Citizen Kane
★★★★★
The best film of all time is a hard title to claim. There is so much weight and expectations that comes with that championship belt. Out the gates, many people will watch Citizen Kane and wonder what the fuss is all about. This is a film highly admired from those in the business or who study film for all the innovative technology advances that director Orson Welles developed. You don’t know what you don’t know, and for his feature film debut, he threw everything that you were supposed to do in moviemaking out of the window. It’s super easy to get caught up in the folklore of Welles and the behind-the-scenes stories of Citizen Kane, but people shouldn’t forget what a powerful tale this is. It’s as relevant as it was in 1941 and is the quintessential example of how Americans view power and success.
Although fictional, this film showcases the life of Charles Foster Kane (played by Welles) as journalists try to make sense of his life and the meaning behind his final words, “Rosebud.” We see how Kane rises from his traumatic childhood to become a budding newspaper tycoon in the industry. Though well-meaning at first, we see how Kane’s obsession with success becomes his downfall as he gives in to the trappings of greed, power and lust.
I’ve seen Citizen Kane several times now and it’s a film that gets better after each viewing. I see or discover something new each time. I highly recommend seeking out the commentary tracks that are on the Criterion release because it unlocks even more tidbits and treasures that explain the genius behind the film. Welles practical effects hold up better than most special effects films of today and I liked how he utilizes them for framing and storytelling techniques rather than just showing off. Every angle and every framing device has a purpose and builds upon the dark themes that unravel.
For some reason I had forgotten how fast this movie movies. Kane’s story is told to us in a breakneck speed and it really keeps you invested as an audience. The editing is riveting in how it moves us along and the fact that Welles covers so much ground is beyond impressive. Lesser directors would think that makeup would be enough to showcase an aging character. Welles does an impeccable job of transforming into Kane, from how he carries his body and weight, down to the graveling of his voice as he grows older and overweight. It’s easy to see why people are initially drawn into Kane’s charisma and ambition, and is devastating when they are quickly cast aside in his pursuit of conquering the world.
This movie was made over eighty years ago and it’s astounding how real-life industry leaders reflect Kane’s story. History always repeats itself and though Kane is modeled after the life of William Randolph Hurst, Kane can easily represent any tyrant that came before Hurst or the corporate CEOs that rule the American landscape today. Citizen Kane serves as a warning to both citizens and these leaders at how empty it is to pursue money and success. Time after time we build up these “leaders” of our world and Welles reminds us of how futile this all is. What is life if you don’t have somebody by your side to share it with? Why pursue so many riches when they ultimately will burn in a fire? When push comes to shove, what are the things that you’ll yearn for on your death bed? It’s certainly not how many newspapers you sold.
I don’t think it’s an understatement to say that Citizen Kane is a masterclass in filmmaking. It’s an innovative, technical achievement working with perfected storytelling techniques. I can understand how all of this might not strike you in the first viewing. This film has been so lauded with such high praise that you might be looking for something more and miss a very effective, prophetical story. It works tremendously on a very surface level, but when you study it more and discover everything that Welles was orchestrating to create this movie, it rises that much higher. Although this movie wouldn’t make my personal choice as the number one film of all time, I cannot argue with those that do.
I give Citizen Kane five out of five humongous fireplaces (a sled would just be too on the nose).
