Overrated

JB-12

Citizen Kane is arguably the best film ever made.  And maybe the most controversial.  Still what could and should have been a great story with a great cast and the powers of HBO behind it,  is at best a routine docu-drama.

So much dramatic license is taken with the plot, it tends to border on being a fictional account rather than the real story.

While some of the incidents may be accurate(like Welles meeting Hearst in a hotel elevator on the night if Kane's premier) the dialogue in that scene never took place(Hearst admonishing Welles).

In addition, Welles never got the idea of doing Kane from his attendance at a Hearst party.

The writers tried unsuccessfully to place a direct parallel between the fall of Hearst and the rise of Kane.  In truth Hearst still had plenty of power in 1941 when the film was released.

Liev Schrieber was OK as Welles, his sedate moments were more like Orson's, but he goes over the top in the more vocal moments.  

John Malkovich was too insecure as Herman Mankiewicz, dependent on the bottle but still a brilliant writer.  James Cromwell who never seems to give a bad performance, is the best of the cast with the perfect reserve as Hearst.

The biggest error was Marion Davies.  The story tried to make her into a true Susan Alexander when in truth she had some acting ability and was never as insecure as Melanie Griffith portrayed her to be.

I love Citizen Kane and have read a lot about the film and the man who made it.  Those responsible for this overrated film should have done so as well.

score /10

JB-12 9 May 2000

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw0467850/