Given his monumental status as one of the biggest films ever made, it may be surprising that there are no more films on the circumstances of Citizen Kane. After all, outside the technical blindness of Orson Well's magnus opus, it is also a story of a collision between two high ego at the opposite ends of their careers: in one corner Wales, the extraordinary talented exalted by the Newoufor, which was handed over to His first -hand key; In the other, William Randolph Hearst, the terrible tycoon that dominated the largest and most influential media empire in the United States. It is also the story of two widespread properties that have become monuments to their builders; Hearst Castle, a lavish will for the huge wealth of the heart and Xanadu, the dark fictional version of Veles of the former who would have been on the rest of his career. However, to date, We really have David Fincher's "Mank", The more he focused on the story of screenwriter Herman J. Mankievich, and Benjamin Ross's "RKO 281", a 1999 FBO Non -Shared TV film starring Liev Sriber and Johnon Malkovich.

Screened with a clumsy title (referring to the film's production number), "RKO 281" is a fatty drama that makes the drama based on the Oscar -based documentary "Battle for Citizen Kane". Made by Tony and Ridley Scott, it was originally foreseen as a theater edition with Ridley in the director's chair, but the couple could not provide a large studio funding and instead decided to do it for HBO. HBO Pictures still reached a significant $ 12 million budget (that annual image winner, "American Beauty", cost only $ 3 million more), and almost every penny seems to be on the screen through sumptuous sets, costumes and a pleasantly called actor. However, one thing money could not provide was the rights to record scenes in Hearst Castle. Perhaps understandingly thinking about the subject, Harst's family refused to give access to directors, leaving them to decopiate in the UK, where other properly old buildings advocated the right thing. You have a lot to enjoy the "RKO 281" for both Citizen Kane fans in general, though in the end it falls on a few important aspects. Let's look closely.

"RKO 281" whispered in 1940; There, 24-year-old "Boy Wonder" Orson Wells (Liev Schreber) arrived in Hollywood in many fanfare, signing a contract with George Shafer (Roy Shader) from RKO pictures that offers unprecedented creative control over his first film. The only problem is that the glossy Wunderkind and his heavy drinking screenwriter, Herman J. Mankievich (Johnon Malkovich) cannot settle on a topic. In the end, Veles gets inspiration when the couple attends Starwar Starwright on the huge property of media mogul William Randolph Hearst (Jameseims Cromwell), with whom the "awkward young genius buttons" are heads above the table. Making the strict and hypocritical ways of the old man, his unusual depictions of wealth and power and the awkward relationship can be December between Hearst and his alcoholic Ressbonia Marion Davis (Melanie Griffith), Wales catches the idea of making a biopic for Hearst's life.

Mankievich warns him because Hearst has a daunting reputation for breaking his enemies and can bury Wales' Hollywood career before he began. Wales, however, will not be delayed, so they start working on a script. Schaffer is also concerned about Hearst's costs, logistics and reactions, but he eventually cave on the passionate field of Wales, so Citizen Kane is a picture. But Veles will reveal that making the film is an easy part, because the problems are prepared - awakened by the gossip columnists Jeda Hopper (Fiona Show) and Luela Parsons (Brenda Blatin), Hearst declares a war on Veles and his film.

"RKO 281" is a shiny and engaged film that, despite its ryved production values and top values, cannot escape a sense of film made for TV. Astonishing in under 90 minutes, there is rarely a boring moment; It's a cheerful tour with gigs The drama behind the scenes that surrounded the production of Citizen Kane, But, no doubt, it will order a six-section mini-series if made today. Some things had to be clearly gave them with such a limited running time, and the right thing to do is wrapped in several short scenes. Like Cinophil who studied Caine at College, I would appreciate much more than these details. Instead, "RKO 281" focuses more on the conflict between Wales, Rko and Hearst. Doing a pretty good job, though the brevity of the film also means that the drama does not get enough space to breathe completely.

"RKO 281" is apparently trying to get the most facts and details of the period properly, but every film that features celebrities in real life always lives or dies in casting. Here's Ross's film very hit-and-hitch. I'm not saying that the actor should be a person's spit image to play convincingly, as there are other ways to catch someone's essence on the screen. However, Liev Schreber and Johnon Malkovich look wrong like Orson Welles and Herman Mankievich, respectively. Both are terrible actors, but their own characters on the screen are so unique that I have never forgotten that I was watching Sriber and Malkovich. Since both of them, Shreber suffers most because Wales' face and personality are far better known than Mankievich. He gives a decent performance, but he feels a little temporary, never completely relying in the devil of the Veles trademark and a garret blend of flap and charm. He also attempts to play Wales' unmistakable voice, but even waves from stage to stage.

Having two of the three key parts of RKO 281 may sound disastrously, but fortunately, the side roles save the day. Ams Cromwell is authoritative as Hearst, an older tyrant with only the weakest ink of the soul under the fierce exterior. He even allows us to feel a little harm to man. Just a few years after his Oscar nomination for playing a Kinduube farmer in Babe, this and his frightening turn into "La Confidential" put that pleasant presence on the screen. On his side, Melanie Griffith is probably the MVP of the film, providing a heart and touch of tight wisdom like Marion Davis, a bird in a gilded cage, who realizes that she may have given up too much by doing her life to hear.

Further to the list, Roy Shader, Brenda Bluntin, Fiona Show, Liam Cunningham and David Satet (hidden essay Louis B. Meyer) all touch the touch of the class in his roles. Despite the wrong values for both waters, the range of actor talent on the screen provides wealth and depth that deserves a longer film. Overall, "RKO 281" is a fun look behind the scenes that may not fully satisfy Citizen Kane hardcore, but it's a great jumping point for more random fans who want to know more about One of the best movies ever made.