Citizen Kane

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Orson Welles' Citizen Kane (1941) is probably the single most revered film in existence. It is often said it is the film that saved, defined and revived the medium and the industry. It has been raised on a ridiculously high pedestral and if anyone even dares to second guess the film for a moment he (or she) will be attacked at or at least completely ignored. It's the Holy Bible of film lovers.

What is this great film about, then? The rise and fall of Charlie Foster Kane. This sort of story has become increasingly popular after Citizen Kane, but none of them have really mastered the idea as well. The life of the complex main character is thoroughly explored, but the narrative is probably a bit too dense for its sake. The narrative exposition feels a bit forced at times and it managed to make me feel a bit alienated. The film's emotional impact was reduced.

Pretty much everything has been written about the film's impeccable from. Its camerawork is probably as refined as it can get. The editing is ambitious and works well throughout the film's running time. The musical score is a tad generic, but it was hardly a nuisance.

In the end, Citizen Kane is a film I can admire, but I will probably never love.

Score: 9 out of 10

And the film lovers gasped in unison once they saw the "low" score.

Barry Lyndon

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Stanley Kubrick's Barry Lyndon (1975) is a three-hour film divided into two parts which in turn depict the title character's rise to wealth and his eventual fall. Even though Kubrick intentionally remains distant from the story's emotional side he somehow keeps the Baroque elegance intact. One could say that is the "most Baroque" film ever made, judging by the set and costume design. The film's reliance on a narrator gives the film a sarcastic tone - especially when you take into consideration that the narrator might not reliable.

The form is astonishing. Nearly every review already mentions it, but I have to say it again: nearly all of the film's shots look like great impressionistic paintings. The gorgeous scenery, delicate compositions and the calm and hypnotizing camera movement create a unique cinematic experience. Kubrick's use of music is flawless yet again - the classical pieces fit perfectly into the film's mood.

Barry Lyndon is a masterpiece in all aspects - one of Kubrick's best films.

Score: 10 out of 10