My Own View

Rating: 10/10 (6 November 2018)

What hasn't been said about "Citizen Kane"? Well, not much, so this is just my take on the film. Personally, this film is one of my top ten favorites. However, I do find it to be quite overrated. Sure, I gave it a ten, but that's because it's a film I really love. At the same time, it is quite boring and lacks a transcendent statement and emotional output. I don't think any film deserves to be called the greatest, and if there was, it certainly wouldn't be "Citizen Kane." To me, this is just a film about the self-destruction of a man. There's nothing new or even that interesting about it. I agree with Ingmar Bergman that this film is indeed a total bore. So, why is it one of my favorite films? Why do I enjoy it? Mainly because of the way the film works. The way the narrative is told from the perspective of others isn't new, but was innovative for the time, and I think that's the key: it was innovative for its time. It was innovative when it was released, but it definitely fails the test of time when compared to other contemporary works like "Casablanca." You may think that I dislike "Citizen Kane" more than I enjoy it, but this isn't so. This is a beautifully shot film, there's no denying that. One of my favorite things about the film is the idea of Rosebud and what it represents. I find it moving that Kane's final word refers to his sled, and he remembers the last time he was truly happy as he dies. (I don't judge a film on what is absent, though I will say that I think the film would've been much more compelling had Welles shown the audience Kane's misery and homesickness during his time with Thatcher.) It's easy to feel sorry for Charles, but difficult to be invested in his character and care about him. I can only feel a bit of sadness for Kane. He's not a relatable character or even one you can really root for, but he is an enigmatic one. This is the sort of film where you see how someone can go from bad to worse and never get better. It's depressing, and not in a good way. It may even leave a bad taste in your mouth. But, it's enjoyable to watch, for me anyway. It's horribly overrated, but it's a film I love.