Access Atlanta > Movies > Blog > Archives > 2007 > June > 28 > Entry
Forget Rosebud, let’s pay homage to Don Corleone
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Dear Mr. Smithee,
Yet again, some group of movie know-it-alls (the American Film Institute) has picked “Citizen Kane” as the No. 1 greatest movie of all time. We have seen this movie - and it sucks.
No way it belongs anywhere in the Top 100, much less the No. 1 spot. However, since it’s always No. 1 on the “experts’” list, we would like to pretend that we love it, too, so as to impress others with our rare movie knowledge.
Please give us some good pretend reasons for respecting and appreciating this movie, and include a lot of Hollywood buzz words like “innovative use of camera angles” and “years ahead of its time” and stuff like that.
DAVID and LYNN SATTERFIELD, Canton
Dear Are You Sure You Need Me?
It seems you both have it all figured out. If necessary, you may want to retract any lifelong membership applications you might have previously submitted to the Cinema Snob Club.
From this day forward you may no longer employ in your speech the words Orsonwellian, cinematography, film master, fine, nest egg or, for that matter, nest or egg.
You are not allowed to go see the new film “You Kill Me,” which has already been extolled by NPR and is expected in metro Atlanta on July 13.
You may no longer rent, for any reason, the films of the French New Wave, including but not limited to “Jules et Jim,” “Le Beau Serge” and most certainly “A Bout de Souffle.” Note: The latter is more readily recognized by commoners by its English translation — “Breathless.”
In other words, “Citizen Kane” is a remarkable achievement in film. And not just because of the innovative camera angles, but because the camera work is so intricately woven into the fabric of the screenplay.
But I will also admit, David et Lynn, that I decided at the time I heard that the AFI was going to redo its Top 100 list - and certainly before I received your troubled missive - that it is time “Citizen Kane” begin to descend from its lofty Mount Olympus perch.
The No. 1 American movie of all time is “The Godfather.” And it shares that distinction with “The Godfather: Part II.” Which means “Citizen Kane” can be no higher than No. 3. And that’s iffy anyway, because I prefer “Intolerance” or “Lawrence of Arabia” or “Casablanca” or “Chinatown.”
But “Kane” definitely belongs on the list … whether you two like it or not.
ALAN
P.S. You get a “Transformers” toy (because I certainly wouldn’t want to bestow on you anything arty) and a pair of “Ask Alan Smithee” T-shirts.
Dear Mr. Smithee,
A jury of 1,500 film artists and critics (were you one of the chosen?) made the selection of the American Film Institute’s Top 100 movies.
In your opinion, 1) which movie(s) should not be included, and 2) which should have been included?
CARMELITA TUCKER, Southport, N.C.
Dear Nice of You to Ask,
The one thing I am most sure of is that I was not one of the chosen. I must assume it is because my inclusion would certainly have rendered 1,499 other opinions irrelevant.
What need would anyone have for an AFI list in the face of a definitive Smithee list?
Clearly, “Singin’ in the Rain,” now at No. 5, was ranked too high.
But the movies that simply did not belong included “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” (at No. 26, a high favorite of many, I presume, but of none named Alan and Smithee). I also would excise “Shane” (No. 45), “Rocky” (No. 57), “The African Queen” (No. 65), “Forrest Gump” (No. 76), “Spartacus” (No. 81), “Titanic” (No. 83) and “Easy Rider” (No. 84).
I would add “Fargo,” “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,” “Field of Dreams,” “Days of Heaven,” “The Thin Red Line,” “The Empire Strikes Back,” “Woodstock” and “Alien.”
By the way, I was quite happy to see - beyond the usual suspects of “Raging Bull,” “The Wizard of Oz,” etc. - that the AFI included these: “Intolerance,” “Nashville,” “Network,” “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” “The Shawshank Redemption,” “The Wild Bunch,” “The Sixth Sense,” “The Last Picture Show,” “Do the Right Thing” and “Blade Runner.”
ALAN
P.S. You get a “Ratatouille” T-shirt and an “Ask Alan Smithee” T-shirt.
HAVE A QUESTION FOR MR. SMITHEE?
E-mail him at alansmithee@ajc.com or go to accessAtlanta.com and click on Movies. Please include your name, city and daytime phone number. Mr. Smithee can’t reply to every request, but inquiries chosen for publication will receive movie-related prizes.
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