Mank (2020)

Director: David Fincher
Stars: Gary Oldman, Amanda Seyfried, Lily Collins
Runtime: 131 minutes

Synopsis: Follows screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz's tumultuous development of Orson Welles' iconic masterpiece Citizen Kane (1941).

Verdict: After a hiatus of 6 years where he lent his talent to the world of television, David Fincher is back with a rather unusual addition to his rich filmography. Who would've thought that the man responsible for some of the best thrillers of our generation would be the one making a black and white biopic about Herman Mankiewicz, known for his penmanship of the screenplay of a certain "Citizen Kane"?

Written by his late father Jack, "Mank" serves as one of Fincher's most impressive works behind the camera. Its biggest asset is the fact that, while serving as an homage to the film it was inspired by, it still very much managed to be its own thing without feeling like a glorified copy. Overall, I saw it as more of a love letter to that golden age of Cinema, and it truly gives the sensation that Fincher hopped in a time machine to make the picture tens of decades ago. The breathtaking cinematography, immersive score, and phenomenal performances all work together so well to give what certainly is one of the most impressively made movies of the year.

But "Mank" isn't all style with no substance, even if the former does overshadow the latter at times. It also borrows the non-linear format of "Citizen Kane" to tell the story of the person who came up with it. While writing the Oscar-winning screenplay that gave Mankiewicz the legacy he holds today, flashbacks are introduced to allow us to explore his struggles with alcoholism, his political stances, and his relationship with some of Hollywood's big names at the time, and most notably William Randolph Hearst, known for serving as the inspiration for Charles Foster Kane's character.

Mankiewicz is a fascinating, multi-layered, and colorful character that is worth dissecting in his own biopic, and you can always count on David Fincher to deliver in that regard. It's very different from his usual nerve-racking thrillers, so fans of his previous work may not find what they're looking for in it, but it's already and deservedly a clear frontrunner for the awards season to come in more than one category. Available on Netflix for those interested in checking it out.

FINAL GRADE: 8/10