Mank is a 2020 biographical drama that focuses on the life of Herman J. Mankiewicz during the development of Citizen Kane.
David Fincher is back! It’s no surprise that he’s one of the most gifted filmmakers of all time, especially after making some incredible features such as Fight Club, Zodiac and The Social Network. After the release of his previous film Gone Girl, Mank is now his latest title that showcases once again his skills as an outstanding director. Fincher decides to take on his late father Jack Fincher’s screenplay with a story taking place during the development of the script for Citizen Kane. Before we start the review, it’s important to mention that many cinephiles consider Citizen Kane as one of the greatest movies ever made. However, keep in mind that it does not really revolve around the director Orson Welles.
Instead, Mank focuses on the co-writer Herman J. Mankiewicz (played brilliantly by Gary Oldman), and we get to see him go through the process of writing the script for the film. It also touches on his relationships with director Orson Welles (Tom Burke) and actress Marion Davies (Amanda Seyfried), while also revolving around his personal demons such as alcoholism and gambling. With supporting actors such as Lily Collins, Arliss Howard, Tom Pelphrey and Tuppence Middleton being part of this wonderful cast, it’s a deeply personal biographical drama for the titular protagonist. It’s yet again another great feature by Fincher.
Oldman deserves a ton of praise for his excellent performance as Mankiewicz. He gives him a lot of depth, which makes him a very compelling and layered person. He continues to show us all that he’s still one of the best actors currently working in the business. He will probably earn an Oscar nomination for this role. From the get-go, you can tell right away that it’s superbly shot. The cinematography is top-notch, and it’s all thanks to the marvelous camerawork by Erik Messerschmidt. The black-and-white look of the film is absolutely beautiful to look at, while also perfectly capturing the era of the 1930s. The production values and musical score add a lot to the unique style of Mank. As a filmmaker, Fincher is recognized for being precise on details in front of the camera, which makes you want to praise him for his considerable amount of research and preparation. He’s known to be a perfectionist, but that’s not always a bad thing.
This needs to be addressed, but Mank is indeed a long movie. It really does take its time with its storytelling. While it does drag sometimes, you still realize that everything is relevant to the narrative and that there’s nothing to cut out. When you’re seeing something happen on screen, you’re interested to know what happens next. Whether you like or dislike long films, that’s up to you.
While it does have some pacing issues, Mank is still terrific nonetheless. It’s intriguing to see the life of Herman J. Mankiewicz during the development of Citizen Kane, and that’s something the filmmakers show very well. It is recommended to have some knowledge of Citizen Kane before you see the movie. That aside, it’s a fantastic film that will be sure to take you back to Classical Hollywood cinema.