I have learned that "Citizen Kane" is considered a great movie. For others, maybe. Definitely not for me. I am not impressed by any part or function of it. Similarly, with "The Big Sleep". I like to confer with my friend Google about issues. I looked up "Why is Citizen Kane a masterpiece?" I looked up "Is The Big Sleep an important movie?"
About Kane, I found:
Author and one-time film critic Jorge Luis Borges, who loved Citizen Kane, thought the Rosebud motif its single major weakness. The film, he wrote, "has at least two plots. The first [is] of an almost banal imbecility."
About The Big Sleep, I found:
"It is typical of this most puzzling of films that no one agrees even on why it is so puzzling."
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-the-big-sleep-1946
I have trouble paying attention to either film. My friend wrote his dissertation about both films and several others. I can understand respect for film. In my opinion, the American film industry has helped the whole world and made the world's opinion rather pro-American.
But it seems to me that actors in the black and white films of the 40's were required to learn to snarl every line. At that time, it is clear that humans communicated in short bursts of speech while attempting to create dismissive tones hanging on the edge of contempt.
It is true that I am old, set in my ways and that I have seen it all. Included in the all I have seen are two excellent movies. They are both comedies so if you are the mood to look down on the sort, you have already won. The first is "The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming!". This movie is often referred to using just part of the title. Why is it #1? Because in this time of war, it managed to show the fear and worry that Russian sailors would feel if they were suddenly dumped into a New England village. It is witty and terrific psychology while staying on track and showing a likely story.
If that doesn't ring your bell, hunt down an uncensored version of "In the Spirit" starring Marlo Thomas and Elaine May, written by May's daughter, Jeannie Berlin. Two women, can you guess which one is somewhat over the top and scattered, innocently run afoul of bad guys and try to flee and fight. Censors objected to the young woman porn actress saying "I never swallowed anything" and such horrfications.
During social distancing time, you can read further here:
https://fearfunandfiloz.blogspot.com/search?q=Russians+are+coming
