One of the great films, if not "the" greatest.

Rating: 10/10 (23 November 2005)

MINOR SPOILER IN SECOND PARAGRAPH.
"Citizen Kane" is, without a doubt, one of the greatest American films ever made. Orson Welles was basically handed the keys to the city - he had everything he wanted and complete control over budget, actors, script, and more.
He plays Charles Foster Kane, who dies at the beginning of the film while uttering the immortal words "Rosebud." So the film starts off by searching for what "rosebud" really means. We see countless relations of Kane interviewed. None of them know what "rosebud" really means. But as the film goes on we see glimpses of Kane's life, and eventually the mystery unfolds itself.
Like Akira Kurosawa's "Ikiru," "Citizen Kane" is a glance at a man's life and what has driven him to bitterness. Kurosawa claims he never saw "Citizen Kane" before making his film, but nevertheless they form a nice back-to-back viewing.
"Citizen Kane" has, perhaps, some of the best makeup ever seen on film. A twenty-four-year-old Orson Welles is easily disguised as a sixty-something, overweight man. (And this was before he actually WAS overweight later in his life.)
I recently bought the Special Edition DVD with a commentary by Roger Ebert, who said in his commentary that there are probably more special effects in "Citizen Kane" than in the "Star Wars" films.Though subtle, I have to agree that there truly are many special effects used in the film. They're so flawless it's hard to even notice.
Another thing Ebert pointed out is how low the ceilings are, which creates a feeling of paranoia. All these things work on a subconscious level that you don't really pick up on the first time.
And if you want symbolism, this film is for you. As Kane hands over his empire in one scene, he walks over to a window, which to the naked eye looks normal-sized. But as Kane nears the window, guess what? Turns out the window is very, very high. It makes Kane look small. Think about it. He's handing over his empire and growing smaller in his wealth. It's all very symbolic.
I recommend picking up the DVD; it also contains a two-hour documentary called "The Battle Over Citizen Kane," plus many, many more tidbits, including the original theatrical trailer (which is very odd and original).
All in all, "Citizen Kane" is a classic of epic proportions. One of the very greatest American films out there.