Mank

Mank is a 2020 American biographical drama film directed by David Fincher. The film centers on Herman J. Mankiewicz, a screenwriter who is tasked with completing the screenplay for Orson Welles's Citizen Kane while navigating illness, studio politics, and personal tensions in 1930s Hollywood. The story intertwines Mankiewicz’s writing process with memory-driven flashbacks and real-world figures of the era, exploring questions of authorship, influence, and the power dynamics behind a landmark film.

The production features Gary Oldman in the lead role as Mankiewicz, with Amanda Seyfried portraying Marion Davies and a supporting cast that includes portrayals of William Randolph Hearst and other studio figures. The narrative situates Kane within the broader context of the studio system, providing a portrait of the people and incentives that shaped the project and its recognition.

Visual and auditory style are deliberate choices to evoke the period. Mank was photographed in black and white, using an Academy-style aspect ratio to mirror 1930s cinematography, and the score is composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. The film emphasizes dialogue-driven scenes and a reflective, sometimes meta-textual tone that foregrounds questions about credit, memory, and the creation of cinematic legend.

Release and reception: Mank premiered for streaming on Netflix in December 2020, after a limited theatrical run. It received generally positive responses from critics, who praised Oldman’s performance, its production design, and its tonal approach, while some reviewers noted a dense or talky pace. The film earned multiple Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Oldman.