It is this lengthy exchange with Theriault that Conroy and D'Onofrio have concerned themselves with, a pleasant arc ranging from Welles sitting on the window sill halfway outside as he appeals to her sense of adventure, to the sad gluttony of a man who's only reprieve from the oppressive pressure of acting in Hollywood is at the bottom of several containers of pistachio ice cream. D'Onofrio taps into the mischievous heart of the actor, displaying the man's frustration as well as his exuberance.
Like a child building a castle out of Lego blocks, Vincent plays with the foundations of the Harry Lime performance before shaping it and ultimately 'spontaneously' crafting Welles' famous cuckoo clock speech. It is a tribute to D'Onofrio's passionate short that we believe not only in him as Welles or Theriault as the secretary, but also in the moments, particularly the extreme low-angle shot reminiscent of Citizen Kane in which D'Onofrio lays face down on the floor, and finishes crafting what he deems are necessary changes to the script.
While it is unusual that I'd select a short to present in this series, Five Minutes, Mr. Welles is a tour-de-force of modern black and white filmmaking, and is the most three-dimensional representation of Welles' inimitable presence that I've ever seen. (Other notable performances include Danny Huston in Fade to Black, Angus Macfayden in Cradle Will Rock, Paul Shenar in The Night That Panicked America, and Liev Schreiber in RKO 281.) Its photography is thrilling and modern, sleek in its eloquence and yet indicative of a simpler time.
![Fade To Black (Fundido A Negro) [PAL/REGION 2 DVD. Import-Spain]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21PdNkRzTrL._SL120_.jpg)
Article comments
1 - Laura Cousins
Thoughtful, thorough and insightful review. Thank you! I hope Vincent D'Onofrio gets to read it - he obviously worked hard on the film and deserves wider recognition for the superb results of his efforts.
2 - Regina Caschetto
Thank you for your wonderful and insightful critique of Vincent D'Onofrio's "Five Minutes, Mr. Welles." Being a D'Onofrio fan, it was an extreme pleasure when the short was released for all to see. Brilliant acting and directing. I was sorry that Tim Burton was resposible for the angst that D'onofrio felt after Ed Wood and all the emotional and physical effects he felt after working so hard on this short. But it certainly was worth the pain cinematically. Such a unique opportunity to view the genius of both Welles and D'Onofrio.
3 - LOCInumber1fan
I always love to watch Vincent D'Onofrio's performance in Law & Order: Criminal Intent, so I figured I would watch "Five Minutes, Mr. Welles."
I enjoyed this short film, and I am so glad you gave it a positive review! Thank you so much! It means so much to the fans, and hopefully, to Vincent D'Onofrio that his work on this short film did not go unnoticed.