Citizen Kane (1941)

Director: Orson Welles

Stars: Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten, Dorothy Comingore
Runtime: 119 minutes

Synopsis: Following the death of publishing tycoon Charles Foster Kane, reporters scramble to uncover the meaning of his final utterance; 'Rosebud'.

Verdict: Rosebud. That mysterious word, uttered by publishing tycoon Charles Foster Kane on his deathbed, will serve as the catalyst of a hunt for the truth. Convinced that it was the key to understanding who Kane truly was behind the many headlines attributed to his character, a reporter tasked with finding its meaning visits the entourage of the recently deceased magnate in the hopes of solving that mystery.

Whether "Citizen Kane" is the greatest film of all time as many consider it to be is up for debate. After all, art is subjective. But what's undeniable about it is the fact that it's one of the most influential films of all time. From both a technical and a storytelling perspective, the film introduced many concepts that weren't common in the world of filmmaking at the time of its release. The extensive use of deep focus shots, ceiling shots, or editing tricks to suggest a long passage of time, as well as the non-linear narrative, told through flashbacks and interviews, changed the world of Cinema forever and the magnitude of their introduction is still seen to this day in the work of some of the best directors currently working.

But even if you don't factor in all its innovative achievements, "Citizen Kane" remains a fascinating tale about power, greed, death, politics, and the media industry. Famously inspired by the lives of numerous high profile individuals including William Randolph Hearst, who strongly opposed it at the time and even attempted to censor it, it's a captivating character study of a man's rise to the throne, followed by his fall from grace. He's not exactly a likable fellow, but he's given enough depth to stand out as a three-dimensional figure defined by his past and his actions.

Every time I revisit Orson Welles' directorial debut (!), I admire it a little more while recognizing that it may not be everyone's cup of tea. Ingmar Bergman pretty much bashed it and called it overrated, and I can see a lot of people echoing his sentiments, but I belong with the vast majority of people who view it as a masterpiece.

FINAL GRADE: 10/10