Why It's Still The Greatest Movie
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Sled Scene from Citizen Kane
This iconic scene; when we see young Charles truly happy for arguably the last time. The scene that sets up a life time of accumulation trying to fill the void that came from lack of family and love. Charles Foster Kane was happy sliding down that hill. We never see him filled with that kind of joy again. The age old question of whether money can buy happiness is answered. No, it certainly can not, nor can it buy love. As young Charles slides down the hill almost coming through the window, the audience sees the ultimate decision taking place that will change the trajectory of his life forever. Both parts of this scene equally important: Seeing Charles happy and the torturous decision his parents are making. Equally important and equally visible is everything in the entire frame of the shot. Without a split screen, the viewer is watching two actions happening at once, one in the background the other in the fore. It's one of the first times we see the deep focus technique that will change the way directors move through scenes in movies from that point forward.
Examples of Deep Focus
For taking one of the oldest adage's in story telling and making it brilliantly different, I believe Citizen Kane (Dir. 1941 Welles) is still the most remarkable film. The syuzhit narrative is vital to Kane's reception by the audience. Because the reporter uncovers the information out of chronological order, our emotions bounce all over the place. The pity evoked at the same time many feel true disdain for Kane, is awesome, and due to this narrative technique. I can't imagine character emotions before Kane ever dripping off the screen the way they did in Kane. The narrative and camera told us how to feel. The combined techniques amplified their individual effects.
Viewers can feel the dissolution of the Kane marriage through camera work
Twisting this antiheroic love story on its side is not the only reason Kane should still be considered the greatest movie ever. For the first time in film history, cinematography proved a 2-dimensional medium could FEEL 3-dimensional. Director of Photography, Gregg Toland was a genius behind the camera and he understood lenses as a science. It was also his humble, quiet teaching after production hours that allowed Welles to take credit for the masterpiece that became the greatest. Every single shot in the movie is a masterpiece, as if it were orchestrated like notes in a symphony. It proves cinema is undeniably an art form that uses many nuanced techniques to achieve its messaging.
Finally, the cajones of Welles himself, to go after the greatest Tycoon of his time in spoofing the life of William Randolph Hearst, cracks me up every time I think of it. Hearst attempted to black list Welles for the film. Not necessarily well received at the box office, Hearst made sure only bad or no reviews made it into his monopoly of newspapers. Still, it was nominated for nine academy awards only to win one for best screen play. Was Hearst's sentiment influential within an academy that depended on his papers for press? The preeminance in Kane was obvious. How could it not win more, best cinematography at the least? It wasn't until Kane aired on television in the 50's that film scholars and critics began to look at the movie through a deeper more analytic lens. Its true influence was chronicled.
Comedy Central ~ Drunk History on Hearst & Welles :)
Many students ask me if I've been brainwashed to think Kane is the best because industry leaders have been saying it for so long. Haven't I seen Avengers!!!? It's a great question and my response is perhaps argumentum ad populum is taking place. Still, just saying it doesn't make the cinematography awesome, it truly is incredible for anyone to see, even by today's standards.
Like I respect Mohammad Ali as the best, Alice Paul or Sandra Day O'Connor as original badasses, others may not agree. There are definitely better movies than those made by Alice Guy Blache, 100 years ago, but it is her firstness, plus greatness, and almost perfection, that combine to equal 'the best.' In an age where GOAT's are determined precisely, statistically, and change often, being perfectly awesome and first is a better calculator for me. There's a bravery in it, that those who follow don't have to have. That is part of the reason I say Citizen Kane is the best. For the first time in cinema history all of the stars aligned; a daring, innovative narrative, jaw-dropping cinematography, masterful editing, gorgeous and disturbing chiaroscuro lighting, and uncanny acting performances that you really believed, all came together like a strike of lightning. I respect Kane's position as the first of the thousands of films that would try to emulate its excellence. Many have come close to matching the greatness of Kane, some have surpassed it in ways, but none have matched the synergy of mastering all the amazing cinematic techniques and innovations that made up the 1941 classic.
Chiaroscura in Kane
Students also ask me 'if I think it's the best, shouldn't it be my favorite movie'? I don't think so. Whether it's my favorite doesn't change that Citizen Kane was the first to do so much right in one film. Like many other mediums, technologies, or historical advancements, it gets to keep the title of 'best' for its historical significance as well as its prodigiousness. That's the reason I feel passionately that film students should see this movie and understand what it did, is, and does, even if some are bored by it. My job is to help you see the significance. I DO love Avengers! I hope my students can see there are aspects of Avengers that wouldn't exist without Kane.
And whether it's my favorite or not, if I'm rolling through the channels on the TV (if we actually do that anymore) and Citizen Kane does happen to be on, you can bet I'm stopping and quit assuredly seeing something I've never caught before. And I've seen it dozens of times. The ONLY other movie I can say that about is Airplane:) I'm pretty certain the Zucker brothers took a page out of the Kane playbook for their scenic design, which is exactly the point I'm making. Kane is the greatest until another film break's every boundary in cinema history, all in one feature...then thousands of films copy and millions of people talk about it for decades and decades after its release.
I give this film: 💜💜💜💜💜 Five Purple Hearts out of Five Purple Hearts!
~Lady Guinevere
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