Overview
Mank is a biographical drama film directed by David Fincher that explores the life of screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz and his tumultuous journey in writing the screenplay for the iconic film Citizen Kane. The narrative unfolds primarily in 1940, as Mankiewicz, recovering from a car accident in Victorville, California, collaborates with Orson Welles to create what would become one of cinema’s greatest masterpieces.
Plot Summary
The story begins with Mankiewicz (played by Gary Oldman) dictating the screenplay to his secretary Rita Alexander (Lily Collins). As he works on the script, flashbacks reveal his earlier interactions with Hollywood elites, including media mogul William Randolph Hearst (Charles Dance) and actress Marion Davies (Amanda Seyfried), who was Hearst’s lover. These flashbacks illustrate Mank’s complex relationships and the political landscape of Hollywood during the 1930s and 1940s.
Throughout the film, Mank grapples with his alcoholism and the pressures from studio executives who are concerned about how his screenplay might anger Hearst. The narrative highlights key events such as Mank’s involvement in a smear campaign against Upton Sinclair during California’s gubernatorial election and his contentious relationship with Welles over creative control and credit for Citizen Kane.
As tensions rise, Mank ultimately asserts his desire for recognition, leading to a dramatic confrontation with Welles. The film culminates in Mank receiving joint credit for Citizen Kane, which wins an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. The story serves as both a tribute to classic Hollywood and a critique of its power dynamics.
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