Citizen Kane (dir. Orson welles, 1941)
I can't help it. i HAVE to somehow celebrate the creation and my belated discovery of this BRILLIANT film. After reading about the #1 or sometimes #2 film of all time on all sorts of film lists, I can only nod like a Dwight bobblehead in agreement.

Citizen Kane (to be fair, i haven't seen the "Godfather" yet) is THE best movie ever made. Acting, camera movement, directing, editing, score, and even the hugeeee scandels revolving around it's production~ it is EVERYTHING that the film industry, film production, and film viewing experience is all about.
Based "loosely" on William Hearst's life, Citizen Kane is about the life of a newspaper tycoon; his life as a young man championing rights for immigrants and the working class to the bloated, lonely bombastic old tyrant tramping about his stone castle. it created havoc among hte motion picture industry as Hearst used his political and social influence to block the release of this film and eventually killed its potential for success. The film in turn further ruined Hearst' reputation and legacy as well as his mistress during his last decades, Marion Davies. Orson Welles, ironically would become the "Kane" that he created on-screen, dying alone and bankrupt.
it. is. CRAZY. this film. it's BRILLIANT!
believe me, i am not overrating this film. and you know what, i was 14 when i first caught a glimpse of this film and fell asleep. i won't say that it's easy to swallow the first time. and indeed, it isn't completely flawless. but considering that it was made in 1941, everything about it screams new, innovative story telling, even NOWADAYS. it speaks volumes of where it stood when it first came out. You think Tarentino's new stuff? Non-linear editing is new? different angles, shooting styles? not new at all. i've just discovered that everything of today's film making owes itself to Kane. No joke.
seriously, I haven't been this blown away in the longest time. i'm in love. just watch it. it's a lesson. i swear.
(now a LITTLE bit more understanding of how Rita Hayworth fell in love w/ the brute that is Orson Welles. crazy mad man. CRAZY genius. so tragic. sooooo tragic.)