A Masterpiece, simply said...

Rating: Null/10 (31 March 2001)

Well, this movie isn't recommended for nothing. Although I will agree from film critics, its the best film ever made for technical reasons. Which is wrong. This is a masterpiece for more humane reasons. Its because its the truth. No film can achieve more than that.
Critics will tell you about the lighting, the cinematography, the sound, and camera angles and blah blah blah. Much of this has been analyzed over and over. True, this is an exceptional film because of those reasons.
Yes, this is a very innovative film (of that time) and much of the critics analysis of the film has merit, but its much more than that. Welles had something so much for us with this film.
Its about our truth. The meaning of our lives and the significant influences that make our lives complete or in this case incomplete.
* SPOILERS *
Kane's life was the latter. Incomplete. The last words out of his dying mouth. "Rosebud". The sled he owned as a little boy. All of the wealth, influence, success, and friends he had in his lonely nonexistent life. His very last words of that life was "Rosebud". An insignificant toy he owned when he was a child. All he owned, bought, or controled in his adult life had no influence in his adult life. That truth about Kane's life is no surprise and is very sad. Little wonder that this didn't make a dent in the Oscar selections that year. It takes years for people (and critics) to appreciate what that means to all of us.
My grandpa died when I was fifteen. My grandpa was a farmer his whole life. He raised crops from fertilization to full grown life. Crop season meant everything to him at the time. I went to visit him on his deathbed with my father, mother and my sister. My grandpa had the clearest blue eyes you have ever seen, but on this day they were dull, cold, and fading. He was rambling about death coming to take him and that he was at peace with it. At the time he was barely coherent and couldn't recognize anyone around him. I was very sad.
He looked at me suddenly and those cold eyes lite up and and he said "Stephen". I went to him and told him that I loved him. He seemed to be at peace with that. Two days later he left us.
At the age of 15 I was very sad. Now, at the age of 34, I understand my grandfather. All of the crops his raised meant very little to him at that time. It was his family and friends that meant the most to him.
It meant the most to Kane at his deathbed as well. The only difference was he had only a sled when he was a little child. That is very sad. That is what Orson Welles was trying to tell us.
I will bet you every single dollar that Bill Gates (our Citizen Kane of our time) makes that none of it will matter at his deathbed. I only pray that he is intelligent enough to know what really matters in his life.
Orson Welles made a film that is universal in its appeal. I hope everyone sees it and appreciates it for how sad it is.
We can all learn from it.
That is why this is a great masterpiece of our and any other time.
Film students learn the techniques that make the critics love it. Film lovers and realists appreciate it for the humanitarian ideals it suggests.
Grandpa. Rest in peace and I'll see you soon.