The pinnacle of great dramatic and mysterious storytelling.

Rating: 10/10 (29 November 2017)

"Citizen Kane" is perhaps the most well-regarded and highly celebrated film of all time and manages to captivate aspiring filmmakers to this day. It explores the life of a man named Charles Foster Kane (Orson Wells) and the intricate and mysterious aspects of his life. The film's approach to the question 'Who is Charles Foster Kane?' is much like the present motif in the film, the jigsaw puzzle, which assembles several pieces but never allows the viewer to fully put the picture together.
"Citizen Kane" broke new ground in 1941 with original technical abilities and ahead-of-its-time techniques that filmmakers still use to this day. It's a wonder how Orson Wells, who co-wrote and directed the picture, understand the avenues of camera movement and editing to create a stunning piece of art. Even to this day, the film features astounding cuts, transitions, and crisp sound mixing that rivals today's artists.
The story is somewhat ambiguous to the viewer watching it for the first time and is definitely different than most stories still. The script itself, is an intricate and complex puzzle of a man the audience doesn't truly get to learn all they can about. Yet, that's the purpose of the story: a character riddle. Audiences should be prepared for a film that is highly layered and narratively unusual, yet compelling.
One complaint I have with the picture is one particular transition that seems to puzzle me to this day (pun intended). Even with repeated viewings, I still wonder why that transition was done the way it was done and am consistently taken out of the gripping story because it feels bizarre. Perhaps this is a modern viewer bias but this small mistake is the only one found in this film.
Anyone interested in watching "Citizen Kane" should keep a few things in mind: One, this film should be viewed more than once. Every truly great film should be repeated in viewing but "Citizen Kane" is one that really can't be fully grasped in ambition and story until much more viewings. So the best thing to do is enjoy the ride and try and hang on. Two, it's slow at first but becomes gripping the more you watch it. And three, is not a casual movie watching experience. It requires full attention and focus.
If the viewer keeps an open mind and accepts the film, it will amaze and astound. It truly is no surprise why "Citizen Kane" is hailed as the greatest film of all time. It's timeless, beautifully shot, and narratively revolutionary.