Film Review
Film: Citizen Kane
Director: Orson Welles
Studio: Warner Bros.

Principal Actors: Orson Welles, Joseph Cotton, Dorothy Comingore
Running Time: 119 minutes
Rating: PG
Release: 1 May 1941

Time certainly has an affect on the way we look at movies. There are some folks who have the typical, predisposed idea that any film that is more than thirty years old is considered outdated, irrelevant, and can’t possibly provide any relevant insight to the study of the human condition. There is something to be said about how some particular films endure the test of time and prove to have just as much relevancy now as the day they were made. Perhaps now is time that those naysayers are introduced to the one and only Citizen Kane.

Citizen Kane is considered among many as the greatest film ever made. This is quite the statement if one considers for a brief moment the long list of great films (that have been brought to life thanks to the advent of celluloid) like The Wizard of Oz, Gone with the Wind, The Godfather, Titanic, and the most recent Lord of the Rings trilogy. In June 2007, Citizen Kane was crowned number one on AFI’s list of 100 YEARS…100 Movies by a jury of film artists, critics, and historians. What exactly is it that has made Citizen Kane so enduring to so many among the film-going community?

Citizen Kane is a great narrative puzzle which lends most of its draw to the piecing together of crucial narrative information in the attempt of unveiling an accurate depiction of the man in question. The first glimpse we get of Kane is that of a dark, shadowy figure, hidden among the obscurity of his palatial palace--Xanadu. We know this image to be Kane because intuition tells us so. In effect, this scene exemplifies how the character’s life has been shrouded in mystery from the audience and how this meaning is directly mirrored in the final ending of the film.

Kane is a man of considerable importance, an importance yet to be discovered by the audience. As he takes in his final breath, he utters the enigmatic word--Rosebud. It is this single word, this solitary phrase that reverberates throughout the entire film. As many critics have expressed, the word itself has little or no importance to the film but simply serves as a device to allow the story to begin. The character of Jerry Thompson, of whom the story is told to, puts it best by saying: I don’t think any word can explain a man’s life. Or can it?

The film is told retrospectively from various points of view from Kane’s closest friends. The story relies heavily on the testimonials of these associates to properly fill in the pieces and paint a vivid portrait of the man in question. The way in which the film is told gives indelible legitimacy to the mystery surrounding the title character; as well helps explain the complexity and the contradictive nature of this great, enigmatic person. With each testimonial comes a greater insight into the highly controversial and troubled character.

One of the more poignant points in the film comes in the final moments of the movie as a seemingly insignificant crane shot eerily sweeps across the vast collection of Kane’s belongings. Noticeably absent are any traces of the once meaningful relationships he had in his life. Kane’s life is poetically placed in proper context as we witness the vast collection of material things no longer valuable to him. Rosebud--the one true thing which eluded him his entire life proved to be "that thing" he could never have. Interpret it how you will, Rosebud was the one thing that Kane could never have, the one thing that slipped through his fingers.

Is Kane a victim of his own circumstances or the perpetrator of a wasted life? His life epitomized the very definition of the American dream. The film exemplifies the great tragedy of how Kane thought he had everything he ever wanted and lost what mattered most to him. He learned, only after it was too late, that wealth and success came with a price. A price he could not afford. For Charles Foster Kane, love was lost, loneliness attained, and at the center of this epic tale, remains the grim reminder of how one individual can gain everything in this world but at the same time have nothing at all.

Written by :

jrhunt

 

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written by Kindah, January 18, 2010

You really covered a lot of ground here Jared about the films themes. This was such a controversial film - it was a representation of an actual living tycoon (Hearst), the film was condemned for many years, and it laid the groundwork for independent creativity away from the "Studio Suits" by Welles. Prolific to say the least, Welles was a savant filmmaker of his era. He understood filmmaking like no other and Citizen Kane was his greatest achievement. From a Communications perspective, this film is so enticing and where it also stands the test of time. Marshal Mcluhan all the way - even though the form of media has changed the medium is still the message. From print to online, the basic infrastructure of Citizen Kane holds true, as does its lens on humanity and want. The film is visually inspiring, such examples as Jared mentioned, and the fireplace (depth perception) is a moment of brilliance both in form and theme. Although CK is not my favourite film, it definitely towers above even the greatest of films based on its ability to make a film bring about intelligent and thought provoking themes.

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written by ashleighrajala, January 17, 2010

I love Citizen Kane. Even in addition to the fact that it has such a powerful story that stays resonant years later, when you watch it alongside other films made around the same time, you realize just how revolutionary it was. In terms of what Welles accomplished as a filmmaker, Citizen Kane was well and truly ahead of its time... and it definitely doesn't come across as dated or "old-fashioned" now. Brilliant!

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written by Jeremy Masterson, January 16, 2010

Great Review JR... Welles' use of cinematography, imagery and symbolism keeps the movie interesting time after time and his exploration of basic human nature through the contrast of vice and virtue makes a timeless statement.

Your review captures the essence of the story and the message Orson Wells left us. Thanks

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written by Rhys Dowbiggin, January 15, 2010

Great article. Calling out the close-minded in that first paragraph is my thoughts exactly. Citizen Kane isn't one of my favorite movies but I recognize and salute it's relevance. Regardless of my personal feelings about the movie, it is without a doubt one of the most important films ever made. Nice work.

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