Well, I have to wonder at times why this film made the coveted #1 slot. Maybe I watched it with too high of expectations since it had this cloud of success around it, but I didn't love this movie. The first 10 minutes made me scared that it would all be that way. Then I was relieved for the next hour thinking at least it wasn't like the documentary at the beginning. After the relief left me though I hate to have to admit I fell asleep wondering who "Rosebud" was. I would guess that it was with about 30 minutes left, so I hope to finish it before I have to return it to the library. It wasn't terrible and Orson Wells was easy on the eyes and charismatic, but the drama of his rosebud, his time spent on both sides of fortune, and his unfortunate childhood wasn't enough for me to stay awake. I'm hoping the AFI and I will agree on more films in the future, but I give this one only 3 stars.
Oh, and one funny thing is that Thomas told me who rosebud was. I won't spoil the ending for those few readers who are on the edge of their seats to find out for themselves, but I will say to look up a "Clifford the Small Red Puppy" book with the word rosebud in the title for a good laugh. Norman Birdwell had some love of this movie anyway.
Oh, and one funny thing is that Thomas told me who rosebud was. I won't spoil the ending for those few readers who are on the edge of their seats to find out for themselves, but I will say to look up a "Clifford the Small Red Puppy" book with the word rosebud in the title for a good laugh. Norman Birdwell had some love of this movie anyway.
What a fun New Year's resolution! Ok so I may not watch all 100 movies with you but I will comment on the ones I've seen.
ReplyDeleteSo I've seen this one . . . but I can't remember it. I remember who rosebud was, but I don't get the hype about this one. A bit boring to me.
maybe it was revolutionary filming or something for it's day? I don't know . . .
ReplyDeleteI think it's a bit much that this movie was named #1. I think Casablanca for sure was better.
ReplyDeleteThis movie was named #1 by people in the film industry, such as directors, critics, historians, actors, and screenwriters. These same people highly respect and revere Orson Welles. He wrote, produced, directed, and starred in "Citizen Kane", which was his first film. He was already well known in radio, and used his radio "entourage" to star in his first film. William Randolph Hearst believed the Charles Foster Kane character was based on him and made him look like a buffoon, so Hearst despised the film. He used his powerful influence to make sure the film got bad reviews in all his papers, all across the country, and was able to keep it from playing long in theaters. In fact, the film was booed every time it was mentioned at the Academy Awards. The film was nominated for nine Academy Awards and only won for screenplay. "How Green Was My Valley" won Best Picture that year.
ReplyDeleteWelles used camera angles and techniques that, while very commonplace today, were groundbreaking in 1941, when the film was made. A real goof is that Kane was actually alone when he died, so no one would have actually been able to hear him say "Rosebud". This is a serious movie buff's movie. While it would not be at the top of my list, I have a great appreciation for this film, and I empathize with what Orson Welles had to put up with to realize his dreams. He really was a genius and often misunderstood.