Review of Mank
midlandsmovies • December 7, 2020
Mank (2020) Dir. David Fincher
Like Citizen Kane, Mank is a one-man show. For all the wonderful performances from Charles Dance (as William Randolph Herst), Lily Collins (as the put-upon Rita Alexander) and Amanda Seyfried (Marion Davies), this is the fictionalised account of Herman ‘Mank’ Mankiewicz and it is one hundred per cent Gary Oldman’s film.
It’s a dazzling piece of character work depicting the fall and rise, and fall again, of a screenwriter overshadowed not just by his alcoholism, but also his refusal to bow down to those in power.
Locked away from his vices by Orson Welles to complete the screenplay for Citizen Kane, Mank reflects on his life in Hollywood and the relationships that would influence the characters in Welles’ film.
Mank is, quite clearly, a passion project for David Fincher. His late father, Jack Fincher, wrote the screenplay, and it was supposed to go into development in the late-90s following The Game. It’s a turnabout for the books that Netflix, which is either the destroyer or saviour of cinema depending on who you ask, would be the company to provide Fincher with the means of making such an old-timey picture.
Shot in crisp black-and-white, Mank’s story has been turned into a Citizen Kane flick of its own. Told out of order, covering the highs and lows, and with Fincher’s trademark diligence. This might be his best film, but it is also his most unforgiving. Audiences without a passing knowledge of the making of Citizen Kane will find themselves lost. It is a dense picture, full of references and characters fitting to the period, and without the flashy moments of Fight Club, Seven or Gone Girl.
Those willing to look will find plenty to love. The snappy dialogue, the famous faces of a time gone-by, even the typewriter script for new scene headings and the cigarette burns that pop up in the top right hand corner to indicate the changing of a film reel.
Fincher is both cinephile and storyteller and Mank is the film he was born to make. There is the fear this will end up critically acclaimed but commercially ignored, like his previous best work Zodiac, but that’s probably fitting for a story about Herman Mankiewicz.
Matthew Tilt
Twitter @Matthew_Tilt
On Sunday 26th April Midlands Movies Editor Michael Sales & awards ceremony co-host Ed Stagg (BBC Radio) announced the nominations for the 2026 Midlands Movies Awards live from the Queen of Bradgate Vintage Cinema in Leicester. A big thanks was given to the entire Jury Panel of industry experts who gave up their precious time to watch a huge selection of creative projects and as always, had a difficult time choosing from the excellent number of films from the region. You can read the full list of nominations across all 16 categories below and watch our announcement videos here: Part 1 & Part 2 And please also check out our great awards partner Chrome Video Best Actress in a Leading Role Karendip Phull for Family Kate Bracken for The Lace Rachel Baker for Throwing Fruit Chloe Wade for How Long Sophie Bullock for Ma Prison Best Animated Film Of All the Things by Steff Lee Big Red by James Pyle Statue in the Garden by Qianhui Yu Butterfly by Jacob Christie Best Director Luke Worrall for The Waterline Lily Portman for Quiet Jack Richardson for Daniel’s Room Jonathan Hawes for Sorry We’re Closed Sophia Dall'Aglio for Man from Mars Best Documentary Nothing's Impossible by Jacob Thomas McClean A Birmingham Symphony by Jemma Saunders We Bring Light: Leicester's Diwali Legacy by Kieran Vyas The Sunshine Café by Jill Lampert Through the Viewfinder by William North Best Sound (Editing or Mixing) Neil Evans & his team for Artificial Insanity Alasdair Gretton for Dead on Distribution Deepanjali Patel for Earworm David Hamilton-Smith for The Pause Heidi Wilson for Of All The Things Best Actor in a Supporting Role Devon Junior for Lazar Tim Sparrow for Safety Net Shaiek Ahmed Rana for Family Luke Rollason for Quiet Peter Willoughby for A Story of Spring Best Visual & Special Effects Jake Wesley-Worrall for Soul Trader Steve Askey & team for The Correction Unit Nick Willett, Matt Burkey & Jayne Hyman for Black Goat JaqD SFX MUA, Mind Magic Studios and Ben Harker for Beyond the Witching Hour Jacob Christie for Countenance Best Cinematography Gary Rogers for The Pause Laurence Mason-Guetta for Sorry We’re Closed Ian Snape for Soul Trader Ash Connaughton for Daniel’s Room Duane Adamoli for Surfing (nominations continue below...)
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