A personal look at the film

Rating: 10/10 (24 December 1998)

There's plenty of backlash against what's usually called "the best film ever made". Some critics have suggested that it's a cold film, merely expressive of Orson Welles' ego; others (an admitted minority) have basically asked what's so great about it, beyond its technical wonders. Perhaps two personal comments will show you where I stand, and why:
1. The first time I ever saw Citizen Kane, I was 13 or 14 and knew nothing about it, except that it was "about newspapers" (and I was interested in journalism) and had in its cast Endora from Bewitched. I watched it on TV, and when it was over, I turned to my mother, who'd been puttering about, and said "that must be the best movie I've ever seen."
2. I have probably lived my life by the maxim expressed at one point in the film: "There's no trick to making a lot of money...if all you want to do is make a lot of money." (I may have gotten a word or two wrong.) Well, that's not at all what I wanted to do with my life...and I certainly haven't made a lot of money!
Citizen Kane is more than Orson Welles' ego. I agree that it is the best film ever made...and it is certainly one of my very favorites. I hope it's one of yours, too.