Citizen Kane by Orson Wells
By many, Citizen Kane is one of the greatest films ever made. Orson Wells, at age 25, directed, produced, and starred in this film. Citizen Kane is a memorable film for countless reasons. The film brought about controversy because it fictionalized the life of William Randolph Hearst, a powerful newspaper publisher. The film draws remarkable parallels with his life and his relationship with his mistress. There is also speculation that the film is loosely based on Wells' life as well. This movie tells the fascinating story of the life and death of Charles Foster Kane, a narcissistic newspaper runner, politician, and a wealthy millionaire. What makes this movie spectacular is not only the acting of the actors, but the symbolism and cinematic effects. The techniques used by the cinematographer brought this film to life. This is what sets Citizen Kane apart from other films. Symbolism has an enormous role in this film. "Rosebud" is the last word uttered by Cane. He then dies and takes his secret to the death. The film follows one reporter on his search to the truth. Throughout the film, the tragical existence of powerful newspaper tycoon Charles Foster Kane, becomes apparent. He spends most of his life in so
Another aspect of the film that made it brilliant is the diverse techniques of the camera. Many people consider Citizen Kane to be the greatest film ever made, and for its time it probably was. Although technology today is by far more advanced than what existed when this movie was made, the cinematographer of Citizen Kane probably catered to the story better by simplistic camera shots, rather than the overdone special effects used today. The use of the camera in this film can either enhance the whole experience, or just confuse the audience. To fully appreciate this film, a person must really pay attention. The use of the camera was just as significant as the lines spoken. From just the first few minutes of the movie, the director sets the mood of the film by the numerous scene transitions. Throughout the duration of the film, there were a few points where the scene transitions and changes of camera angles almost had a chaotic effect. I think this is done purposely to parallel the chaos in Kane's life at certain points throughout the film. Other camera techniques that made the film as great as it is are the unconventional lighting, the use of shadows, and the variety of camera angles used. The director used the camera
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 830
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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