Movie Review: RKO 281 (Citizen Kane Week: Day 2)

Here's how you know that a movie has become one of the most influential in history: a movie is made about making that movie starring Victor Creed from X-men. That's what RKO 281 is. The name refers to the production code for Citizen Kane (RKO is the production studio, 281 is the production number).

I wouldn't recommend watching this before you watch Citizen Kane itself. There are many references to the film and as a result of that, spoilers. There's even one scene toward the end where Herman Mankiewicz (the co-writer of the movie) yells out spoilers to a passing crowd of moviegoers.

The plot follows Orson Wells as he comes to Hollywood, a "boy genius". He sets off to work almost immediately (the film has an uncomfortably short first act). He keeps this a secret for as long as he can, but when it gets out, William Randolph Hearst (on whom the movie is based) does everything in his power to try and stop it's release. Just like the film which it is about, it has several subplots. Unlike the film it's about, they are not smartly woven.

As a fan of Citizen Kane, I really enjoyed this movies tributes to it. The research was clearly done to make this film. Much of the lore that surrounds Citizen Kane was included in this film (example: Orson Wells found himself in an elevator with William Randolph Hearst the day before the film's release. He offered him tickets but Hearst refused. As Hearst was leaving the elevator, Wells called after him "Charles Foster Kane would of accepted!").

Now, if you haven't seen Citizen Kane or are not a fan of it, I would wholeheartedly say that this film is not for you. It is really for those who really can't get enough of Citizen Kane, who will lap this up like that little bit of ice cream that's melted in the bottom of the bowl while making the noise that Hannibal Lecter makes in Silence of the Lambs.

Overall: 2.5 out of 4 stars. It's a bit hard to connect with Wells' character with the way he is portrayed as a "perfect genius boy" and it does little to try and incorporate the audience that hasn't seen the movie before. Not all of the subplots are worked out together or are connected well. If you liked Citizen Kane, however, you'll enjoy it.

Reference scale:
Jobs < RKO 281 < Heart of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse.