A riches to riches tale, sadly

Rating: 6/10 (9 July 2015)

This film is rightly lauded for its technical work and for the incredible visual impact it delivers, but I'm afraid it is ultimately dull to sit through. Fortunately, the energy and inventiveness on screen are (just about) enough to sustain our interest in the face of the intrinsic yawn-fest that is the basic plot. The trouble is, it's a riches to riches tale, so, honestly, who really cares? As it happens, the wife's story has potential for a really strong narrative, but is not explored. The fact that Citizen Kane takes a fairly savage swipe at an individual still alive at the time also makes it a rather cynical effort. I daresay the intellectual establishment of the forties would have lapped up all the in- jokes and satire but that makes it a film for its time, not for all time. Film students by all means study the wonderful technique; anyone after a really good, involving story, look elsewhere.