Mildly interesting. IMDBs top 250 films as of 1996 when the site was in its infancy

I love both Ebert and commentary tracks but I hate this narrative that Citizen Kane is only important because of it's historical context. There have been plenty of films that have once been revolutionary, but most of them are not as highly regarded as Citizen Kane, because Citizen Kane is great film regardless of context.

There is plenty of stuff in that film that is still unparalleled and can be appreciated without any historical context

For example:

  • Man's story from childhood to the end told absolutely seamlessly with genius use of non-linear storytelling. Once Upon a Time in America is only film that has ever come close to replicating that. In most of the films non-linear storytelling and flashbacks just feels like gimmick but in Citizen Kane it's completely organic.

  • Orson Welles performance is just riveting. From young man all the way to the death. One of the greatest performances ever.

  • All the great performances by supporting actors as well. Joseph Cotton, Dorothy Comingore etc.

  • It contains some of the most beautiful cinematography ever captured on film

  • Amazing screenplay with great dialogue.

  • Great score by Bernard Hermann.

And besides all that pure cinematic greatness, it's not just about style, it's a film with great depth as well. The most subversive aspect of Citizen Kane, in 1941 and now - because it is still relevant thematically and still devastating in its implications - is the dark light it throws on fame, success, wealth, and the heritage of plutocracy. Its uncompromising picture of loneliness at the top is absolutely without any feature of redemption or spiritual survival. Impossible to think of an Amercian film by major studio as essentially bleak in outlook, and yet the exhilarating freshness of its pace, wit, construction, and directorial style creates a kind of optimistic counterpoint that masks all that.

/r/movies Thread Parent Link - eb.archive.org