"God, I love that film!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Rating: Null/10 (21 September 2011)

I am not going to tell you anything about this movie... yet, but what I will do is give you a short history of my opinion of the movies I've experienced and loved, and why I rate them as I do, so that when I do actually give my opinion on CK, you will have some idea about the context and weight of my words...
The first movie that really got me hooked on cinema was Fantasia. I was just a child, but I'd never seen anything so wonderful and artistic. It was an incredibly moving experience, even for a 6 year old. I love it still, and always will.
The next movie that rocked me to my core was 2001:A Space Odyssey. I was only 12 in 1968, but it affected me like nothing else to that time. Back then you could buy a ticket and sit in a theater all day if you liked... and that's exactly what I did (watched it 3 times in a row)! One of the most influential movies of all time, and an instant classic... cinema as high art. Astounding!
Then along came 1972...I was not old enough to appreciate the true Genius of The Godfather at the time. I think I must have been a bit put off by the violence, but I knew it was outstanding anyway. I did however get rocked again at the age of 22 by The Deer Hunter. It chilled me to the bone and broke my heart. Christopher Walken's Nick haunts me to this day. I don't rewatch this movie often. It is just too painful, but it remains one of my all time favorites. A GIANT among films!
Up to this point in my life (22) I was beginning to be aware of a movie called Citizen Kane that was often said to be the best movie ever made. I also became aware of another such old timey movie called Casablanca with similar accolades. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately... hard to say), I did not see either movie until I was in my mid thirties. Thankfully though, I finally did...
I'll say it right now... I am not a great fan of Casablanca. It's a classic, yes. It's an excellent movie, yes... but the greatest off all time?! Not to me. I find it dated, stiff, and unconvincing. I can never suspend my disbelief that Bogart and Bergman actually loved each other. Without that, the movie simply falls apart for me. Oh well...
and that leaves CITIZEN KANE...
I simply cannot get my head around the fact that a 25 year old directed/starred in/wrote this movie. It is just not possible! This level of depth is always reserved for seasoned artists of the highest caliber, not young men just a couple years out of college! Unfortunately for Welles, he made CK so early in his career that it may have destroyed him as an artist... CK is that good! He gained tons of weight and made Paul Masson commercials (while drunk?) saying such things as "We make no wine before it's time..." How sadly ironic...
Citizen Kane is the one true ring, the "Ring That Binds Them"! I hope I can live long enough to experience it's cinematic equal, but I doubt I will. If you have never seen it, you are indeed lucky... and you must do two things immediately...
Go out and buy a lottery ticket...
then go out and find a copy of the best movie ever made, and watch it.
There is no way you can lose! :-)