Citizen Kane - 7

This film is #1 (or very near the top) on most of the best movies of all time lists. It originally came out in 1941, but because it reflected the life story of William Randolph Hearst -the media mogul- his media empire refused to publicize it or even acknowledge it. It wasn't until 1958 that it was more widely known about and then started to be considered as one of the best films. It was co-written, directed, and starred Orson Welles (yes, the same Welles who read War of the Worlds on the radio in 1938 and scarred people). This was his first film, and he was given full artistic and technical control from the studio - all of this at the age of 25. The cinematography is very well done by Gregg Toland. I actually watched the film twice, the second time with commentary from Roger Ebert which was very illuminating. It helped explain how they made the film and how many special effects the movie employed. For its day, it might be compared to the use of special effects of Star Wars. It was actually made with very little money which is deceptive when you see the film. The story is told in a succession of flash backs after the death of Charles Foster Kane. So one gets the many different sides of Kane as well as some of the consistency of his character as perceived by friends. This storytelling technique seems to be the first of it kind, while the actual content is not that interesting and in some sense doesn't make sense (the over arching search for the meaning of Rosebud ends up playing a minor role in the theme of the film). The basic theme is Kane in search of his childhood, which he cannot buy or control, he ends up pretty lost and alone. In my opinion The Aviator is a sort of tribute to Citizen Kane. Overall, a very well made film.