majestic, albeit so hyped that it's hard to view objectively

Rating: 10/10 (23 February 2005)

SPOILERS Every person has their own little list of famous films which they haven't seen. Films which are legendary and which cause looks of shock by friends if you admit to your ignorance. Your friends look at you with a look of surprise, and ever so slight disdain, if you confess your guilty little lie that you've never seen this piece of cinematic history. Whether it be "Godfather Part II" or "Star Wars", these films are often well loved by those who consider themselves to be film enthusiasts.
One film which constantly appears on the embarrassing list belonging to individuals is Orson Welles' "Citizen Kane". Written, directed, produced and staring that one genius of an individual, "Citizen Kane" is often named in polls as one of the greatest films of all time. This in itself though can cause problems for the every day viewer. Whilst it is not difficult to see why so many people rave about the film, it's constant hype and the praise laid upon it, means that the Kane newcomer always enters with expectations of an almost planetary size. "Citizen Kane" is a wonderful film and yet another fitting tribute for cinema's most important individual (Welles), but by putting so much pressure on an audience to be dazzled, the films enthusiasts are doing the film more damage than good.
Orson Welles plays Charles Foster Kane. Taken away from his parents at a young age, Kane grows up into a rebellious rogue who inherits an enormous fortune. Taking over a failing newspaper, Kane sets about making a name for himself.
Told through flashbacks, the life of Kane is certainly an interesting one. A man who appears to have it all, yet always possesses an underlying unhappiness, Orson Welles presents Kane as a man we feel more pity for than any other emotion.
In perhaps his second finest performance, personal choice going for his relatively short role in 1949's "The Third Man, Welles presents an emotionally varied Kane who appears to be at his happiest when lavished with love and attention. This rich, almost childlike, individual forever insists on getting his own way, whilst others around him grow to dislike, and in some cases resent, him. With his superb script and outstanding direction, Welles brings passion to the role and deserved more than just an Oscar nomination for his performance.
As we experience Kane's life through flashback, we obviously witness all those people who matter to him at one point or another. The supporting cast, led by Joseph Cotten and Dorothy Comingore, is exquisite in it's performance as it helps to make the film more than just the Orson Welles show. Cotten in particular, accredited at the end of the film with an "introducing", is superb as Kane's old friend Jebediah Leland, a man who grows to dislike Kane's increasingly flexible morality. Keeping a copy of Kane's original mission statement for the paper, Cotten's character slowly collapses in on himself as he gives way to alcohol, cigars and Kane's imaginative views on journalism. Always keeping the character alive, Cotten never stops working hard for Welles and obviously proved a success since he once again worked with Welles in "The Third Man".
All in all, "Citizen Kane" is a superb film. Worthy of the praise people heap upon it, the film's method of story telling is brilliant, and keeps the audience entertained from start to finish. The problem though remains that whether worthy of praise or not, this film is not going to be for everybody. Released over sixty years ago, it is not going to appeal to the majority of younger generations. This, added to the absolutely humongous amount of admiration that the film receives, is going to lead to some individuals feeling disappointed by their expectations. "Citizen Kane" is one of the greatest films of all time, but to prevent younger generations from finding it over-hyped, we need to cease our praise and simply let them watch it.