A Double Feature Review! Mank Hypnotic entertainment, David Fincher's (The Social Network, Zodiac, and Seven) Mank is a glorious achievement for cinephiles everywhere. Mank is a bold, haunting, and well-crafted picture on the age of Old Hollywood. Fincher tells the story of an alcoholic screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz, who has been given complete creative freedom to write a new project by Orson Welles and RKO. In return, Mankiewicz writes Citizen Kane — the greatest movie ever made. On a technical scale, Mank is a cinematic wonder; this is a film that looks and sounds like it was made during the 1930s. This black-and-white beauty is a feast for your eyes. Actor Gary Oldman shines throughout, while Amanda Seyfried is a marvel. Mank is one of the very best to come out in 2020. Maybe I’m a sucker when it comes to Old Hollywood self-obsessing — nevertheless — Fincher’s deeply political Mank fully captivated me from the first to the final frame. It was incredibly refreshing to see a deeply political movie about Old Hollywood that was not glanced over or mythicized. When talking about its past, Hollywood loves to always spin itself in a positive light. Fincher gave us a picture that showed the good, the bad, and the ugly front and center on the screen. We saw the effects of the Great Depression on the lower class workers, the corporate greed by heads of big studios (MGM and Paramount), and the smear campaign against Upton Sinclair. It reminded me of Charlie Chaplin's deep political messaging of worker's rights in his film Modern Times (1936). Mank is a film that should pair well with Oscar votes this April because of its gorgeous cinematography and production design. Fincher's latest feature may not be for everyone, but those who love film history will gobble this up, every last bite. Mank is rated R (Restricted) Some Language. Directed by David Fincher Starring Gary Oldman, Amanda Seyfried, Lily Collins, Tom Burke, Tuppence Middleton, and Charles Dance. Available to stream on Netflix. Happiest Season Happiest Season was an utter delight to watch. Director and co-writer Clea Duvall's (actor from Veep, Argo, and Girl, Interrupted) LGBTQ romantic comedy will spread holiday cheer this winter. Happiest Season follows a longtime couple Abby (Kristen Stewart) and Harper (Mackenzie Davis), who have made plans to go home to visit Harper's family for the Christmas holidays. However, Abby finds out, on their drive down there, that Harper has not come out yet to her conservative parents (Mary Steenburgen and Victor Garber) and plans on introducing Abby only as her 'straight' friend. This puts Abby into an uncomfortable situation, as she was planning on proposing to Harper during the yuletide season. Happiest Season is featured as a pioneering holiday-themed romantic comedy centered around a same-sex couple, which also includes several LGBTQ actors like Kristen Stewart, Dan Levy, Victor Garber, and Aubrey Plaza. Actress-director DuVall pinned this movie as a semi-autobiography, so she could see her own experiences play out on the big screen. Happiest Season is a funny, warm, and good-spirited film that will slap a smile on your face. Like a cup of hot chocolate, this is a holiday film that will warm you up. Duvall's Happiest Season will go down as a new Christmas tradition, one that we will be able to re-watch every holiday season. Cheers. Happiest Season is rated PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned) Some Language. Directed by Clea DuVall Starring Kristen Stewart, Mackenzie Davis, Mary Steenburgen, Victor Garber, Dan Levy, Aubrey Plaza, Alison Brie, Mary Holland, Burl Moseley, and Sarayu Blue. Available to stream on Hulu.
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Ryan Arnold
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March 2024
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