Still Holds Up

Rating: 8/10 (4 May 2019)

Now I understand this film is a ground breaking technical first in cinema history. The incredible cinematography and angling is now something you see constantly today. There is no doubting this movie is a 10/10 for that, however I wanted to review this based on the story and the entertainment value because that's why we watch films in the first place. Citizen Kane still holds up and that should be a testament as to why many people say it's the greatest film ever made and even though I don't agree with that statement, I understand people's stance on it. The story structure is incredibly implied; at first the jumping around had me worried this was going to be a confusing film, but it changes. We're able to get caught up quickly on who Kane is and what point in the story we're currently living in. The way we go back to his previous relationships and the stories narrative begins to become linear again and makes the story more impactful in my opinion when knowing its being told by someone in his life. There is a point where his second wife's story ends and then the Butler follows up what happened after when she wasn't around; it is masterful! Citizen Kane walks through many narratives, you can't help but be drawn into each one whether you know it or not. The most obvious one being a man who just wants everyone to like him and struggles to make everyone in his life happy because it'll conflict with one another. The point of lost childhood, pride, the struggle of having a relationship with a significant age gap and always being unsatisfied with success that you need to keep going. At one point it says Kane was always the bridesmaid, never the bride but he would never be the bride because he is an insatiable man. This movie also made me a bit emotional, I felt for Kane because he represents a little piece in all of us. It reminded me how short life really is. The way Orson Wells was able to make you sympathize with his character so quickly is an incredible feat for even the movies of today and that can credited to the acting, writing and direction, all in which Wells played a hand in. Not to mention the aging makeup was incredibly done for 1941. This isn't going to be everyone's cup of tea, but for me I was captivated throughout and wouldn't be surprised if I put it on again someday to revisit Citizen Kane as I grow older.