4 ms·

The piece's latter stage thesis is that Citizen Kane is no longer considered the G(film)OAT, because in the more recent Sight & Sound polls it's been demoted fr

The piece's latter stage thesis is that Citizen Kane is no longer considered the G(film)OAT, because in the more recent Sight & Sound polls it's been demoted from the its longstanding top spot position down to somewhere in the top five. This seems to me an unimportant and un-insightful observation. To suggest it's indicative of an 'inevitable fall' in the film's standing and legacy is tenuous in the extreme, so much so that it's more likely the author's conclusion is tongue in cheek... I'd hope.

pradn 6y ago
The article suggests an inevitable fall in rankings - I mean, do you expect it to be #1 for the rest of history? In any case, these lists are tenuous, subject to vagaries of film distribution, canonization, and critic selection, as the article's questioning of such readily-made canons suggests. The true insight of the piece is how it got there in the first place. And I don't think any serious cinephile will give you an answer to "the best movie of all time" without qualifications.
- kinghtown 6y ago
  For a medium that is dependent on technology I’d say it’s impressive for any old movie to stand the test of time. I love old movies and I’m always impressed with their resourcefulness and heart. My favourite film is Seven Samurai but I sincerely hope that we can continue to make movies which challenge the preeminence of all time classics like Citizen Kane, Tokyo Story, The Rules of the Game, 8 1/2 .. like really take your pick of the top films on that list and you or anyone would do well to watch them many times over. Anyone who doubts citizen Kane really needs to check out what kind of films were being made before it. CK was bold and experimental, an astounding picture. It’s still fresh in many ways and moving, dated too for sure but a definite classic. Orson Welles is legitimately one of my artistic heroes and he got screwed by the powers that be at the time. I kind of hate to see his work presented this way when he himself loved many of the film makers with movies on the sight and sound list. Honestly I’m very take it or leave it with Hitchcock’s Vertigo which is the current #1 and it will probably maintain the stop spot on the critic list during the next polls. I also don’t get Sunset which always places super high. It’s good and the running in the field scene is a thrill but that’s the thing about these lists anyways, they are just a statistical average of what everyone thinks but we all have our personal dark horse favourites. One day, Battle Royale will get the credit it deserves. I’ve been drinking if this seems disjointed.
  - pmoriarty 6y ago
    There's really no accounting for taste. I like Battle Royale, and Seven Samurai is good, for an action movie. I hated Citizen Kane and Tokyo Story, and consider both to be highly overrated.
  - pradn 6y ago
    I actually don't think film depends all that much on technology. True, contemporary audiences will have to learn how to watch, read, and understand silent, black & white, and early color (like Technicolor) films. But the essential pathos, invention, and artistry sip through the pores of their technical fabric. I'd say there's probably hundreds of films that can reasonably compete to be in the top spots. Most films aren't given that chance since they aren't widely seen by critics. For example, the 1985 Soviet film 'Come and See' is an utterly stunning example of film's power to document trauma, convey another's pain, and do so in formally and visually inventive ways. It takes pathos to the extreme. I do believe it should be considered one of the greatest films for these reasons. But it only came out 35 years ago and simply has not been shown enough, so it doesn't have the canonical heft it deserves yet. I do think the canon is important, even if it's just because it forms the foundation on which contemporary films sit (at least those with artistic pretensions). But it's important to have your own voice when watching them. I, for example, like Tokyo Story, but think Floating Weeds is the greater Ozu film, not least for it's beautiful images - it is perhaps the best-looking color film.
- lowdose 6y ago
  "Once upon a time in Hollywood" is the best movie of all time because it is completely about the career of Clint Eastwood and his uncredited stuntmen. For example the flamethrower is about Clint Eastwoods nazi role in Where Eagles Dare[0] where he is on camera with a flamethrower he holds as a gun. Cinephiles completely missed the meaning of this master piece. Watch Once upon a time in Hollywood again with Clint in mind [0] https://youtu.be/pRHqtbt3ORc https://youtu.be/pRHqtbt3ORc

pradn 6y ago

The article suggests an inevitable fall in rankings - I mean, do you expect it to be #1 for the rest of history? In any case, these lists are tenuous, subject to vagaries of film distribution, canonization, and critic selection, as the article's questioning of such readily-made canons suggests. The true insight of the piece is how it got there in the first place. And I don't think any serious cinephile will give you an answer to "the best movie of all time" without qualifications.

kinghtown 6y ago
For a medium that is dependent on technology I’d say it’s impressive for any old movie to stand the test of time. I love old movies and I’m always impressed with their resourcefulness and heart. My favourite film is Seven Samurai but I sincerely hope that we can continue to make movies which challenge the preeminence of all time classics like Citizen Kane, Tokyo Story, The Rules of the Game, 8 1/2 .. like really take your pick of the top films on that list and you or anyone would do well to watch them many times over. Anyone who doubts citizen Kane really needs to check out what kind of films were being made before it. CK was bold and experimental, an astounding picture. It’s still fresh in many ways and moving, dated too for sure but a definite classic. Orson Welles is legitimately one of my artistic heroes and he got screwed by the powers that be at the time. I kind of hate to see his work presented this way when he himself loved many of the film makers with movies on the sight and sound list. Honestly I’m very take it or leave it with Hitchcock’s Vertigo which is the current #1 and it will probably maintain the stop spot on the critic list during the next polls. I also don’t get Sunset which always places super high. It’s good and the running in the field scene is a thrill but that’s the thing about these lists anyways, they are just a statistical average of what everyone thinks but we all have our personal dark horse favourites. One day, Battle Royale will get the credit it deserves. I’ve been drinking if this seems disjointed.
- pmoriarty 6y ago
  There's really no accounting for taste. I like Battle Royale, and Seven Samurai is good, for an action movie. I hated Citizen Kane and Tokyo Story, and consider both to be highly overrated.
- pradn 6y ago
  I actually don't think film depends all that much on technology. True, contemporary audiences will have to learn how to watch, read, and understand silent, black & white, and early color (like Technicolor) films. But the essential pathos, invention, and artistry sip through the pores of their technical fabric. I'd say there's probably hundreds of films that can reasonably compete to be in the top spots. Most films aren't given that chance since they aren't widely seen by critics. For example, the 1985 Soviet film 'Come and See' is an utterly stunning example of film's power to document trauma, convey another's pain, and do so in formally and visually inventive ways. It takes pathos to the extreme. I do believe it should be considered one of the greatest films for these reasons. But it only came out 35 years ago and simply has not been shown enough, so it doesn't have the canonical heft it deserves yet. I do think the canon is important, even if it's just because it forms the foundation on which contemporary films sit (at least those with artistic pretensions). But it's important to have your own voice when watching them. I, for example, like Tokyo Story, but think Floating Weeds is the greater Ozu film, not least for it's beautiful images - it is perhaps the best-looking color film.
lowdose 6y ago
"Once upon a time in Hollywood" is the best movie of all time because it is completely about the career of Clint Eastwood and his uncredited stuntmen. For example the flamethrower is about Clint Eastwoods nazi role in Where Eagles Dare[0] where he is on camera with a flamethrower he holds as a gun. Cinephiles completely missed the meaning of this master piece. Watch Once upon a time in Hollywood again with Clint in mind [0] https://youtu.be/pRHqtbt3ORc https://youtu.be/pRHqtbt3ORc