Review: Mank
Much ink has already been spilled about David Fincher’s newest project, Mank. Film nerds have been anticipating the Herman J. Mankiewicz biopic since early whispers of its release and for good reason. Mankiewicz penned Citizen Kane, widely considered one of the best films of all time. And David Fincher, in picking up the screenplay from his dad Jack, is transforming into a Hollywood legend before our very eyes.
Average moviegoers, however, might be disappointed to find out that the newest film from the Fight Club and The Social Network director that just landed in their Netflix queue is very different from those films. Mank is a nod to the 1940s Hollywood era that it is set in. And as such, it prominently features figures from that era: Louis B. Mayer, Marion Davies, and David O. Selznick among them. While this might make a film nerd jump up in excitement, to the viewer without context for these characters, it’s just another black and white film with too much dialogue.
That might be an oversimplification of a film that obviously boasts some impressive filmmaking feats. The beautiful cinematography, snappy script, and stand out performances from the likes of Gary Oldman, Amanda Seyfried, and Charles Dance all make for a good time on the whole. But it’s unclear who exactly Fincher intended to make this movie for.