On practically everybody’s Top 10 Greatest Films of All Time list, it’s incredible that “Citizen Kane” was made when Orson Wells was only 25 and that this was his directorial debut.  “Citizen Kane” presents and exposes the American dream in a parable of one man’s rise to power. Everything is awesome—the writing, the cinematography, the acting, the direction—and everything is perfect or almost so. The directorial approach was trailblazing in its time. It’s a tribute to the movie that “Citizen Kane” can be understood at multiple levels, and yet continue to be great entertainment.

Extra:

• If you have a chance, also view the feature-length documentary, “The Battle Over Citizen Kane.” I normally dislike documentaries about how a movie was made, but the power struggle between Wells and William Randolph Hearst (the inspiration for “Citizen Kane”) is almost as interesting as the movie itself.