2. Citizen Kane (1941) to The Social Network (2010)
This comparison came to mind when one of my film professors brought it up way back in the beginning of 2011. Everybody was talking about The Social Network, and I remember how it was dominating the awards season until the BAFTAs gave The Kings Speech a massive boost. The Oscars, once more asserting how the Academy opts for the safer choice rather than the movies that will stand the test of time, eventually snubbed Finchers film. The Kings Speech is practically forgotten by now, yet The Social Networks after-taste remains smeared on many tongues. Many people were unaware of its similarities with Orson Welles Citizen Kane, though myself included. The Social Network is a dramatized story of the rise of Mark Zuckerberg and his Facebook empire. The film is an examination of human greed and deception for the sake of success. Mark although very condescending, rebellious, and arrogant from the films start has a girlfriend and a best friend in Eduardo Saverin. These two are eventually sacrificed. Zuckerbergs egocentric views, goals, and stubborn personality prove to be core necessities in the business world. After literally gaining five hundred million friends, Zuckerberg may have fulfilled his goal, but at the expense of losing the little care he had for others. Charles Foster Kane experiences the same loneliness. His last word, rosebud, is a mystery to audience and the films characters. Journalists try to uncover the meaning behind Kanes last word. Through a series of flashbacks in the interrogations about Kane and rosebuds possible meaning, the viewer witnesses his character. Kane, alike Zuckerberg, also built a communication and media empire that amassed millions of dollars. Yet, despite this, the audience sees that he remains empty inside. He loses the love of his life due to an affair, and all the millions in the world provide no satisfaction to his loneliness. Rosebud turns out to be the name his sled during his childhood a symbol for the time that he was truly happy, without a corrupted perspective of life. Zuckerberg has a very a similar symbol his former girlfriend. She is the one friend in the world that he wants to add on Facebook but cannot have. She is a symbol of a time where he was entirely carefree and without lawsuits filling up most of his schedule.
Which is better? Although I love Finchers film, I would be an absolute snob if I claimed that it is better than what many experts claim to be the best film of all time. Citizen Kane broke boundaries with its innovative deep focus camerawork, its flashback and flash-forward narrative, its dialogue and impeccable acting, and in many other areas. It also introduce the genius that Orson Welles was into the filmmaking world.