Mank (2020): A Semi-Biopic Gift for Niche Cinema Lovers

 Mank is...good. I say that with no negative connotations; the film works really well in terms of how it both nails the look and feel of a 40s movie while also being filled with witty, entertaining and rapid fire dialogue. The film itself may be niche (what I mean by that is it may only fall on the ears of people who love cinema or the film it's based on, Citizen Kane) but it works on a lot of visual and storytelling level (to some people the movie might drag, but those people are not exactly important for this review). 

It does not resonate with me the way other directorial efforts of David Fincher does (I love Fight Club, Seven, the Social Network and even Gone Girl just marginally more) but I also find it's production story particularly endearing. The fact that it was in development hell for so long and featured an effective, well-written screenplay by Fincher's late father (who I'll name here as Jack, because that's his name [he's credited in the film as the screenwriter]) it truly was well-worth the wait. 

Honestly? I think Fincher may have emerged from mourning in 2003, from his Netflix TV stint on Mindhunter (still need to see it), and his slightly less recent feature Gone Girl to make a nearly-phenomenal passion project that appeals to many of movie lover out there. I'm not giving a Citizen Kane review just yet, but maybe one day. 

If you're unclear of how Mank relates to the alleged greatest film of all time (Citizen Kane, cliche as it looks it's still good to this day in my opinion), the film's title refers to Citizen Kane co-writer Herman Mankiewicz. In the film, Herman is depicted as the real power behind the throne during the writing of Citizen Kane (whether or not this is historically accurate is up for debate, but the actor who plays Orson Welles in this movie almost looks like the genuine article to me and plays his performance almost as well as Gary Oldman in the title role) and a lot of the film depicts the questionable (Mank drinks a lot at a "dry" house he's supposed to be writing in) writing process of Citizen Kane (again some people might find it boring, but it's so well-written in terms of dialogue in pacing that I didn't care), and the film functions as much as a biopic as it does a 40's film drama. 

Though the word "biopic" is a bit misleading (I find most biopics particularly over-simplified); we don't see Mank's entire life over the course of the film. What we do see is the important parts of his life, particularly the aforementioned writer of Citizen Kane. As a result Gary Oldman as Herman Mank(don't want to write his full name again) is so good in the role that it's legitimately hard to tell that he's Gary Oldman (actors Amanda Seyfreid and Charles Dance are powerhouses in this arena as well; serving both as great acquaintances and opponents, respectively). Also, fictional Orson Welles (his name is Tom Burke, who does a pretty good job imitating Welles), so what's not to love?

It may well be worth watching the movie (it's now on Netflix) to form your own opinion on it; it may be a niche cinephile biopic, but definitely keep that in mind as you watch it. This film may well not be for you, and that's honestly fine. 

With LoganLand Rants, I'm Logan Tyler Smith,