It’s not uncommon to hear someone admit that they fell asleep during “Citizen Kane.” After all, in an age of fast-paced action flicks and CGI spectacles, a black-and-white film from 1941 might seem out of place.
But beneath its vintage exterior, “Citizen Kane” is a treasure trove of cinematic innovation, storytelling prowess, and profound themes.
If you’re on the fence about giving it another shot, here’s a deep dive into why this film is hailed as one of the greatest of all time.
Innovative Storytelling Techniques
One of the most striking aspects of Citizen Kane is its pioneering use of innovative storytelling techniques.
The film is structured around an investigative reporter trying to solve the mystery of newspaper magnate Charles Foster Kane’s dying word “Rosebud.”
This provides a complex, non-linear narrative that presents Kane’s life story through flashbacks and the perspectives of different characters.
Flashbacks were extremely rare in films of this era, but Welles used them brilliantly to reveal key moments from Kane’s life.
Welles and his cinematographer Gregg Toland also utilized groundbreaking filming techniques like dramatic shadows, unusual camera angles, and deep focus shots that kept all planes in focus.
This was revolutionary for the time and gave the film a dramatic, expressionistic style.
Ahead of Its Time
Not only was Citizen Kane ahead of its time technologically, it also tackled complex themes like wealth, power, influence and the meaning of success in thought-provoking ways.
The story of Kane’s ambition and rise to power only to eventually lose his way is a deeply resonant one that anticipates many darker, more conflicted narratives that became common decades later in films.
And Welles doesn’t provide easy answers for the audience, preferring an ambiguous ending that leaves many questions unresolved.
This commitment to exploring challenging ideas in a serious way was extremely rare in the studio system of Hollywood in the 1940s.
Masterful Performances
Welles delivers an acclaimed performance in the lead role, convincingly aging from a bright, eager young man into an elderly, bitter tycoon.
He received an Oscar nomination for his acting, the only one he would ever receive despite his many legendary roles.
The supporting cast is also full of terrific character actors who bring Kane’s world to vivid life, including Joseph Cotten, Everett Sloane, Ray Collins, George Coulouris and Agnes Moorehead.
Their emotive acting meshes perfectly with Welles’ bold, stylized vision.
There are so many reasons Citizen Kane is revered by critics, scholars and fellow filmmakers as a masterpiece.
It’s an engrossing, unconventional story told with incredible imagination and technique.
Even if you were underwhelmed on first viewing, don’t give up. Give this classic a second chance, knowing you’re watching a seminal work of art that forever influenced everything that came after it.
Appreciating Citizen Kane may take patience, but the rewards are immense.
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