How to watch Citizen Kane

Rating: Null/10 (27 July 2010)

The first time I watched Citizen Kane, it was at a revival showing on a big screen at the Fabulous Fox Theatre in Atlanta. Unfortunately I was too engrossed in trying to get into my date's pants to notice what the film was about.
I say 'unfortunately' not because I missed the film but because I never got into her pants.
Years later it was released on DVD and I bought it, expecting to see, as the American Film Institute calls it, "The greatest movie ever made". I was very disappointed.
But then I watched it again with the Peter Bogdonovich commentary, then immediately after that with the Roger Ebert commentary, and wow, I had a revelation. There is so much to this movie, I couldn't begin to tell you. No, it's not the greatest plot nor the greatest subject, nor does it even have the greatest acting (though the acting is quite great). The brilliance of this film lies in tiny, insignificant details which you'd probably miss on the 1st viewing. Seemingly trivial things like the placement of certain objects, people and lights combine to tell a visual story within the story. The sum of these tiny details equals a masterpiece.
So I recommend you view it exactly as I did. See it once to get a feel for it. Then watch it again with the DVD commentaries. Watching it with a date whose pants you're trying to get into is optional and, frankly, not recommended. But other than that, there's a lot to see in this film. It may not be "the greatest film ever made", but it is indeed great.