It has been considered the greatest film of all time by film critics ever since its release in 1941. I quite frankly have to agree with them. It's intricate and complex narrative is one of the most entertaining of all time. The Orson Welles classic is a truly American film. It's a film that must be seen by everyone whether you live the "American Dream" or not, this film is beyond imaginative and renews a human spirit in us that even the most successful of people among us have their demons.
It embodies the "American Dream" in such a way that it is as authentic then as it remains the same almost 80 years later. I have no doubt that this tale of the "American Dream" will remain that way for decades to come. Welles's creation is an extraordinary tale of the rise and fall of what the "American Dream" can be.
Iconic actor and director Orson Welles's first film is one of the most unique of all time. His vision of intricacy and bewilderment is pulled off very elegantly and savvily. The direction is unique and is one of the most underappreciated ever. The narrative is as complex and unique as its direction is. What the film manages to do is put audiences on edge and keep them wondering throughout the whole film. This film remains an underappreciated cinematic gem that audiences must watch.
Not only did Welles direct and write the film, but he is also the star of the iconic motion picture. His iconic role as the newspaper tycoon. It's one of the single greatest performances by an actor in any film. He is a brute force onscreen and delivers an extraordinary performance as the successful yet embattled Charles Foster Kane. His performance is memorable, to say the least, and it shows just how impactful the film is overall.
Iconic film composer Bernard Herrmann's score is as iconic as the film itself. Herrmann's score has just as much elegance as the film itself. It remains just as iconic after so many years just like the film overall.
The legacy of this film is ever-present. The iconic film has one of the cinemas most meaningful stories. It is a story of failure and success and should be seen by everyone. This film is more relevant than ever before with its allegorical presence. With masterful storytelling, bombastic performances, and a crushingly engrossing narrative, this film is an iconic film in every sense of the word.
Poster Courtesy of RKO Pictures
Rate: A+
Director: Orson Welles
Starring: Orson Welles, Dorothy Comingore, Joseph Cotten
MPAA Rating: PG
Runtime: 1 Hour & 45 Minutes
Synopsis:
When a reporter is assigned to decipher newspaper magnate Charles Foster Kane's (Orson Welles) dying words, his investigation gradually reveals the fascinating portrait of a complex man who rose from obscurity to staggering heights. Though Kane's friend and colleague Jedediah Leland (Joseph Cotten), and his mistress, Susan Alexander (Dorothy Comingore), shed fragments of light on Kane's life, the reporter fears he may never penetrate the mystery of the elusive man's final word, "Rosebud."
