Citizen Kane

1. Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.


"Citizen Kane" , a classic film by Orson Welles is remembered as one of the greatest films of all time. Welles casts himself as the lead actor as well as he directs, and produces his first feature film. Welles receives high honor for his cinematography, music, and narrative structure in the film. "Citizen Kane" is known for its wonderful production and Welles is recognized as developing this production a pure masterpiece. One could argue that Welles was ahead of his time in his visual style, as he learned and mocked styles of film greats such as King Vidor and John Ford.


2. Find a related article and summarize the content.


http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2005-07-08/entertainment/0507080040_1_jed-leland-charles-foster-kane-orson-welles


"Just what's so great about 'Citizen Kane?'," is an article that was published in the Chicago Tribune July 8, 2005. In a short clear article writer Michael Wilmington focuses on the qualities of Citizen Kane, and suggests to readers why watching Citizen Kane is a great experience. Wilmington writes, "Dome younger moviegoers even profess themselves bored with "Kane" and puzzled by its renown, They find it hard to follow. Boring? Never." In his following words he writes about how "Citizen Kane" is not like any other normal film and takes some understanding to really be able to stay along with the movie making it a movie of "aesthetic shock and exhilaration." Explaining that, "It's a film of deep long views that take you far past the borders and boundaries where other movies stop. Wilmington then goes on to explain how the soundtrack and the cinematography play along perfectly and enhances the film making it captivating from beginning to end.


3. Apply the article to the film screened in class.


The article supports the way I felt about the film because it is relatable to my opinions in which I didn't really understand the movie fully my first time watching it. Being a younger minded individual, and growing up watching more understanding films I had to really follow and observe closely how Welles portrays a story in a different structure through flashbacks to deliver a very sorry full story of a publisher who had his ups and downs and dies with his last words being something significant to his reasoning in which he lived his life. Welles' use of sound and production using frames really comes together perfectly to provide a vivid plot and storyline, and is reasoning into why the film was so successful.


4. Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion, formed as a result of the screening, class discussions, text materials and the article.


"Citizen Kane" is an enjoyable film and was known as the best movie ever for centuries for many reasons. All the elements in which are in the film are comprised to make a very intellectual and thought provoking film. It isn't an ordinary film for sure, and it does stand out in the way it produced and also the way it is narratively structured. Welles' was indeed ahead of his time when making the film as he captures frame by frame of cinematography genius to deliver such an interesting film. His acting as well as his screenplay is said to had been linked to his actual life and I can definitely see the comparison. "Citizen Kane" is the type a film you can watch 60 times and still learn something new every time and also will not lose attention as the film captivates viewers through sound and structure from beginning to end.