how do I say this politely?

Rating: Null/10 (14 October 2002)

As a Canadian, I risk losing my citizenship for being so harsh, but I have suffered in silence long enough. By way of background, I am a hardcore cinephile and studied Film Production at university, so I am reasonably well-versed in the language of cinema. So, here goes nothing:
Whhhhyyyy do people think this is such a brilliant film? My suspicion is that the accolades that are heaped on this film are offered by well-intended viewers who mistake novel cinematography for substance. Trouble is, the cinematic devices used in this film become annoying very quickly, and I can't imagine audiences sitting through a similarly shot film in the present day.
Orson Welles was a exemplary filmmaker, as evidenced by 'The Magnificent Ambersons' and 'Rebecca', but I have the strangest feeling that Citizen Kane was little more than a clever inside joke on his part. Granted the story was interesting, and the performances were strong, but bizarre camera angles do not make a film a work of genius!
My point is this - don't love a film because everyone else does. Be brave enough to trust your gut and speak out against the herd. And really, when a herd mindlessly worships a film like 'Citizen Kane', it's time to 'flock off'.
I'd generously rate this film 6/10.