Citizen Kane

There’s in fact nothing to complain about. Citizen Kane is a phenomenon talked about in every movie lecture or a movie discussion. It is a movie which was, with its theme but also the filmmaking aspect, totally ahead of its time. Even though I don’t understand how Orson Welles was able to make movies in Hollywood in 1941 when the rest of the boys, even 10 years younger, were getting ready or were already on the battlefield in WWII, it must be acknowledged that he was in the right place at the right time. I don’t give it five stars for purely subjective reasons that the movie was not always able to hold my attention, which is often the case for me with movies from that era. (20.01.2019)

In terms of American classics from the 1940s or 1950s, it can be difficult to find faults, but surprisingly, I see quite a few in Citizen Kane. However, I cannot fault anything in terms of craftsmanship because the camera work is incredible and the weaving and zooming takes one's breath away. In addition to that, the amazing masks greatly contribute to the atmosphere. Nevertheless, I have a feeling of a slightly inflated bubble in Citizen Kane, where several excellent scenes remain only islands in a stormy sea, and I cannot fully immerse myself in the film due to its unnecessary fragmentation, making it feel somewhat incomplete. The film lingers in my mind, but more as an extraordinary event rather than a gem. In this case, Welles proved to be a better actor than a director. 70% (06.10.2006)

The work of Orson Welles is like a curse to me, and all my attempts to understand him have ended with the realization that we are consistently not on the same page. In fact, I have avoided Kane for many years because I suspected that I wouldn't share the enthusiasm of refined film connoisseurs and critics in this case either. Perhaps it's because I categorize Orson Welles with the same group of creators as Federico Fellini or Lars von Trier, i.e., those whose excessive ego conspicuously enters into their works. In other words, they are self-centered manipulative crooks who deter me emotionally. It is then hard to appreciate the innovative elements, the complex structure of the film, and the fragmentary narrative. Of course, I can state that much of what he worked with is truly revolutionary, but Orson did not win me over personally. I perceive Kane as a school assignment, where the teacher asks students to analyze a work of art. I appreciate the technique, but as a viewer, I am indifferent to Welles. Overall impression: 65%, and that is certainly the maximum the legendary director could ever get from me. (06.04.2019)

A many-layered piece of movie history about a man who had everything and nothing. Welles is absolutely perfect as the charismatic Kane and with his sure director’s hand he leads the picture through various genres from fictitious documentary to the crime movie ending. (05.12.2020)

Ein sehr guter Film zum Thema "Alles haben und dabei nichts haben“, zweifellos zeitlos – und nicht nur deshalb, wie er aussieht und wie einfallsreich er gedreht wurde. Aber der beste Film aller Zeiten? Na ja… Jedenfalls hat sich der Schauspieler Orson Welles in den 120 Minuten bewundernswert verwandelt; der Regisseur Orson Welles hat wiederum dafür gesorgt, dass ich mich während der 120 Minuten kein einziges Mal gelangweilt habe. Er hat für mich viele Überraschungen vorbereitet. Endlich weiß ich, was "Knospe“ bedeutet – das ist mir nämlich während einer Columbo-Folge im Kopf herumgegangen. Und ich weiß auch, welchen Hit Die Simpsons in der Folge über den Bären vom Herrn Burns parodiert haben. (13.07.2014)

Cinematic rosebud. Amazing play with mise-en-scène, lighting and revolutionary management of the audience's attention. A great Welles and the greatest MacGuffin in history. (03.08.2018)

After watching Citizen Kane, a lot of contemporary movies just started making sense to me. Plus, I realized that Fincher was actually making remakes. (06.11.2012)

One of the most respected films, which I personally wouldn't put on the pedestal of the absolute best, but it must be acknowledged that Orson Welles and the screenwriter did an absolutely incredible job. Every scene is perfectly crafted and so is the whole. Additionally, Welles was a great actor, which he showcases here in various emotional dimensions, as well as at different ages. An impressive film, but don't expect something that will completely change your life. (05.09.2014)

One of my big classic outstanding items that I kept putting off for a while until I finally couldn't take it anymore and I just had to get it and watch it. In many ways, it is undoubtedly a timeless work whose ideas fittingly reflect even today's media world. With a narrative style revolutionary for its time, consisting of newspaper articles, interviews, and memories of people close to the film, is certainly one of the many reasons why it is an absolute and much quoted classic even from today's perspective. The four stars are purely subjective, as it didn't grip me as much as I imagined it would. (18.11.2020)