Film Connect: Citizen Kane

Yeah, I took it back.

Way back.

To 1941.

That's so far back the term "old school" sounds too new to describe how far back it is. I borrowed Citizen Kane from the library this weekend not entirely on accident. I've wanted to learn more about the classics--books and movies--for a while now. Consider it part of my campaign to become a little less ignorant every day.

In brief, the movie is about the character Charles Foster Kane, played by Orson Welles (also the director) and his quick and unearned rise as publisher of a newspaper empire. He begins his career with good intentions, then power and money do what they do best (strip a man of all moral character), and he dies lonely in a giant estate (think Neverland times 50 with a castle and man-made mountain) called Xanadu.

Well, I haven't sat through a black and white movie since ...ummm...actually, I don't know if I've ever watched an entire black and white film (does Schindler's List count? Or that Prince flick, Under the Cherry Moon?). I'm ashamed to say I was surprised by how relatable the language and storyline are in Citizen Kane to a Generation Yer. Not sure what I expected. Elizabethan English? The dialogue and the problems are no different than those of today.

I immediately recognized the cinematography to be well thought out, an attribute that is often lost in film making. The lighting and depth of every shot in every scene has a purpose. Citizen Kane has been heavily lauded over the years for its groundbreaking cinematography.

The story kept my interest, if for nothing else than to find out the meaning of "rosebud." The makeup used to age the actors over decades is impressive, even compared to the "Benjamin Button" type effects of today.

Lingering Thoughts

Well, the lesson is nothing new--money can't buy happiness. The lesson for me is to not sell short the OGs of film. In the age of remixes and remakes, it's easy to fill ourselves with the newest model, the latest edition. But the cliche marketing adage of "new and improved" is often not the case.

Even though the American Film Institute and others rate Citizen Kane as one of the greatest movies of all time, I won't go out of my way to watch it again. It's a decent film, I just feel it strengths lie more in the technical arena than in the story. Any student of film and/or pop culture should study Citizen Kane and take notes.

Next up, Casablanca.

Men Don’t Have These Kinds of Problems

"A while ago a friend and I were conversing about kids and what we would name them. So I reluctantly shared and she shared as well. This person is now pregnant and has stolen my baby name. Should I be offended?”

- My homegirl “Jayla”

I remember the look of horror on Charlotte’s face in Sex and the City when she discovered her friend had stolen Charlotte’s made up baby name.

It’s one of those situations that can seem petty on its face, like being mad at the chick in the party wearing the same dress. But if the chick went shopping with you to buy your dress, then what was once a petty situation has turned into downright deception.

And so, the baby name conundrum. Dreaming up baby names is as certain for women as imagining our wedding day. Every woman, childfree or not, has a baby name or two in the back of her mind--for a boy and a girl.

So I understand Jayla’s resentment. After all, she can’t go naming her future child the same name, particularly if it’s a unique name. The other woman’s baby would be first and people would think my friend stole the name. Then the friendship is all strained because my friend surely doesn’t want to be cooing and goo goo ga ga-ing at Baby ____, when ______ is the name she envisioned for her own child.

Some might say, “What’s the big deal, pick another name.” Well, names are no small matter. A name is a person’s first stamp of identity. Yet, if the friend does keep the name, then someday Jayla will have to either choose the same name or pick another. She may even discover one she likes more than the original.

But the principal of the matter is that Jayla’s trust was betrayed. Ripping off a baby’s name is no different than using privileged information to steal clients. While both are legal and non-life threatening, it’s shady business.