Just Plain Greatness

Rating: 10/10 (10 March 2010)

"Citizen Kane" is truly fantastic. It is understandable why film critics often cite this as the best movie of all time. The way the story is told is particularly interesting. The story is a mesh of other people's point of view. It makes Kane's life a sort of puzzle that the audience tries to piece together. Kane is a very complicated and enigmatic man so the puzzle seems to be a never-ending one. I am not quite sure if Kane being based on a real life person (the famed publisher: Hearst) adds or detracts from the story. It is definitely worth mentioning though.
Orson Welles' direction takes us on a never-ending cinematic roller-coaster. It seems as if every technique in the book is crammed together. If you want a lesson in direction, watch this movie. Welles also works actively with both the foreground and background, creating a rich scene. All layers of this film remain in focus and a lack of cuts showcases just how fluid the camera is. Low-angle shots often make ceilings the backdrop. This is a rather strange and unique technique that is nonetheless interesting.
The cinematography is excellent but it is really the story that sticks with you. Kane realizes in the end that he became everything he set out not to be. "Citizen Kane" shows us the evolution of childhood innocence to the sobering reality that experience leaves you with. Whether or not Kane is a monster is for you to decide.