Witty History in Black and White... Emphasis on the White.

In 2020, general audiences don't typically consider Orson Welles's "Citizen Kane" as the "Best Film Ever Made." Just walk into any freshman-level college lecture hall if you need to have that confirmed. Netflix's "Mank," from acclaimed director David Fincher, helps shed light onto why "Kane" is one of the greatest pieces of cinema of all time. More than a biopic on "Kane" screenwriter Herman Mankiewicz, "Mank" encapsulates the Golden Age of Hollywood in which "Kane" was made. From shooting in black and white, nods to Welles's film, and the (albeit unnecessary) visual effects which pretend the film is projected on various reels á la 1935, "Mank" is the "why" and "how" of "Citizen Kane" for the 21st-century movie enthusiast.

"Mank" has all the components of rich, Academy fodder. Fincher? Check. Welles? Check. Gary Oldman? Check. Hollywood's Golden Age and metatheatrical revisiting of Hollywood lore? Check. Check. The list really goes on and on. Even with all of that, as wonderful as Fincher's films are, as lovely as Oldman is to watch, and as nostalgic as "Mank" is, audiences may find themselves left wanting more. The through-line of "Mank" is not the writing of "Citizen Kane," it's not Mank's drinking, it's not William Randolph Hearst or Marion Davies, and it isn't politics. Instead of story, the essence of a screenplay holds the film together - quite literally - with "Mank's" own slug lines woven throughout the film. Given this, general audiences who don't go into watching every film with a basis of film theory and a genuine interest in early 20th-century cinema will be thoroughly confused and quite frankly, really bored.

Of course, Oldman delivers in his performance of Mank. He's one of the best actors there is. However, when watching "Mank" some may find it hard to shake off some of Oldman's previous performances. This includes his turn as Winston Churchill in Joe Wright's 2017 film "Darkest Hour" which won Oldman his Oscar for Best Actor. With “Mank,” it's almost like watching a new director come in and shake up a pre-established character.

The truly stunning performance to come out of "Mank" is Amanda Seyfried's turn as Marion Davies. Seyfried's performance is perfectly nuanced to capture the essence of Hollywood in the 1930s as well as engage modern audiences. Anyone could watch Seyfried's performance and be captivated. No film theory required. It would be so easy for the character to fall into the classic character tropes that can come with female performances including the dumb blonde, the dumb actress, and the reliant woman. Seyfried's performance has grit, courage, and a fine-tuned presence of mind that makes Davies the most interesting character of the film. Hats off to Seyfried and her career re-defining performance.

Still, "Mank" is definitely a very White film and would have benefitted from a diversity expert.

All in all, "Mank" is worth a watch, maybe two, on a pandemic winter’s night. The general moviegoer, as well as the seasoned movie enthusiast, will get a history lesson, a top-tier performance from Seyfried, the closest thing to Audrey Hepburn courtesy of Lily Collins, as well as, and perhaps most importantly, a reminder of the genius of "Citizen Kane."

"Mank" is available for streaming on Netflix and is rated R.