“You can make the world swear King Kong is ten stories tall and Mary Pickford a virgin at 40, yet you can’t convince starving voters that a turncoat socialist is a menace to everything California holds dear? You’re barely trying.”
David Fincher's Personal Connection to Old Hollywood
After decades of development, David Fincher finally brought his late father Jack Fincher's screenplay about Herman J. Mankiewicz to life. Originally planned for production in the late 1990s with Kevin Spacey and Jodie Foster attached, the project stalled when studios balked at Fincher's insistence on shooting in black and white. Following Jack Fincher's death in 2003, David continued developing the script, eventually partnering with Netflix who gave him creative freedom to realize his father's vision. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we return to our David Fincher series with a conversation about Mank.
Writing History Through a Modern Lens
In discussing Mank, we explore how Fincher approaches the controversial story of who really wrote Citizen Kane, while examining the film's portrayal of 1930s Hollywood politics through a contemporary perspective. We debate the historical accuracy of certain story elements and character portrayals, particularly regarding Herman Mankiewicz's political leanings and relationship with William Randolph Hearst.
Behind the Scenes of Old Hollywood
The film raises interesting questions about the balance between historical accuracy and dramatic storytelling. While some criticize the film's creative liberties with Mankiewicz's political views and relationships, we discuss whether these changes serve a greater purpose in crafting a compelling narrative. This leads to a broader conversation about the responsibilities filmmakers have when telling true stories and whether artistic license can be justified in service of a larger truth.
Key Discussion Points
- Oldman's compelling performance as Mankiewicz... without prosthetics
- The technical achievements in recreating the period look using modern digital tools
- Amanda Seyfried's standout portrayal of Marion Davies
- Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross's period-appropriate score recorded remotely during COVID
- The film's exploration of fake news and media manipulation then and now
Crafting a Modern Classic
While not ranking among Fincher's most dynamic works as far as we’re concerned, Mank succeeds as both a love letter to classic Hollywood and a thoughtful examination of the creative process. Despite some historical liberties, the film's technical excellence and strong performances make it a worthy addition to Fincher's filmography. We have a great time talking about it, so check it out then tune in. The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins!
Film Sundries
- Check out these other Mank-adjacent conversations in The Next Reel’s family of podcasts:
- Find places to watch this at JustWatch
- Script Options
- Theatrical trailer
- Letterboxd
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