Review of Citizen Kane (1941) by Steven R — 25 Apr 2013

It is fitting, I suppose, that the first film I review is widely considered to be the greatest film of all time. It truly is a masterpiece, creating a mystery in its first moments, then masterfully attempting to unravel this mystery through flashbacks. This film is emotionally engaging, it revolutionized filmmaking, and it gives us one of the greatest screen characters of all time.

Citizen Kane tells us the life story of newspaper tycoon Charles Foster Kane. In the film's opening moments, Kane dies and utters what is probably the most famous word in cinematic history, "Rosebud". After seeing a newsreel explaining Kane's life, (which will later allow us to navigate the maze of flashbacks to come), a young reporter, Jerry Thompson, is given the duty of discovering the meaning of Kane's dying words.

Thompson then leads us through a dizzying sequence of flashbacks chronicling Kane's life. The story works best if the viewer doesn't try to pinpoint exactly where we are at any point in time. Uncertainty in the viewer's mind, I imagine, was part of Orson Welles' intent when he was making this film. Uncertainty enhances the mystery of Rosebud. Thompson meets with several of the people that Kane knew best, uncovering a little bit more about him with each new flashback. The beauty of the film is that the more we learn about Kane, the more we realize that we will never be able to fully understand him.

Orson Welles truly does give us one of the greatest screen characters of all time with his performance as Kane. Citizen Kane stands up next to T.E. Lawrence, Han Solo, George Bailey, and Atticus Finch as a character who is nearly impossible to forget. Welles masterfully portrays Kane from his 20s into his 70s. He hits every emotional note perfectly. From Kane's idealism to his apathy, his joy to his sorrow, his hope to his fear and anger, Welles embodies the character. William Alland also deserves credit for his portrayal of Thompson. He leads on the journey of understanding Kane. He, in a way, is watching the film with us.

This film embraces the enormity of human complexity. As the film progresses, it becomes more and more evident that one word can never explain who Kane truly was and it was foolish for us to think it could. How can we expect to fully know Kane when most of us hardly know ourselves? Citizen Kane deftly explains to us what flawed, magnificent, incredibly complex creatures human being are. It is a tribute to the magnificence of the human condition as well as an acknowledgement that we are imperfect and often helpless. Citizen Kane is, quite simply, one of the greatest films of all time.