Mank (2020)

Mank appears to be a bit of a passion project for director David Fincher. It was written almost 20 years ago by his father who later passed away never having seen it come to fruition. David Fincher now followed through and brought it to the (2020's version of the) big screen. Filmed in black and white in an obsessively and self-awarely retro style which apes how films were shot in the 30s and 40s, it is talky and stylish. But now that we've seen it does what does it deliver?

The alcoholic writer of Citizen Cane, Herman Mankiewicz is a cinephile's dream subject. Damaged, talented, underappreciated, sassy, and smart, Mank as he was called appeals to the filmy folks, especially due to his connections to classics such as Cane and The Wizard of Oz. But is he really that interesting as realized in Mank? Sure Gary Oldman, an undisputed talent, uses this role to show us just how amazing he is. And the elder Fincher's script is punchy and clever, filled with wonderful, rapid, smart dialogue that is delivered wonderfully but a great cast. And the younger Fincher masterfully recreates the look, feel, and style of 30s cinema. He fills his story with an energy which is quite watchable, especially for anyone who has a deep love of film... I mean "cinema."

But...

 

I found myself having a hard time caring throughout. No matter how masterful the work of Oldman and his costars, or the Finchers, I just never connected to this man whose worst case was that he was under appreciated while getting paid and credit. It all felt like all sizzle no sausage. It's all about the movies, dousing itself in golden age of cinema images so much that it forgets to tell us a story that we can care about, unless we are obsessed with Hollywood history. It's like loving movies is all you are supposed to care about. Similar to something like Once Upon a Time in Hollywood it becomes so focused on the nostalgia, a sort of cynical, wink wink nostalgia, that still is obsessed with Hollywood history, that its narrative remains rather dull and neutral. Little of any consequence happens. Little of any risk to the artiste happens.

 

So we watch Mank as he navigates the classic studio system, with all its hypocrisy and it all just feels a bit safe. So often the film is so on the nose it pulls you out.  For example, he has his character state outright "you cannot capture a man's entire life in two hours, you can only hope to leave the impression of one." Insightful! But I never once worried for the central character. Sure it was entertaining to watch the smartest man in the room out wit his room-mates but there really isn't much more to this story than that.

Still, the film is gorgeous and it's filled with so many cinemaphile treats that one, if that one is a cinemaphile, can't help but enjoy. But it doesn't offer much more than that.

Mank

Starring: Gary Oldman, Amanda Seyfried, Lily Collins, Arliss Howard, Tuppence Middleton, Charles Dance

Director: David Fincher

Writer: Jack Fincher