As my first blog, I thought of one of the top films I have ever watched, Citizen Kane.
Citizen Kane is the greatest film of all time because of the writing, acting, cinematography, and overall presentation. The script may have flashbacks and narration, which are considered poor choices. However, the plot has a rhythm and pace rarely maintained in other films. The story remains interesting and provocative, and the audience is drawn into the world of Charles Foster Kane. As much as people may or may not like the man, he is eccentric and compelling to watch. It is his life that moves the story forward. Additionally, the film tackles many themes; relationships, politics, personal journey, and acting by Orson Wells and George Coulouris.
Since taking a screenwriting course, I have found structure is important in maintaining the audiences’ attention. Even though Wells used flashbacks and narrative to move the film along, this is normally a shunned writing practice. With all that to consider, the script is tight and has a pace that does not drag nor does it detract from the story at hand. Wells wanted to exposed Kane and what a better way than to talk to people who knew the person.
The documentary feel of the film is still copied today. The Untouchables, The Usual Suspects, and LA Confidential come to mind. These films used a format to create a world within the film the audience could imagine and maintain. The world of Kane could be reflected in Hearst’s life, but today, we can look at men like Donald Trump or Ted Turner in the same light. They may not have had the scandals of Hearst but the publicity factor helps a writer to exaggerate and pinpoint “truths”. What these truths are about a person are for the screenwriter and view to examine and process. For me, the script’s use of montage works and supports the plot points. Today, directors and screenwriters look to Citizen Kane for structure and imaginative plot point turns.
