I thought that Citizen Kane was a pretty good movie. As
Tim Dirks said in his review, it was a “rags-to-riches” story but showed how
being rich cannot give you everything you want. From the very beginning I was
able to see the great editing of this film. There are numerous cuts and
dissolves as the camera travels over the “No Trespassing” sign on the fence and
then up the mountain. Each new cut got me closer and closer to Charles Kane. It
was like I was taking the long hike up the mountain to his room. Since the entire opening took several
minutes, by the time I got to his room, I was eager to see what was going to
happen next.
As the film went
on, I thought the flashbacks were an interesting way to tell Charles Kane’s
life story. “Its complex and pessimistic theme of a spiritually-failed man is
told from several, unreliable perspectives and points-of-view,” was what Tim
Dirks said. Everyone had his or her own opinion and memories about Kane, some
good and some not. But with all the
multiple view points I was able to put my own puzzle together about who I
thought Charles Kane was.
One of my
favorite flashbacks was Leland’s. The use of montage was brilliant! As it
started out, Charles and Emily were sitting close, under the same arch, and
seemed really in love. As time went on Emily’s tone of voice got less playful
and more serious. At the very same time they started to sit farther and father
apart from each other until they were in their own arches and reading different
newspapers. This montage just reiterated to me that you can be powerful and
rich but you can’t buy the love of another.
As I was
watching this film I noticed that the low angle shot was very predominant and I
really enjoyed that. It kept reminding me that Kane was the man in power and
almost superhuman.
Through out the
entire movie I was really trying to figure out what Rosebud was. Like with most
people, it did not click until the very last minute when I saw the sled. As
soon as I saw it, the snow globe reference made perfect sense. The snow globe
looked just like his old house. That house signified everything good in his
life. It was where he felt love, comfort and happiness. As soon as he left his
home that comfort was gone and he became a completely different person. I now
understand why Rosebud was his last word. All he wanted was to be loved and Rosebud
meant “love” to him.
After being able
to put my own puzzle together I liked Charles Kane. He wanted to publish a
paper for the people and try to be a good person. One line from the movie that
stuck out for me was when he said, “if I was not so rich I may be a good
person”. Which just shows that money can and does change some people. Money can
buy you great things but it cannot buy you love and happiness, which is what I
took away from this film.
No comments:
Post a Comment