I was jazzed. One of the films I had been excited about was being released on Netflix: âMankâ about the development of Orson Wellesâ âCitizen Kaneâ and its screenwriter, Herman J. Mankiewicz. It has a great cast: Gary Oldman, recent Oscar winner for playing Winston Churchill, in the title role as screenwriter Herman J. Mankewicz, Charles Dance, Amanda Seyfried and Lily Collins, et al. David Fincher (âThe Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,â âGone Girlâ and âFight Clubâ) directed.
But then Fincher, because it takes place in the â30s, decided to film it in black and white, just to give it a little atmosphere. And, oh, letâs speed up the reel a bit, give it that jerky early 20th century movie feel. Even that would have put me over the edge. But then he had to go and flip scenes with changing time tables back and forth during Mankâs busiest decade in Hollywood. I thought at times that I was watching an old Keystone Cops flic