With all the talk of this being the greatest movie ever made, I was expecting to be blown away by complex plots, brilliant acting, powerful symbolism and great cinematography. Turns out I mainly only got the last two, as the first two were only true in the context of the era the movie was made in.
By today's standards, the basic narrative is actually quite simple; the life of a man who grows out of his idealism and into his riches. The nonlinear storytelling, while ahead of its time back in 1941, feels completely standard today. The subject matter of politics, journalism, ideals and money are definitely welcome, however, as "intellectual" movies of this type aren't often seen these days. Acting-wise, Welles as Kane has moments of brilliance, but the rest of the cast fall fairly flat for a modern audience - it's always either over the top or under it.
Still, it's obvious why movie buffs love this movie so: one could spend years digging through the symbolism, the layers of mystery and the calculated cinematography. What were then genius technological innovations allow for shots that were completely unique, often making use of both foreground and background to great effect. Lighting also beautifully sets the tone of every scene, showing just how much of an art it can truly be.
So in essence, this is not a movie made to blow you away, but a movie that beckons to be understood, a movie that teases you to analyze every frame to find a meaning. Is there a point to all of this, an answer to the mystery? Maybe not. But then, does that even matter?
