Tuesday, May 17, 2011

What do you get when you mix Citizen Kane, Brainy Quote, and a teen icon? A blog post!

To Start: I was amazed when I learned that Orson Welles directed, produced, wrote, and starred in Citizen Kane- one of the most critically acclaimed films in American history.  I agree with critics when they praise the film; I very much enjoyed it and the discussions it prompted in class.  Some would call a twenty-something year old a genius for creating a masterpiece the likes few can compete with.  I did some research on this genius, Orson Welles.  I found facts and some fun stuff, too.

Fun Stuff:
I just had to put a picture in (you're welcome).
As a stereotypical teenage girl would react, I was SO happy to find a connection to Zac Efron (My husband, by the way. He'll find out sooner or later).  Me and Orson Welles is "based on Robert Kaplow's young adult novel of the same name, the story blends fictional characters with real ones" (TIME Magazine).  I haven't seen it, but am confident it is a quality movie, maybe not the likes of Citizen Kane, but surely pleasing to the eye.  Okay I'm done with that now, thanks for bearing with me!

The Movie:
George Orson Welles  lost his mother at the age of eight, his father at the age of thirteen.  He created his own empire as an actor, producer, writer, and director (Biography HERE).  Although Citizen Kane is supposedly based on the life of William Randolph Hearst, I see noticable comparisons to Welles' life.  Reading more makes me believe any connection between Welles' own life and Kane's are merely coincidence, as Charlie Foster Kane seems strikingly similar to Mr. Hearst.  They both come from money from mines, they both were expelled from fine universities, and they both ran a newspaper called "The Examiner."  This seems like more than a coincidence.

Quotes:
If you ever get the chance, look up some of Orson Welles' quotes.  I think they can add "comedian" to his list of titles and accomplishments.  He's As said by the Genius:

-Ask not what you can do for your country. Ask what's for lunch.

-If there hadn't been women we'd still be squatting in a cave eating raw meat, because we made civilization in order to impress our girlfriends.

-I don't say we all ought to misbehave, but we ought to look as if we could.
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So that's a brighter side of a heavy movie.  A very complicated, emotional, thought provoking movie.  I would love to hear your thoughts.  Thanks.

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