If the headline is big enough, it makes the news big enough.

I recently watched Citizen Kane for what could very well be argued the first time. It's true I have seen it once before (surprisingly, on my own, considering I have a four-year film school degree), but in that instance I was not in the mood and to say that my eyes were open the entire time might be an embellishment of the truth.



And as I sit down to write about it, it does feel a little silly. The hell could I possibly say about this movie we don't already know? But for what it's worth, I really did enjoy it this time. I really do think I appreciated it more being older (I was probably 18 the first time). I enjoyed the technique and style the first time, but this time the story meant a little more to me. The themes are all pretty basic (money and power bad! look at the loneliness!), though it did have some nice things to say about the position and power of media which was a little more interesting. But the manner in which it weaved it all together was, I thought, what made the movie really stand out.



To say it is the greatest cinematic masterpiece of all time, well I don't know. I certainly couldn't say what is, and it may very well make the list, but it would be pretentious for me to say I thought it was the best film ever. Taking into account the filmmakers it influenced and its place in history, which are things that probably should be taken into account when delegating that honor, hey, maybe it is. But I'll take Casablanca, personally. Even if it does drip with sentimentality...

And onto something completely different, HOORAY!! for Jon Stewart being slated to host the 2008 Academy Awards.