Logan Sork Film Reviews
Mank
Citizen Kane is a film where the process of making it is just as interesting as the end result we see on the screen. From the initial pre-production stages to securing theatrical distribution, the making of the film was a war between director Welles and William Randolph Hearst, whom the film had been based on. When it was announced that David Fincher would be bringing the story of how Kane was written, I knew we would be in for a treat. While it may have some problems, overall, Mank is a fantastic love-letter to the golden age of Hollywood and a showcase for some very talented actors.
Mank is directed by David Fincher and stars Gary Oldman, Amanda Seyfried, Lily Collins, Arliss Howard, Tom Pelphrey, Sam Troughton, Ferdinand Kingsley, Tuppence Middleton, Tom Burke, and Charles Dance. The film follows screen-writer Herman J. Mankiewicz (Oldman), a struggling alcoholic screenwriter who has been tasked by Orson Welles to write the screenplay for the film that will become Citizen Kane. A series of flashbacks reveal more about Mank’s career, relationships, and the events which led to him deciding to write the film based on the life of media mogul William Randolph Hearst (Dance) and his mistress Marion Davies (Seyfried)
As with every other film directed by Fincher, Mank is extremely well made on a technical level. With this film, Fincher manages to capture the look and feel of 1930s cinema without sacrificing the quality of modern filmmaking. The black and white cinematography, which is beautiful to look at, has nice little touches added to each image to help give the feel that it was shot on film, despite being shot digitally. There is also a unique feeling to the film’s sound quality that makes you feel as if you were listening to audio with an imperfect quality. While this may detract some viewers, for lovers of classic film, the little details Fincher has presented here are sure to make you love the film even more.
Much like the film’s technical elements, the performances in the film not only callback to a bygone style of acting but also feel welcome in today’s world. Oldman’s quick and witty comebacks contrasted with his drunken ramblings make for an interesting character dichotomy as he brings the titular character to the screen. Amanda Seyfried is also excellent as Marion Davies and brings a classical charm and sense of humor to the character in an extremely likeable performance. The other actors portraying other notable figures in film history also do an excellent job, notably Tom Burke and Arliss Howard for their spot-on portrayals of Orson Welles and Louis B. Mayer, respectively. Charles Dance is always delightfully sinister, and here he is no different, doing a wonderful job in bringing William Randolph Hearst to life.
Much like the original script for Citizen Kane, the one for Mank is ambitious in many ways. Written by Jack Fincher, David Fincher’s late father, the screenplay holds similarities to that of Kane in terms of narrative structure, but also dives into a lot of different topics. Such topics include a look at the film industry in the 30’s, American politics around the same time, and the impact of the Great Depression on the country. For fans of American and cinema history, this film is sure to scratch that itch for such topics. For average viewers though it might be a little uninteresting. Still, there are a lot of great lines and moments that just about anyone can find something about the film to enjoy.
That being said, there are a few areas that could have used some work. For one thing, the film focuses more on the politics of the time and less on the making of Citizen Kane. While I do love a good film involving politics and history, I just wish more focus could have been put into the actual writing of the script. The tension between Welles and Mank during the initial writing stage of the film is quite historic and it was somewhat disappointing to see that story shifted to the sidelines. There is also a lack of emotional weight to the film and its characters. While the film is a technical marvel and is laden with lots of historical figures from the era, there are not a lot of characters who grow throughout the film, resulting in the viewer not being engaged by their journeys. This results in a film that is somewhat difficult to become invested in without going into the movie with an interest in the topic.
Despite these flaws, Mank is still a fantastic film about cinema history. David Fincher’s direction and the way he has recreated the feeling of classic cinema is truly amazing on its own. The film is also packed with lots of historical and political events when it comes to 30s Hollywood that it will please most cinephiles. While the characters might not be the most emotionally interesting, the performers tasked with bringing them to life do a stellar job. For those who are not really into film history, it can be a little hard to enjoy. Those who do have a love for film, however, will find a satisfying treat in Mank.
8.5/10