The Trial

Rating:
Summary: Quite a treat!
Review: "Say what you like, but THE TRIAL is the best film I ever made!" So says Orson Welles of his 1962, underrated masterpiece THE TRIAL, taken from Franz Kafka's legendary novel of the same name, the story concerns Josef K, (Anthony Perkins in a world class performance) a bank clerk arrested and put on trial for an unspecified crime. The liquid tracking shots and receding perspectives familiar from TOUCH OF EVIL are refined here and more at home with the narrative of THE TRIAL. Welles' editing is also more distinctive and expressive, as K's world begins to reel faster and faster out of control, the editing itself transforms from the long takes in the beginning to more frenzic cutting giving certain scenes an oddly affecting flow. The exteriors are notably different from scene to scene, some Italian, some Yugoslavian, some Parisian, but all effective and creepily disorienting. The casting is also a plus: Romy Schneider as a seducing nurse who jumps on Josef t! he first chance she gets, Jeanne Moreau as a world-weary nighclub stripper with whom Josef is smitten, Orson himself as The Advocate, Akim Tamiroff as his client/slave, and Perkins, in a bit of casting that many people didn't understand, is truly a marvel and a revelation. With every facial expression and movement of his body he paints a portrait of man who on the surface strikes a cutting, heroic stance, but in private is really like all other people in his impatience with uncomfortable circumstances. He avoids the tempting opportunity to provide sympathy to K, as his plight grows more chaotic, his demeanor becomes more testy, and that's as it should be. Critics apparently wanted a nullingly straight rendition from the novel, but Welles, Perkins and the rest of the crew thankfully didn't oblige them. They find the perfect balance between a daring cinematic adaptation without sacrificing the spirit of the novel. While it's not his best, this is better than alot of Welles'! films, . 1. The Magnificent Ambersons 2. Falstaff 3. The ! Trial

Samir Roy END

Rating:
Summary: Quite a treat!
Review: "Say what you like, but THE TRIAL is the best film I ever made!" So says Orson Welles of his 1962, underrated masterpiece THE TRIAL, taken from Franz Kafka's legendary novel of the same name, the story concerns Josef K, (Anthony Perkins in a world class performance) a bank clerk arrested and put on trial for an unspecified crime. The liquid tracking shots and receding perspectives familiar from TOUCH OF EVIL are refined here and more at home with the narrative of THE TRIAL. Welles' editing is also more distinctive and expressive, as K's world begins to reel faster and faster out of control, the editing itself transforms from the long takes in the beginning to more frenzic cutting giving certain scenes an oddly affecting flow. The exteriors are notably different from scene to scene, some Italian, some Yugoslavian, some Parisian, but all effective and creepily disorienting. The casting is also a plus: Romy Schneider as a seducing nurse who jumps on Josef t! he first chance she gets, Jeanne Moreau as a world-weary nighclub stripper with whom Josef is smitten, Orson himself as The Advocate, Akim Tamiroff as his client/slave, and Perkins, in a bit of casting that many people didn't understand, is truly a marvel and a revelation. With every facial expression and movement of his body he paints a portrait of man who on the surface strikes a cutting, heroic stance, but in private is really like all other people in his impatience with uncomfortable circumstances. He avoids the tempting opportunity to provide sympathy to K, as his plight grows more chaotic, his demeanor becomes more testy, and that's as it should be. Critics apparently wanted a nullingly straight rendition from the novel, but Welles, Perkins and the rest of the crew thankfully didn't oblige them. They find the perfect balance between a daring cinematic adaptation without sacrificing the spirit of the novel. While it's not his best, this is better than alot of Welles'! films, . 1. The Magnificent Ambersons 2. Falstaff 3. The ! Trial

Samir Roy END

Rating:
Summary: Different Tapes
Review: ...

The film itself is an all time favourite, I have seen it a few times. I exerts a magic effect on me, almost like suggestion. It describes such an unnatural world, which is nevertheless so easy to imagine and get mentally involved in. It is a bit akin to Brazil, but less noisy and more convincing.

...

