Citizen Kane
It's not considered one of the greatest films ever made for no reason.
Ask anyone about “Citizen Kane” and they will tell you about Rosebud. If you’ve never seen this epic of American cinema, I won’t ruin the ending for you by telling what Rosebud means, as someone did for me. Orson Welles’ directorial debut birthed the most visually stunning, deeply human movie I have ever seen. Charles Foster Kane, millionaire newspaper tycoon, husband, father and above all else, a citizen, dies. His last utterance of Rosebud sends a reporter hunting for clues that may provide some insight into whom Kane really was. But, my fellow moviegoers, don’t let anyone convince you this is the only reason to watch. Mr. Welles, as Kane, dominates every scene he is in with the cocky shift of his eyebrow and smug smile. I couldn’t help but feel hypnotized by the timbre of his voice as he sauntered across the screen. Even as old Kane, he still commanded attention. The supporting characters, including Joseph Cotten as Jed Leland, Kane’s oldest friend, provide much cynical humor and a bit of pathos as they reflect on their own broken relationships with the deceased Kane.
The truth, as speculated by the other characters, is that Charles Foster Kane just wanted to be loved and every grand gesture was his way of trying to achieve that. We should suppose that too because this appears to be the root of him. And this is explored masterfully throughout so that we are not just watching a movie, but a life unfolding.
Written by: Antoinette Wood
Reviewers Rating: 9
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Added: 18-Jul-2006
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