This film blew me away. The artistry in every shot and transition kept my eyes glued to the screen the entire time. I loved the use of flashbacks and flash forwards and the way they transitioned between not only different shots, but different years of Kane's life.
Welles's direction is the reason this film is a masterpiece. His use of deep focus was stunning and always seemed to frame the subject of the dialogue or what the characters in the scene were thinking about. Like in the beginning when Kane's mom is giving over custody of Charle's while he plays outside in the snow. As his parents discussed the poor boy's future, he played in the distance, ignorant of what pains were to come, framed by the window like a nostalgic photograph of better times. Or the scene near the ending where he passes by his mirror and an infinite line of reflections follow him. This happens right after Kane's wife leaves him because of his narcissism and selfishness, making the mirror a powerful symbol that frames the subject of Kane's thoughts - himself, because he is reflecting on his own actions and what he has become. He did such an incredible job at framing his shots and subsequently influencing the tone of the scene and mood of the audience. When Welles wanted to give power or focus to an image or character, he usually had them higher up in the shot, making us as the audience feel below it. For example, at Kane's political rally, the use of dutch angles from below the podium looking up gives Kane an intimidating presence. Also when around his wife, he was usually standing while she sat, or above her. Even when she left him, he violently destroys her room while the camera looks up at his menacing character. Xanadu was always shown high on a mountain, looming over the scene.
The misce-en-scene was bizarre and captivating. I loved the magnificent and dark Xanadu castle, with its grandiose statues and decorations. The jungle scene was also very beautifully done, and I was amazed by the matte paintings that Welles used for backgrounds throughout the film. The lighting was the coolest lighting I've seen in a film. It was so bold and alluring and set the mood so perfectly. The shadows gave a stark sense of tension and the lighting helped with an overall sense of mystery throughout. No scene went without attention-grabbing lighting. Even in the beginning scene where the news reporters are discussing how they'll find out more about "rose bud", the light from the projector casts a hazy glow around the man in the front, and a desk light glows on the main reporter's face, while beams come in through distant windows high up, creating a mysterious and stunning exchange where it could have easily been a scene lit by fluorescent ceiling bulbs.
Compared to other films, this movie stands out to me as not having a particular classification. It's a drama, it's suspenseful, mysterious, it's romantic and has comedy and action. Overall it is an epic, full of triumph and defeat, made up of symbolism and moral lessons that was presented in an incredibly skillful way.
Welles's direction is the reason this film is a masterpiece. His use of deep focus was stunning and always seemed to frame the subject of the dialogue or what the characters in the scene were thinking about. Like in the beginning when Kane's mom is giving over custody of Charle's while he plays outside in the snow. As his parents discussed the poor boy's future, he played in the distance, ignorant of what pains were to come, framed by the window like a nostalgic photograph of better times. Or the scene near the ending where he passes by his mirror and an infinite line of reflections follow him. This happens right after Kane's wife leaves him because of his narcissism and selfishness, making the mirror a powerful symbol that frames the subject of Kane's thoughts - himself, because he is reflecting on his own actions and what he has become. He did such an incredible job at framing his shots and subsequently influencing the tone of the scene and mood of the audience. When Welles wanted to give power or focus to an image or character, he usually had them higher up in the shot, making us as the audience feel below it. For example, at Kane's political rally, the use of dutch angles from below the podium looking up gives Kane an intimidating presence. Also when around his wife, he was usually standing while she sat, or above her. Even when she left him, he violently destroys her room while the camera looks up at his menacing character. Xanadu was always shown high on a mountain, looming over the scene. 
The misce-en-scene was bizarre and captivating. I loved the magnificent and dark Xanadu castle, with its grandiose statues and decorations. The jungle scene was also very beautifully done, and I was amazed by the matte paintings that Welles used for backgrounds throughout the film. The lighting was the coolest lighting I've seen in a film. It was so bold and alluring and set the mood so perfectly. The shadows gave a stark sense of tension and the lighting helped with an overall sense of mystery throughout. No scene went without attention-grabbing lighting. Even in the beginning scene where the news reporters are discussing how they'll find out more about "rose bud", the light from the projector casts a hazy glow around the man in the front, and a desk light glows on the main reporter's face, while beams come in through distant windows high up, creating a mysterious and stunning exchange where it could have easily been a scene lit by fluorescent ceiling bulbs. 
Compared to other films, this movie stands out to me as not having a particular classification. It's a drama, it's suspenseful, mysterious, it's romantic and has comedy and action. Overall it is an epic, full of triumph and defeat, made up of symbolism and moral lessons that was presented in an incredibly skillful way. 
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