MANK (Theatrical Release USA 2020)

 Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì

Mank—inhouse production not for the layman—does not serve audiences outside the entertainment industry. This movie tries to make a biopic out of a small snippet of Herman Mankiewicz’s (the screenplay writer of the Orson Welles’ classic Citizen Kane) life. Gary Oldman plays Herman Mankiewicz to perfection within a black and white film format that emphasizes awesome camera shots liberally littering the movie. Read a Wikipedia plot line before diving in for the watch as the movie does not follow a simple, straightforward pattern. The film does try to ground itself for the wider audience by placing dates and locations where the story occurs…but without good knowledge of San Simeon, Publisher Hearst, and the people who entertained at his table, the movie seems a bit convoluted. In the end, however, the story, no matter its audience, will not soon be forgotten.

 Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline 

Herman Mankiewicz attempts to finish a script on time despite several handicaps to include a type of writer’s block. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director David Fincher for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Cean Chaffin, Eric Roth, and Douglas Urbanski for making the film possible. Characters/cast include:  Herman Mankiewicz (Gary Oldman), Marion Davies (Amanda Seyfried), Rita Alexaner (Lily Collins), Louis B. Mayer (Arliss Howard), Joseph Mankiewicz (Tom Pelphrey), William Hearst (Charles Dance), John Houseman (Sam Troughton), Irving Thalberg (Ferdinand Kingsley), Sara Mankiewicz (Tuppence Middleton), Orson Welles (Tom Burke), and Charles Lederer (Joseph Cross). 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. While the movie serves a niche market, it introduces a personality that persons outside the entertainment industry may enjoy meeting.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers