Citizen Kane Review: A Dramatic Ride

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You hear classic but you see 8.5/10, let’s rationalize that ranking. While Citizen Kane is a great movie and one that brings a lot of incredible things to the table, it isn’t my ideal movie. The drama gets boring in the middle and the flashbacks lose their fire for a while. It is a natural part of building the story, and those slower moments provide a lot of valuable details for later in the movie. Regardless, I just find them a bit boring and my attention veered away more often in this movie than others I have ranked higher, such as Requiem for a Dream.

Story and engagement are not the only two factors that go into making a movie, which is why I still see this one as a classic. The way the movie is shown to the audience, a series of flashbacks that are brought up while Mr. Thompson attempts to decipher Kane’s final word, is a very interesting premise and one that works wonderfully. The audience gets to see Mr. Kane for all that he is, and the movie explores themes of wealth and happiness, and how those two things don’t always mix.

The messaging is fantastic, as is most of this movie, using creative scenes to show the audience the point the movie is trying to make, instead of outright telling them. This is another film that can be seen differently depending on who watches it, and I think that is a magical attribute to have in a film.

Citizen Kane is simple, but man is it complex. The story flows nicely and everything seems to make sense, but it’s the deeper meaning that creates a special kind of rewatchability that you don’t really see these days. The different scenes that don’t seem to mean much but have a sneaky level of importance to the overall plot will have you thinking about the movie longer after it is over.

The different characters that flow in and out of the movie make for an interesting cast. Jerry Thompson, played by William Alland, was a well-written character that bridged the gap between flashbacks. He’s the journalist investigating Kane, and I thought this premise added some intrigue to the life of Kane.

Without a doubt, the best character is Charles Foster Kane. The man has so many layers, and he changes so much over the course of his life. The flashbacks provide a lot of detail, but they also provide an interesting roadmap to the downfall of such an idealistic man.

Mr. Bernstein, played by Evertt Sloane, was one of my favourite recurring characters. He’s got a steady mind, and he was always around Mr. Kane. He found ways to balance trying to control Charles and letting him run wild. I thought Sloane did a terrific job bringing the character to life.

As mentioned above, the flashbacks are interesting. It creates this story within the story, allowing for some of the boredom to be offset by a brand-new location or story. It doesn’t work as well as it could have, as the movie still slows down a lot, but it worked well in other facets. I loved that the movie visualized all of the stories about Charles Kane, leaving very little up to the imagination. We didn’t have to think too hard about the stories being told, just the meaning behind them.

As well, the flashbacks allowed for a more seamless transition between time periods. Very little time was used dealing with how old Mr. Kane was or what time period we were in, that portion was left up to the audience based on the details of the scene and the way the characters appeared. It creates this seamless flow between flashbacks that give the movie a more natural feel. It felt as if the audience was in the room with Mr. Thompson as these stories were being told, creating this personal, emotional connection with some of the characters.

Overall, Citizen Kane is a classic. It’s not my favourite movie, but the things it does right are spectacular. For a simple-looking drama, this movie has depth and meaning that will have you pondering it days later. The rewatchability makes this a movie you can enjoy time and time again, seeing things through a different lens. The plot does get boring in the middle, which is a major downfall, but other than that, it’s a great watch.