MYST POST #2: Citizen Kane

Citizen Kane originally was released to mostly negative reviews due to its subtle political messages. However as the years went by this film became to be known as the best film ever made. This was mainly due to the film's history, how it was shot, and a mixture of many other things. I believe this film was a pretty darn good film for the time and was revolutionary. Even compared to films today this film still has some sort of special quality to it that makes it so great and fun to watch. The film's shots were its specialty. For example....

This is the scene where the reporters are discussing what the meaning is behind Kane's last words "Rosebud." The two projectors are lit from behind the scene giving an interesting yet ominous shadow effect. Due to this effect we are rarely ever to make out Thompon's actual face. Many other character's faces in this scene are also shaded out by the lighting in the room. This was done to help symbolize that they are not exactly the important characters in the story. Heck, most of the characters we see in this scene we never see again. In the particular shot above, Ralston's character is shown higher than Thompson's to show Ralston's authority over the matter. While very simplistic with its message this scene has gained fame for mainly how this subtle message was told rather than the message itself.

Also I should mention this scene, despite it being brief. This scene always disturbed me due to the loud noise and creepy look of the parrot. I mean look at that!! Why would such an odd thing be in this scene? It doesn't seem to add much symbolism. I think Roger Ebert said it best....

The Eyeless Cockatoo. Yes, you can see right through the eyeball of the shrieking cocatoo, in the scene before the big fight between Kane and Susan. It's a mistake.

So even the possibly best film ever does indeed have a mistake. So why would a film with mistakes still possibly be good? Well, many other very famous films also have also had mistakes too, such as Star Wars and Jurassic Park. The reason these films are still loved is because the mistakes clearly have no effect on the plot(unless they're plot holes). The film can still be consistent with or without the mistakes.  

In 1925 one of the most famous books ever written was released. This book is simply known as The Great Gatsby. This book was about a guy who was aimlessly searching for the American Dream of getting the girl he loved using all the money he had. Later on, he learns that she will never live up to the dreams he has had of her for years. Not long after she leaves him, in which he still hopes that she will come back to him. He then unfortunately dies from being shot by an upset husband.
In 1945 Citizen Kane came out and became one of the most famous and well known and respected films in cinema history. This movie was about a guy who was aimlessly searching for the American Dream by getting all the american people to love him using all the money he had. Later on, he learns that he will never be able to get the people to love him because he never understand how to get them to love him. Not long after another guy releases evidence Kane is cheating on his wife the people no longer love him yet he still hopes that they will come back to him. He then unfortunately dies and repeats his famous line "Rosebud."
The similarities between the book and the movie are endless. In fact many people have brought up the suggestion that Kane is similar to that of Gatsby due to the way their lives play out. They both want to achieve love one way or another, but are pushed aside and eventually killed. The character of Daisy can relate to that of the American People. They are both very easily manipulated.
Many film adaptions of the Great Gatsby have also came out since the release of the book. Yet no matter how many film adaptions come out of The Great Gatsby, Citizen Kane always seems to be the superior film. This is because the film only had a similar plot to the book and wasn't based off of it. It had complete freedom.

All in all, I can see how huge and inspiration-ally awesome this film really is. It truly is one of the best films ever made! But the best film ever made? I do not believe in such nonsense. Just as Charles Kane said "I don't think there's one word that can describe a mans life," I don't think there's one movie that can describe cinema.

Sources:
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTSktIXJLvDBaJ8LGlafoUD1jbr3YsIL2-jO60U1dLzX1wi2xG4dmZ1g5SSAbQvkRp8JptKlXUxSPBhCEDyfs08nR7Z8UE3pSWB7OEp3g83pPy178j8vYCC7friOzaOxXUD9Bmcl-7-qw/s1600/Poster+-+Citizen+Kane_02.jpg
http://lyoung101.qwriting.qc.cuny.edu/2011/10/09/analysis-project-1-shot-by-shot-breakdown-of-a-scene/
http://www.rogerebert.com/rogers-journal/a-viewers-companion-to-citizen-kane
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOij9fn7TftbBiXh0HdzvWTnxLzD4ao1CJ3OUK7k7V6cYIhx7xyRXmgkgCZ7phGkHf30ZGKO0i7XThw9qZJI9EIdfB4ev1SGTdNmTmBf_7xa8PB4mNwvgKzkKHTIwZ1-mOrIG_x514fw/s1600/Citizen+Kane_20131123234239.JPG
http://dcairns.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/vlcsnap-2013-11-13-19h35m01s199.png