‘Mank': David Fincher's Making-Of ‘Citizen Kane' is a Bonafide Oscar Contender [Trailer]

We now have our first official trailer for David Fincher’s “Mank.” I’m crossing my fingers for a potential press screening in theaters, but chances are I will most likely be watching this on my 55-inch 4k screen at home. I can’t fathom not watching “Mank” on the big screen, but, alas, that is what will likely happen as Netflix won’t be releasing it theatrically, and not because of the pandemic, but because they would rather we all stay at home and revel in n the beautiful black and white frames via our television — that’s their model and they are sticking with it.

It’s been six years since Fincher released his last feature, “Gone Girl.” The wait for a new film by the venerable director is finally over, as Fincher is about to release “Mank,” the forthcoming Netflix feature about “Citizen Kane” co-screenwriter Herman Mankiewicz. Gary Oldman is set to play the legendary screenwriter. 

On a recent appearance in the Pardon My Take podcast, “Mank” screenwriter Eric Roth stated that Fincher has “made a black and white ‘30s movie, it’s really incredible to see what he’s done.” Roth is referring to the film being shot entirely in black and white.

“Mank” will tackle the Welles-vs-Mankiewicz feud, which has been a controversial point of contention for the last 60 years, especially after the publication of Pauline Kael’s much-disputed 1971 essay, which claimed that the mastermind behind the ‘Kane’ screenplay was solely Mankiewicz and not Wells. I do wonder if Fincher will portray Wells as the villain or if he will try to give a fair and accurate assessment of what actually went down behind-the-scenes with ‘Kane.’ Kael’s assertions have been debunked numerous times by historians and scholars.

Fincher, who these last five years, has dedicated his time to popular Netflix shows he created (“House of Cards” and “Mindhunter”), has seen two potential cinematic projects fall apart the last decade. There was a “remake” of Hitchcock’s “Strangers on a Train” which was supposed to be set on a plane, but that Ben Affleck-starring vehicle fell apart during pre-production. Ditto Fincher’s planned sequel to the zombie blockbuster “World War Z.”

Cinematographer Erik Messerschmidt will be in charge of photography in “Mank.” Messerschmidt’s credits include both seasons of Fincher’s Netflix’s series “Mindhunter” and FX’s “Legion.” This will be Fincher’s first movie without his usual cinematographer, Jeff Cronenweth, this decade. The two had previously partnered on “The Social Network,” “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” and “Gone Girl.” However, if “Mindhunter” and “House of Cards” proved anything, it was that Fincher had partial responsibility for the visual style of his films, more specifically his knack for using black and yellow, a sort of dark lighting combined with color overlay and crisp cinematography. That’s the Fincher touch.

“Mank,” which runs 2 hours and 11 minutes, will debut on Netflix on December 4.