Citizen Kane (1941)

Finally got round to seeing Citizen Kane today, a film I've been intrigued to see for some time as it is widely regarded as one of the best films ever made. It did not disappoint.



Orson Welles's tells the story of Charles Foster Kane, a powerful owner of a newspaper magnate who's last dying word is 'rosebud'. Thus, intrigued to discover the meaning of 'rosebud', begins a reporters investigation to learn the truth of one of the most powerful men in America.



Indeed, Citizen Kane, made in 1941, is certainly ahead of its time in terms of pacing and structure. Beginning with a brief outset of his life, one feels initially dismayed towards Kane's character as we hear of him like any other member of the public. Yet, as we slowly learn more of Kane's life and who he truly was, we cannot help but grow and sympathise to Kane's character for a remarkable and engrossing tale of one man's journey in life. The macguffin of 'rosebud' drives the story onwards as we continuously try to decipher its meaning along with the other characters

Of course, one cannot forget the brilliant use in cinematography creating some deeply captivating and iconic shots. Namely, the particular scene of Kane's election campaign stands a particular highlight with the vast scale and majesty that must of been truly remarkable for its time, and probably still is. The fine attention to detail and deliberate composition of shots is masterful in illustrating the scene for its maximum depth and potential.





Overall, Citizen Kane is truly a masterpiece to marvel at its wit, presentation and sheer entertainment value. There is no denying its place as one of the greatest movies of all time, being rated at 100% from over 53 reviews at Rotten Tomatoes and a full score from Empire.

Most intriguingly, the question 'When will gaming get its Citizen Kane?' is asked a lot in the industry, as a reaction to that video games can't or won't be taken seriously unless we recognise a landmark achievement within the history of gaming; the video game equivalent to Orson Welles' Citizen Kane. As of today, the gaming industry is still looking for its Citizen Kane of gaming, with hopes and doubts to whether there will ever be one. More info on this can be read here and here.