I like the storyline of this show,it attract me so much

Blending excellent reporting and strong storytelling, this is a disturbing film truly stranger than fiction

I didn’t really have many expectations going into the movie (good or bad), but I actually really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the banter between them.

This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

A better film would no doubt have spent much more time on dissecting what makes the two key protagonists - Welles and media magnate Hearst tick, but RKO281 barely seems to scratch the surface, coming up with only superficial reasons for each character's stubborn intransigence, but this is still a pretty good examination of the story behind the production of what has since come to be widely regarded as the greatest film ever made.Liev Schreiber lacks the boyish exuberance of the 25-year-old self-proclaimed genius but is adequate in the role and is hampered by a script that refuses to reveal too much about his character beyonds its pertinence to the making of the film. But then, this isn't a biopic about Welles so perhaps it's unfair to be too critical on that score. James Cromwell scores much higher as William Randolph Hearst, a ridiculously wealthy man whose obsession for material things as a way of compensating for his own perceived shortcomings resulted in both his downfall and the release of Welles' classic. The script, after first introducing him as some sort of tyrant (Welles compares him to Hitler in a key speech to the RKO board), eventually becomes more sympathetic towards him. What Hearst tried to do back then is probably no different to what a high-profile individual would attempt now were they discover a film highlighting some of the most intimate aspects of their life - upon which it shines a damning light - would do. Only today, the production would become mired in a sea of lawsuits that would see its release either permanently delayed or held up until the death of the person in question. The two men's encounter in a lift after Welles has emerged seemingly victorious from their scrap does a good job of putting into context the cost of the battle to both of them.The Marion Davies character, played here by Melanie Griffith, is probably the most sympathetic of the lot. The fact she remained with Hearst until his death a decade after the events depicted in the film suggests there was more to their relationship than the allure of otherwise unattainable wealth and beauty and this is an aspect that the film doesn't overlook.I don't know how accurate this depiction of the events surrounding the making and release of Citizen Kane are, but it provides a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes nevertheless, neatly placing the events into context with the larger world view of impending war and depression. Definitely worth a look.

The battle between William Randolph Hearst and Orson Welles over the latter's classic film Citizen Kane is the stuff that film history legends are made of. And after the amazing PBS documentary on it, it doesn't seem surprising that a film version would follow it. Though this film isn't a documentary and plays many things differently then they really happened, RKO 281 is an excellent film.The cast is first rate from Liev Schreiber's Orson Welles onwards. Schreiber might not do Welles distinct voice, but he captures the arrogance and genies of the young man. James Cromwell brings both menace and sympathy to William Randolph Hearst and for the two scenes in the film when these two are together you can feel the tension.The rest of the cast is just as superb. Of special mention is Melanie Griffith's performance as Marion Davies, the unfortunate victim of Citizen Kane and who becomes the reason for the battle over the film. John Malkovich, Brenda Blethyn, and the late Roy Scheider bring flesh and blood to these long dead members of the battle (writer Herman J. Mankiewicz, columnist Louella Parsons, and RKO executive George Schaefer). The production is a lavish one. The filmmakers take you to San Simon (aka Hearst Castle), the RKO sets for the film, the boardrooms of Hollwood and New York, and the homes of those involved. The effect is giving the viewer a sense of being there as film history happens. It's not of course but one gets that feeling. And now for the writing. The film is not, and does not claim to be, a documentary though it is based on the excellent PBS documentary The Battle Over Citizen Kane. The events seen in the film are a mix of fact and fiction. The opening dinner party scene is questionable and the apparent motive for Welles to do the film is likely fictional. But many of the details and even chunks of dialog are real or based on real events. Indeed the final third of the film (apparently) happened almost exactly as it is seen in the film. While some might argue over this, it works in the context of the film.In short RKO 281 is fiction based on fact. From the strong performances to the lavish production values, the fiction gives the viewer a new light on the legendary battle over a classic film and how it almost never made it to the public. If you're a fan of Welles or Citizen Kane, this is a must see. If not, prepare for a journey into the battle over Citizen Kane and how it almost brought down the film industry.

i really liked this movie, even the bits with Melanie Griffith's which is something. I appreciate that people who are familiar with wells work might be a little bit more critical of the piece but i thought it was super. Liev Screiber was outstanding in the lead because he chose to play Wells as a man as opposed to simply doing an impression of an already famous face. He made Wells sympathetic and compelling even though lets face it, as the movie presents it hes not really that likable a man. Id definitely recommend it to any Liev Schreiber fans. Hearst is also presented as an unlikeable character, but Cromwell plays him with great dignity that you almost feel sorry for him.

Very interesting movie about the battle to get Citizen Kane made has carved out a tricky niche for itself; the movie is going to be most interesting to fans of Welles and Kane, and those people are going to have such specific expectations about what the movie should be that they can't be satisfied. I see a number of reviews here complaining that this movie doesn't show why Kane was a great movie, but that's not the movie that was being made. It is a short movie about a specific struggle, with brief glimpses into the filming, and unless it had been titled, "RKO 281: The Making of Citizen Kane," you can't fault it for not spending an hour on Welles innovations. The film is entertaining, Schreiber is a good Welles and Malkovitch is also quite good. I note people also complain that the movie isn't all that accurate. I do wish the film had done a better job with Marian Davies, as one hears her described as fantastically charming and loved by Hollywood (it has been said that Welles' flaying of Davies did more to bring out the knives of the Hollywood press than his portrayal of Hearst). But come on, how can one complain about liberties taking with reality in a movie made about Welles, who loved taking liberties with reality?