It was named as one of – if not the – best film ever made….
But you don’t need to have seen “Citizen Kane” to appreciate Gary Oldman’s last role as the guy largely responsible for his screenplay – screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz, aka “Mank”.
The recent Netflix film “Mank” dramatizes how the drunk Mankiewicz joined the prodigy Orson Wells to write the 1941 film directed by Wells and in which he also starred as Charles Foster Kane, a character based on real-life media baron William Randolph Hearst.
And now – as “Kane” was announced about 80 years ago – it’s also “Mank”, with award rumors circulating, especially for Oldman.
It is something that the 62-year-old actor says he never grows old, despite having received several accolades, including an Oscar for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in 2018’s “The Darkest Hour”.
[OLDMAN] “You know, you take a finished product and then you release it to the world and if they like your baby, you know, it’s good [smiles]. And getting the job recognized is a lovely thing. “
Oldman said that director David Fincher wanted “Mank” to be a transporter, choosing to film it in black and white.
[OLDMAN] “He really wanted to take you back to another era and to me anyway, everything he did with the sound and the final look of the film, I mean, there are times when you are, where you think you might be watching to a film actually made in 1940. ”
The biggest difference between then and now: watching at home versus sitting in a dark theater, a transformation driven by new technologies that started long before requests for a stay at home closed many cinemas.
[OLDMAN] “You could be sulky and complain and, you know, regret the loss of celluloid in theaters, or you can, you can just pull your socks off and get on the train with the rest.”
“Mank” had a limited theatrical release and is currently being broadcast worldwide on Netflix.
Video transcription
– It was named as one of, if not the, best film ever made. But you don’t need to have seen “Citizen Kane” to appreciate Gary Oldman’s latest role as the guy largely responsible for his screenplay, screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz, also known as “Mank”.
– God bless William Randolph Hearst.
– Netflix’s recent film “Mank” dramatizes how alcoholic Mankiewicz joined the prodigy Orson Welles to write the 1941 film directed by Welles, and in which he also starred as Charles Foster Kane, a character based on real-life baron of media, William Randolph Hearst. And now, as “Kane” was announced about 80 years ago, “Mank” is also in circulation with many awards, especially for Oldman. It’s something the 62-year-old actor says he never grows old, despite having won several awards, including an Oscar for his role as Winston Churchill in “The Darkest Hour” in 2018.
GARY OLDMAN: You know, you get a final product and you launch it into the world. And if they like your baby, you know, it’s good. And getting the job recognized is – it’s a lovely thing.
– Oldman said that director David Fincher wanted “Mank” to be a transporter, choosing to film it in black and white.
GARY OLDMAN: He really wanted to take you back – to another era. And I know for myself anyway, everything he did with the sound and the final look of the film. I mean, there are times when you are – where you think you might be watching a movie actually made in 19 – in 1940.
– The biggest difference between before and now, watching at home and sitting in a dark cinema. A transformation driven by new technologies that began well before requests to stay at home closed many cinemas.
GARY OLDMAN: You can – you can be a grouch and complain about it and, you know, mourn the loss of – celluloid in theaters or you can just pull your socks off and get on the train with – with the rest of them.
– “Mank” had a limited release in theaters and is currently being broadcast worldwide on Netflix.
– The organ player’s monkey.