Matt’s Movie Recommendations: Mank

Mank

2020
R
2h 11min
Director: David Fincher
Cast: Gary Oldman, Amanda Seyfried

Streaming on: Netflix

The Golden Globes air tonight. And though award shows are always frivolous. Holding one during a pandemic is even more so. And doubly if you are considering the awards are for the Golden Globes. Where how good a movie is matters much less than essentially bribing the voters. So the winners and losers tonight amounts to how much sucking up a campaign did.

But with that said, Mank is nominated for Best Motion Picture in the Drama category. And it is a film I very much enjoyed. I of course put it on my top 10 movies of 2020.

But as far as recommendations go, well, this one is a tougher sell than most. And I will admit pretty niche. Though I love it, it is a movie lovers movie. A dive into old Hollywood through the eyes of alcoholic Herman Mankiewicz. Gary Oldman plays the aforementioned Mank and he is damn good. So is Amanada Seyfried. Both are nominated for awards tonight. And I expect both to be there come the Oscars, too.

And David Fincher is also nominated for Best Director for whatever that’s worth. There hasn’t been a director in recent time in Hollywood more anti-establishment than Fincher, so there is no chance he wins tonight. He will not put in the legwork necessary to win a Golden Globe. But make no mistake, this film is impeccably directed and the black and white cinematography is beautiful. Another meticulously crafted film from Fincher.

Lastly, the elephant in the room is how this film is associated with Citizen Kane. Yes, it does help if you have seen it and know the story, but truthfully this film just works on its own. I was surprised with how much Mank delved into the politics of the time. Not something I was expecting. But I found those aspects to be my favorite part. Whenever you can slander Nazis . . . do it!

So sure, this is not a populist pick. But if you want to catch up on awards season fare and watch Mank before the Oscars, then you might also be pleasantly surprised. And at the very least know what the heck is going on with our favorite Mank.