Mank 2020

Mank delves into the life of Herman Mankiewicz, eloquently portraying his experiences from 1933 to 1940, a period during which America was grappling with the harsh realities of the Great Depression while simultaneously being aware of the ominous approach of World War II. The narrative not only highlights Mank’s journey but also weaves in the political backdrop of Upton Sinclair’s left-leaning campaign for the governorship of California, emphasizing how Hollywood united against him.

Sinclair is depicted as championing values that the establishment deemed “anti-American,” with MGM aggressively engaging in what would today be termed disinformation campaigns. This tumultuous environment compels Mank to face his own moral compromises and the minor deceits he has perpetuated.

In a captivating scene, Charles Dance, portraying the formidable William Randolph Hearst, shares a compelling story with Gary Oldman, who plays Mank. He recounts the “parable of the organ grinder’s monkey,” right after Mank has found himself in a drunken tirade, revealing the idealism that underpinned Hearst’s empire. Hearst coolly reminds Mank that he must “dance” whenever the music plays, serving as a stark insight into the bitterness that would ultimately lead to Mank’s downfall in Hollywood.

His defiance against Hearst, backed by Orson Welles, sets in motion a chain of events that leaves Mank jobless, particularly as he struggles with the consequences of his choices. In the backdrop of his tumultuous life, he finds solace in creating Citizen Kane while bedridden with a broken leg, isolated from friends and family, desperately battling his alcohol dependency in pursuit of just one drink, which leads him to win the only Oscar awarded to him.

As he poignantly articulates to a friend, “We have got a huge responsibility, to people in the dark willingly checking their disbelief at the door.” The film skillfully captures the essence of Mank’s complex legacy against the chaos of his times, illustrating the profound impact of personal choice in the landscape of Hollywood and beyond.