Why Do People Think Its Overrated? Citizen Kane is the Citizen Kane of movies. Named by Sight & Sound's illustrious "The Greatest Film Of All Time" poll for five decades running (only usurped in 2012 by Vertgio), its reputation precedes it to the point where it feels like people actively avoid the film out of fear of finding themselves "insufficiently evolved as a moviegoer". That was Roger Ebert's default response to any criticism of the film and is incredibly unhealthy, both as a representation of the critical body and of the f. That sort of critical immortalisation has made Citizen Kane untouchable, a beacon of perceived greatness you can merely stare at and repeat the usual platitudes without ever applying your own critical analysis. That's bad enough, but when the film is actually a masterpiece it's somehow even worse. Why Isnt It? OK, so Citizen Kane isn't the best film ever, but it's not far off in any respect. It's a confident technical achievement with more in-camera creativity than pretty much any film made today and totally overshadowed Orson Welles' subsequent career. Now here's the big leap all the praise and posturing often misses; the appeal of Citizen Kane goes further than that. It revolutionised cinematic technique, sure, but don't for one second that milestone status is the only thing that makes Welles' magnum opus relevant in the 21st Century. The narrative, told through several interlinked flashbacks framed by an investigation into the protagonist's dying words, is an expertly balanced as a character study and attack on capitalism (obligatory reference to how Kane is based rather explicitly on William Randolph Hearst) that feels as vibrant as the filmmaking prowess that frames it. And there is, of course, the final twist. Rosebud is his childhood sledge, and while that's a boobless conclusion, it's a powerful realigning of the previous two hours. Kane, an immensely powerful man consumed by his own greed, is at his heart nostalgic for his simple childhood. Whether that's because of his complicated later life or more conventional recollection isn't important; what's important is that after two hours seeing his rise and rise, the audience finally has irrefutable proof that he is human. Do you think these movies are overrated? Or do you agree that they are fully deserving of their praise? Share your thoughts down in the comments.
