Film Review: Citizen Kane (1941)

If one talks about Citizen Kane, one question is bound to rise. Is it or is it not, an American Film Institute's greatest American film of all-time? I, personally, refused to answer that question albeit that i liked this film in its earnest. Thus, i wouldn't give any final rating to this film. My rating: ***1/2 / ****

The film opens in a spooky and grim tone that perfectly sets my mood. With carefully constructed shot (the light at the window ALWAYS at 1 o'clock position even if the shots were taken from different angels) way ahead of its time, the film opens with one word that voted as #17 quote courtesy of American Film Institute. "Rosebud". The film then spools in a flashback fashion as we follow a reporter sniffing his way around to look for the meaning of a "Rosebud". The "Rosebud" word was uttered by a prominent figure, the main character of this film, Charles Foster Kane, a newspaper mogul, with powers and wealths a man could ever wished for. That word was uttered at his death-bed, in his fortress, Xanadu.

The story was engaging enough as our reporter asks people around the live of Charles Foster Kane about his life and "Rosebud". We see him as a child, abandoned by his family, takes a small newspaper company, and raise it and himself to a new height, his marriage life, and his political life. Well, actually, the story was an o.k. and by the time we arrive to a conclusion (some called it, a twist-ending) of what was "Rosebud" was, it took a little more time thinking about what "Rosebud" really was. Of course, i won't spoil it to you here.

Aside from the story which i took as nothing special nor spectacular about, Citizen Kane has more achievement in technical aspects. Now, i'm probably just guessing since i had no background knowledge of cinematography and all, but for a film that's made in 1940s, the shots and images were unique in its time. The characters reflect themselves on mirror, trailing shots, orderly chaotic movement, and the way the camera only took prominent characters such as Kane from bottom looking up and lesser characters from up looking down. Example to this technique was quite observable from the poster i attached to this blog. In the poster, you see Kane looking down, and you see two women looking up. That's what happened on screen. Kane (prominent characters) looking down on camera and on us, and these women (lesser characters) looking up on camera and on us. Magnificently breathtaking. And like many other has been observed, Orson Welles acting as Charles Foster Kane was at its best when he doesn't say anything at all.

I liked this film. But to name it as the greatest film of all-time? I don't know. Orson Welles wrote, direct, and star at this film, and receiving 4 Oscar nominations for this film at the age of 24. Damn.

I'm planning to see these films this week at cinemas: Mr.Bean's Holiday, Naga Bonar 2 , and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Again, have a great weekend, and hopefully i could meet the plan and publish the reviews on the next following week.