The Big Brass Ring

REVIEW
Based on an unfilmed screenplay by Orson Welles, this lackluster drama constantly begs the question "What if Welles had...?" As adapted and directed by Hickenlooper, The Big Brass Ring is tepid, tired hooey elevated by some good performances. It all starts off well, with independent Governor hopeful Hurt confronted with some compromising photos from his youth, given to the press by his ex-mentor Hawthorne on the eve of the election. The possibilities of the premise are squandered for a quasi-mystery, which is subsequently solved about halfway through the film. Little of interest remains, and while the story may have been controversial at the time Welles wished to film it, in the age of Monica Lewinsky and Jerry Springer, this is last week's dishwater.