The film chronicles the intense life of set designer Herbert J. Mankiewicz and his involvement in the making of Orson Welles' film Citizen Kane. Here are the details
Mank, David Fincher's new film is among the film events of the year. Among the reasons certainly stands out the subject. In fact, the film recounts some details related to the birth of another masterpiece, the film Quarto Potere by Orson Welles.
Fincher's work focuses on a detail that has aroused much curiosity among critics and the public, namely the work of the set designer Herbert J. Mankiewicz, known as Mank. Why would a world-renowned filmmaker like Fincher take an interest in Mankiewicz's life? What was his contribution to Welles' film? These and other questions can be answered after finishing the intense and artfully constructed film. Unfortunately, theaters are closed, so it's being streamed on the Netflix streaming platform starting December 4. But the work is so great that you almost can't feel the difference between small and big screen. Merit also goes to a stellar cast, dominated by Gary Oldman as the protagonist.
Mank plot: what David Fincher's film is about
The director of Fight Club and Seven focused on one of the crucial moments in the life, unruly and intense screenwriter Herbert J. Mankiewicz.
It all begins in 1940 when Mank is stuck with a leg cast and finds himself isolated in his home. In the meantime, he works on the screenplay for Citizen Kane, which was commissioned by Orson Welles. Apparently the plot is not exciting, but it is certainly animated by everything that happens around the set designer and especially by his exuberant personality, also influenced by his addiction to alcohol.
In the film then Mank is supported by a series of key characters: his young secretary, the physiotherapist who helps him walk again, but also John Welles' partner. The film features flashbacks of the protagonist narrating his relationship with the system and in particular with the world of cinema, but also his friendship with William Randolph Hearst, the famous press magnate. Finally, the relationship with his lover Marion Davies and his wife Sarah is told.
Mank was an iconoclast and irreverent screenwriter, but for this very reason he was brilliant and visionary. And for this reason he was sought after by Hollywood's most famous directors. In the film, both his talent and his humanity, rich in light and shadow, emerge. Il filo conduttore rimane comunque il lavoro per Quarto Potere, sicuramente il progetto più importante della sua carriera.
Alla fine del film si capisce come Quarto Potere sia legato a doppio filo alla personalità e alla vita dello scenografo: ci sono continui richiami nella pellicola di Welles, dai nomi ai ricordi dello scenografo. Comprendiamo quindi l’obiettivo di Fincher.
Non a caso nel 1971 uscì sul New York Times un articolo in cui si attribuiva tutto il successo del film alla sua sceneggiatura e questo fece storcere il naso a tanti, soprattutto al regista Orson Welles.
Senza contare che in seguito ci fu una vera e propria lotta per ottenere i diritti tra Mankiewicz e Welles dopo che il film vinse l’Oscar per la migliore sceneggiatura originale.
Mank: cast e dove guardarlo
Come accennato il protagonista Herman J. Mankiewicz è interpretato dall’attore Gary Oldman. Accanto a lui troviamo altri interpreti di talento, ecco i principali:
- Amanda Seyfried è Marion Davies
- Lily Collins (che recentemente ha lavorato a Emily in Paris) è la segretaria Rita Alexander
- Sam Troughton è John Houseman
- Arliss Howard è Louis B. Mayer
- Ferdinand Kingsley è Irving Thalberg
- Tom Pelphrey è Joseph L. Mankiewicz
- Sam Troughton è John Houseman
- Tuppence Middleton è la moglie di Herman Sara Mankiewicz
- Tom Burke è Orson Welles
- Joseph Cross è Charles Lederer
- Jamie McShane è l’amico di Herman, Shelly Metcalf
- Toby Leonard Moore è David O. Selznick
Mank è già disponibile su Netflix: la piattaforma lo ha aggiunto al catalogo il 4 dicembre. Può essere quindi un ottimo titolo da guardare durante le vacanze di Natale.