David Fincher is one of my top two all time favourite filmmakers (just the thinnest hair behind Denis Villeneuve) and his work is a big reason I am where I am today. Suffice to say I was very very very excited for this film. I'm a sucker for black and white, and I'm a sucker for films about Hollywood so while this is a stark departure from Fincher's typical work was more than open to the change, especially considering how long it's been since he last released a film. While this certainly sticks out as wildly different, I still really enjoyed this film.
This doesn't have the typical excitement or tension of a Fincher picture, but makes up for it in other ways. The film follows a narrative weaving between the past and present to depict a period of time in the life of Herman Mankiewicz including his time writing Citizen Kane, widely regarded as the one of the greatest films ever made. The recreation of the 30s and early 40s is easily my favourite part of the film. The production design and costumes beautifully deliver the era in question. Perhaps even more noteworthy though are the cinematography and sound. Fincher's films are all brilliantly shot in my opinion, and while I wouldn't say this is his best cinematography, I think I can say it's either his most beautiful or at least close to most beautiful film to look at. Whether it be tight shots showing character or lovely to look at wider shots, the cinematography in its aged looking black and white perfectly puts us in this time, and the sound is edited to sound like a film from this time, which some may have issue with but I really appreciated. It may sound cheesy to say but there were a few times I genuinely forgot that this was a new movie and not something from the 40s because Fincher and his team pull off this era and style so well.
Acting wise I have no complaints whatsoever. Gary Oldman disappears into this role, one that while not as impressive as Darkest Hour still seemingly has to lead to an Oscar nomination. We don't necessarily learn a ton about Mankiewicz, but Oldman does a good job of creating an understanding of the type of man Mank despite the lack of development. Amanda Seyfried delivers her best work as actress Marion Davies, and looks impressively similar to her real life counterpart. This film also gives us a pretty fantastic Lily Collins performance, playing straight to Oldman's antics and delivering some of the film's best moments. Other noteworthy names include Charles Dance who I would have actually liked to see given more to work with, and Tom Burke as Orson Welles who I think is the perfect actor for that role. Other than those names there wasn't anyone I recognized but also no one I thought did a bad job in the slightest. Also I think I saw Bill Nye but I may be losing my mind.
I can see the narrative structure of the film and a lack of a clear purpose to be deterring to some, but I think there's just too much to love. Fincher entranced me with this vision of old Hollywood and I never needed anymore than I got narratively to have a great time with it.
Rating: 4.6/5
Written by Matt McKenzie
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