The greatest film of all time - for many reasons

Rating: 10/10 (11 February 2004)

`Citizen Kane is the greatest film of all time'. How many times has anyone who watches films or follows films heard that phrase? The question is, do people who actually tout this oft-repeated phrase actually believe it? Or have they ever even seen the film? Arguably, there have been some truly great films that have been released since Citizen Kane, in fact, most of the `great films' have been released since Citizen Kane, but there are many factors that support the assertions that A) Citizen Kane is indeed the greatest film of all time, and B) Citizen Kane is uncontested as my favorite film of all time.
Citizen Kane is of course, the story of Charles Foster Kane told through the eyes of those who loved him, hated him and idolized him. It is also a famously thinly-veiled telling of the life of William Randolph Hearst, the publishing magnate. Welles, at 25 and already being touted as a genius, had enough of an ego to tackle this subject. Unfortunately for Welles, and his ego, Hearst was still very much alive and very much in control of various media outlets, movie studios and their executives, all of which demolished the film's release and hype. It wasn't until decades later when people realized the incredible visionary aspect and technical genius of the film.

Citizen Kane was released in 1941  the same year as such films as The Little Foxes, Suspicion and Sergeant York  all three great films, all three big competitions for Kane. And actually, `How Green Was My Valley' won. But what Kane had that these films did not, was passion. Technical mastery. Ground breaking camera work and blocking techniques that paved the way for the way films would be made, even today. Thought-provoking symbolism, and defiance. Welles knew that he had a time bomb  he was warned by industry insiders, friends, maybe even Hearst himself. But whether it was ego or feelings of entitlement for his own work (or, most likely, a combination of both) the film that he poured his entire life into remains the standard that films made 60 years later with remarkable technology are held against. One looks at the deep focus and isn't fazed because it is now standard. Welles created that. The camera angles, the symbolism that is so creatively used, (watch for faces that become shaded and draw your conclusions as to why that is) the blocking that tells a story without actually saying, `This is what we are trying to convey here'. (Out of about twenty scenes where this occurs, you can specifically invoke the `breakfast table' scene between Kane and his first wife, or the scene between Kane and Davies where the shouting is almost irritating, but is executed to provide a demonstration of the vastness, grandeur and loneliness.
Some friends and I recently decided to start an informal `Movie Club' and for the inaugural night, I wanted to screen my favorite movie of all time, `Citizen Kane'. We discussed why that is a dangerous statement, and why calling Kane the `greatest of all time' could be construed as intellectual irresponsibility considering the stories that have been told since Kane in 1941, and the technology that has been invented since Kane graced the big screen for the first time. I agree that the point can be argued. Someone can argue with me that George Lucas, director of that `other' groundbreaking film(s) is improving upon the original with his extended versions. Yes, you can argue with me, but you will not change my opinion, and in that same vein, I will never find a film that has affected me more than Kane has. It is for that reason alone that films that I have seen since compete for slots #2  Infinity. Citizen Kane's historical importance and innovative technique give it an automatic pass to #1  the beauty, the story, and the acting are just wonderful extras that truly make this film the `Greatest of all time'.
--Shelly