Film Review – Mank

“Mank” is a passion project for director David Fincher, who’s been eager to realize a screenplay written by his father, Jack Fincher (who passed away in 2003), for decades, finally receiving a chance to do so by Netflix. One can clearly see why major studios were reluctant to make the movie, with the story examining an obscure time in Hollywood history, while the helmer has chosen to use black and white cinematography and various tech tricks to replicate filmmaking trends of the 1930s and ‘40s. Fincher hasn’t made a feature in six years (last seen with “Gone Girl”), and “Mank” feels like the work of a man trying to satisfy himself instead of the audience. It’s precise in all the Fincher-ian ways, masterfully acted by most of the cast, and details industry experiences and practices previously unexplored. All the puzzle pieces are there to admire, but this isn’t a hypnotic picture with sizzling emotion. It’s wise and snappy, but cold, arriving as something to appreciate more than truly devour. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com