See this post for details on what this is all about and this post for up to date results.

The FINAL FOUR is Here!
Film vs. Film Challenge: Round 4, Match 1

Citizen Kane vs. Casablanca

Citizen Kane. A groundbreaking, highly influential faux biopic touted as one of the greatest films of all time. It tops film lists, garners raves and is the focus of entire film classes. From its style to story to performances, Citizen Kane is considered peerless.

Casablanca. Bogart's finest hour is delightful, dialogue-driven classic with a great ensemble cast that has stood the test of time like few others. Still one of the most popular and belved films of all time, Casablanca is all that was right about Goldan Age Hollywood.

VS.

VOTE!

Casablanca. The perfect movie.

Citizen Kane. The perfect movie.

Casablanca.

Casablanca. Good performances, story, message, lines. Very few dated scenes.

Casablanca vs. Citizen Kane. Wow. Not an easy choice. Ultimately, I have to go with Citizen Kane over Casablanca. Simply put, it has a lot more to offer.

Both films feature strong scripts, with Casablanca getting the edge in dialogue, Kane winning in story and structure. Even deal, there. The banter in Casablanca is genius, and few films are more quotable. Meanwhile, Kane’s story of a man of bloated ego falling into an empty life of loneliness still resonates, while its twisting narrative is only now becoming influential.

Same with performances. Both are excellent in this regard. Kane is the more impressive, though. Casablanca is filled with character actors doing the characters they had always done. By the time Casablanca was made, most of them were known quantities, playing the kind of characters they had played so many times before. They’re fun and entertaining and charismatic, which earns HUGE points, but the cast in Kane inhabit their roles in a way Casablanca’s actors do not. I am entertained by the folks in Casablanca; I believe the folks in Kane. Welles especially is stunning, stunning, stunning, playing a vibrant young man, an aspiring politician, an obsessive older man, and a bitter, lonely elderly man. Fookin’ amazing.

As far as directing goes, it’s not even close. Casablanca is capably directed, but is largely typical of that era’s films. They caught lightning in a bottle and made a gem, all the elements coming together wonderfully, but it never takes my breath away like Citizen Kane does. Kane’s photography is gorgeous, the compositions divine, the cuts, the pacing, all of it. I get totally wrapped up in the world Welles created each and every time I watch it. Welles was way ahead of his time.

I will not weep if Casablanca ultimately wins, as I think it’s one of the all-time greats, but I think for all these reasons (and more), Citizen Kane is the better film. I'm equally entertained by both (though in different ways), but rarely does Casablanca impress me the way Kane does.

I guess I should watch Citizen Kane, eh?

Great sales job Eric!

I'll have to go with Casablanca.

I'm in an arguing mood, but I just can't disagree. What Eric said.

Why does Rick not get on the plane?

On an early round I'd mentioned seeing MALTESE FALCON, CASABLANCA, and CITIZEN KANE in one sitting at a newly opened theater. I'd seen the movies on video and TV in the past.

The theater aspect did make a difference. An audience of 100 reacted more towards CASABLANCA than CITIZEN KANE. You absorb KANE, but you live CASABLANCA!

By the way, all this posting and reminiscing about CASABLANCA made me get off my butt and buy the 2-disc DVD release last night. Target was selling it for $10

Scott: Check out Ebert's commentary. It's good fun.

I LOVE the Bogart documentary on disc two, too.

Thanks for the recommendation. Commentary tracks are really hit-or-miss. There's no real formula to them yet.



The more Bogie movies I saw the more I realised he wasn't just a lisping John Wayne. For you kids, Bogart was the predecessor to Harrison Ford. He had a knack for selecting interesting characters. The success of THE AFRICAN QUEEN and THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE rest heavily on Humphrey Bogart's shoulders!

That was an easy vote. It's clearly Citizen Kane.

Because the problems of three people don't amount to a hill of beans in this world.

Casablanca!!

I can still see Casablanca in my head, hear the voices, feel the movie. Citizen Kane, well, it has some of that feeling, but I have no desire to see it again. I do want to watch Casablanca again.

Very close

Ahhh, it was tied last night when I went to bed. A few Casablanca votes in the wee hours, but still neck and neck. With a few days still left, this one may go down to the wire.

Ian, you silly goose. There's no one named "Rick" in CITIZEN KANE.

Sheesh. Some people.

I love both movies, but I voted for Casablanca. It has a great ending. Unforgetable cinema history, and the best lines.