Citizen Kane

1941.

#1 / #1

Winner of 1 Academy Award.

CITIZEN KANE tells the life story of newspaper tycoon Charles Foster Kane from the point of view of a journalist trying to uncover the meaning behind Kane's dying word, "Rosebud."

Eddie: I saw this movie for the first time when I was in the eighth grade and AFI released its initial list. Upon first viewing, I thought it was vastly overrated. Rosebud is a sled. Big deal, right? Wrong.

Rosebud is a MacGuffin. The real story is Kane's egomania and complete self-betrayal. (How stupid of me.) The film's complexity is a testament to the air-tight screenplay by Orson Welles (who was only a year older than I am now when production started) and Herman Mankiewicz, and it's a testament to Gregg Toland's dynamite cinematography. He uses deep focus, and my eyeballs explode with joy.

Sarah: I'm still under the impression that this movie is overrated. Sorry, Eddie. I mean, yes, it's complex and it's beautiful, and film school people use it as their bible. But to me, it is not very fulfilling. The movies that wow me the most are the ones I could watch over and over and find new meaning. Movies that seem new every time because even though I know every line, I'm lost in them all over again. I see why it's a masterpiece, but is it really anyone's favorite?

Why You Should See It: The ceilings. Or the scene where Kane barges into his wife's bedroom after she's attempted suicide. You decide.