anecdotes, and details about Welles' personality, his compulsive tendency to push boundaries, his multifarious career, and his relationship with the entertainment industry.

Using a trove of archival footage, candid interviews, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and excerpts from Welles' works, Magician dives into the tumultuous career and life of the iconic artist. Despite being celebrated for creating "Citizen Kane," often hailed as one of the greatest films ever made, Welles had a tumultuous relationship with Hollywood. That didn't deter him; he went on to create a body of work in theatre, radio, and film that established him as a ground-breaking auteur, a fiercely independent creator whose body of work refused to be boxed by mainstream norms.

Magician portrays Welles as a restless innovator, constantly pushing his artistic boundaries. He was a creator synonymous with invention, always treading upon unexplored territories and making every moment of his remarkable journey count. Whether it was his desire to experiment and push boundaries or his struggles with financial setbacks, creative differences, or personal eccentricities, the documentary encompasses it all.

Through a chronology of his works — a mixture of Hollywood projects, European films, unfinished and independent films, theatre productions, and even variety shows — the documentary underscores Welles’ formidable range and relentless creative quest. At the same time, it delves into his personal life, exploring his marriages, love affairs and trips across the globe.

From his early days as a wunderkind in theatre and radio to his gradual rise to fame as an iconoclast in cinema, the film charts Welles' path against the backdrop of a rapidly changing cinematic landscape. The documentary is a masterful blend of memoir, history, visual artistry, and piercing commentary. It is both an intimate character study of a fascinatingly complex individual and a contemplative exploration of the man's extraordinary cocktail of talent, charisma, and paradoxes.

In essence, Magician: The Astonishing Life & Work of Orson Welles is more than a biographical documentary, it is a celebration of an artist who continuously challenged and changed the face of entertainment. It is a comprehensive, moving, and meticulously woven tapestry of a genius who lived his life like no one else, dared to dream like no one else, and left an indelible imprimatur on the canvas of global cinema. The film underscores, in many ways, why Orson Welles continues to be remembered and revered, inspiring countless dreamers and creators across generations. It's not just a film for Welles' fans, but essentially for all lovers of cinema and artistry.