Rating:
Summary: highly influential and under appreciated
Review: 1) to accuse this film of being confusing is tantamount to saying that picasso's works were 'obtuse' or that the music of mozart or charlie parker has 'too many notes.' 2) if you appreciate the great works of the cinema then this film is essential no matter what your tastes are. 3) i really don't see how it's possible to over-rate this film (or citizen kane or touch of evil or just about any of welles works). from stanley kubrick to martin scorsese, terry gilliam to the cohen brothers--welles has influenced virtually every important (and unimportant) american filmmaker since 1940. 4) this film (video) illustrates just how well the personal and political can be integrated in a dramatic format. the tyranny of 'the system' and the character's functions within it are explored within a complex visual field than manages to be surreal and mundane at the same time. self-conscious, but never self-satisfied--the film is so carefully layered, both thematically and visually, that it stands up to literally dozens of viewings. 5) the trial is an astounding achievement. its methods and conclusions may not be comfortable, but its creative energy and honesty offer the viewer far more cause to be optimistic than any other of the so called 'feel good' products of commercial film.

Rating:
Summary: outstanding
Review: A piece of art by Orson Welles who managed to make the nightmarish Kafka's reality come so close that it gives you creeps--the mazelike world where there is no social justice, spiritual security,logic or common sence but only anxity, loneliness, frustration and endless invisible walls that make you claustraphobic.The main character is convicted, accused,and sentensed to death.He has comitted no crime but since he is flesh and blood of the bloody system he feels guilty and the whole system seems to operare through the man's innate sence of guilt.Thus he can never learn the nature of his guilt and is defeated in his futile struggle to beat the system or at least find the mysterious court, judges and best advocates.This remoteness from the highest legal authority hurts Joseff K.,since he is sort of a currupted official himself.Most brilliant performance by Anthony Perkins who had always been the outstanding outsider underaprisciated by blind Holliwood.The one from the former USSR (like me) should watch the film.

Rating:
Summary: Vintage Welles
Review: A wonderfully done restoration of an underappreciated Welles classic. A crisp, clear picture and a much enhanced soundtrack (dialogue and all), this film has been vastly improved from many of the nearly unrecognizable VHS versions previously available. The story is well-paced, tight and appropriately dizzying. As is his signature, Welles employes his usual bag of tricks in utilizing light & shadow, stilted camera angles and a bizarre lineup of character's -- all combined to create what Welles' personally exclaimed to be his best film, and certainly his last great work.

Rating:
Summary: Welles' Most Underrated Film
Review: Although it is either Kane or the Ambersons that Welles will be remembered for, his adaptation of this classic Kafka work should not be as discarded and neglected as it has. From the opening montage-fable, Welles instantly teleports us to the perfect darkest level of the paranoia labyrinth that the next two hours will provide. It is no co-incidence that for the starring role in a neglected genius' film, Orson decided on the actor who would suffer from similar Hollywood afflictions. Perkins was easily one of the best this century. Typecasting savagely murdered his career. The Trial is nearly as mesmerising as the Kafka novel. That is no easy task.

Rating:
Summary: Good try, but not good enough
Review: Citizen Kane is one of my favorite movies ever, and of course I respect Mr. Welles as a director. But I am afraid this movie falls short. Sound editing problems, bad acting and some unexplainable changes in the story are awful. For example, the end of the movie is simply bizarre. This movie could be much better. Although it is a good try, it is not good enough for Kafka's story.

Rating:
Summary: A Masterpiece Ruined by Transfer and Extras
Review: Despite being a very uncomfortable and tough-to-watch film, Orson Welles' take on Kafka is a thought provoking, unforgettable masterpiece. This version of the story of Joseph K. (man accused of a mysterious crime) rivals the original book!
As for the DVD...ugh! Okay, let's just assume that a good looking/sounding version of "The Trial" doesn't exist. After all, it was an independantly finances, low budget 1960s European movie.
On the extras side, there's a bad (as usual) intro by black-gloved Tony Curtis, who rambles on about everything except "The Trial." There's a trailer to the surprisingly non-Welles directed "Compulsion" ('A real thriller!' promises Tony Curtis), along with one of the most startlingly ugly menus you've ever seen.

Rating:
Summary: What a crime against Kafka!!
Review: First of all, I have to say that Citizen Kane is one of my favorite movies ever, and of course, I respect the Mr. Welles career very much. I admire Kafka's even more, so I bought the "The Trial" DVD expecting, without a doubt, one of the brightest jewels in the cinema history.

Well, I am afraid that I only found a sad disappointment: sound editing problems, some not good performing actors and unexplainable changes in the story.

This movie is a crime against Franz Kafka and his novel. Buy the book and read it twice, but please forget this movie. It is a good try, but not good enough for Kafka.