Interview with David Fincher: "The Movie Really Only Has Two Seasons: 'Summer of Spandex' and 'Winter of Distress'"

Era 2022-04-19 09:02:22

Total Film Exclusive: David Fincher Discusses State of Hollywood

By Matt Maytum, Jack Shepherd

David Fincher has wanted to make Mank for a long time. The director has been trying to drum up interest in Citizen Kane screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz since 1997 — when his screenwriter father Jack Finch (who was also a journalist and writer) writer) just finished the script.

"Unless you're making a blockbuster movie with a Happy Meal quality, nobody's interested," says Finch in Total Film's latest issue (which headlines the cover of "Mank"). . Yet after years of fighting for "Mank," the perfect opportunity arose when Netflix asked Fincher what he wanted to do next (the filmmaker , who has worked with the streaming giant on "House of Cards," "Love, Death and Robots and Psycho Hunter).

One of the great things about working with Netflix, Finch said, is that opening weekends aren't as stressful as releasing a movie through theatrical lines, and it's always there in the streaming platform's repertoire. "Writing a love letter to another movie on HBO Max is not a particularly smart business plan (Warner's streaming platform, and Citizen Kane is currently copyrighted on HBO Max)," he joked . But listen, if We only do things that seem smart, maybe only Marvel, Star Wars and Jurassic Park."

With "Mank" finally coming to Netflix this December, the film seems primed for awards season. The whole awards season PR, however, has been anathema to Finch, throwing cold water on his signature sarcasm and wit: "Look, the only reason we have this kind of PR is for people who like to change audience expectations in their behavior. People lack imagination," he said.

Behind the scenes of "Mank"

"There are really only two seasons of movies: 'Summer of Spandex' and 'Winter of Distress'. You're going to make a movie in one of the two seasons. If you miss it, you're in one of the other two seasons , but these two seasons are nominally a dump. Does that make sense?"

Of course, no director is at work these days with a more savvy grasp of the industry's intrigue, after all Fincher endured ordealed in his debut Alien 3, but has since relied on The Social Network, Fight Club and Gone Lover, he has received rave reviews - both from critics and from the film awards agencies.

"I'm not just a jerk who's tired of it all," he concluded. "I'm a jerk who's been through it firsthand and is sick of it all."

Cover of this issue of Total Film regular edition

Cover of this issue of Total Film subscription

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Extended Reading
  • Jaden 2022-04-20 09:01:59

    Like "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood", this kind of film recalling film history is really ugly! ! Long and boring. white eyes

  • Enola 2022-01-03 08:01:40

    The final monologue saved Manke's personal image, otherwise this piece would be a gorgeous empty account with numerous clues. The great thing about "Citizen Kane" in film history is that it is the first film with no answer and no chronological sequence. Each flashback is a separate piece to build a Kane that cannot be coherent with before and after, memory. The multi-layered conflict created Kane's most dazzling image of Shakespeare. If Fincher understood "Citizen Kane", he would not use trivial but time-coherent flashbacks to constantly superfluously complete a character who has been seen through from the outside to the inside from the beginning of the film. Using such a cumbersome narrative technique to portray Mank, who pioneered the innovation of narrative methods in film history (if "Citizen Kane" is really attributed to him), is not considered a kind of unconscious clumsiness caused by limited level. The conclusion is that a creator who loves his character does not mean that he agrees with his behavior, viewpoints and personality. Writing a character in a complimentary tone will definitely be hopelessly abducted. The right example is really under the nose of Vinci in the film: "Citizen Kane", which is mentioned repeatedly by all the characters.

Mank quotes

  • [a drunken Herman Mankiewicz sits at the corner of a large dinner table at an elaborate costume party, hosted by William Randolph Hearst and Louis B. Mayer. Instead of tinking on a glass to get the guests' attention, he slashes his glass with a knife. Gasps fill the room as he rises from his seat]

    Herman Mankiewicz: I've got a great idea for a picture, Louis. A picture I just know you're gonna love. It's a modern day version of Quixote!

    [Mank realizes his voice echoes through the room, but he continues, circling the table full of silent guests]

    Herman Mankiewicz: Now I know none of you read, but you know what it's about. A deluded old nobleman, who tilts at windmills. So how might we update this story?

    Butler: [whispers to Hearst] Do you want me to get someone?

    William Randolph Hearst: No.

    Herman Mankiewicz: How about we make our Quixote... a newspaperman? Who else could make a living tilting at windmills? But that's not enough... no, he wants more than readership. He wants more than adulation, he wants love. So, he runs for public office, and because he's notably rich, he wins... no, w-w-w-wait a minute. Notably rich and powerful, can't win over an audience unless notably rich and powerful sees the error of his ways in the final reel. Notably rich and powerful and making no goddamn excuses for it is only admirable in real life. Isn't that right, Louis?

    [Mayer glares at Mank as he drunkenly attempts to light his cigarette with the massive fireplace at the end of the room, unsuccessfully. Marion Davies takes a swig of her drink]

    Herman Mankiewicz: So what do we do? Anybody? We give him ideals! Ideals that any dirt-poor, depression-weary audience can identify with. Our Quixote is against crooked trusts, he's for the eight-hour workday, fair income tax, better schools. Why, he's even for government ownership of railroads. And you know what we call those people?

    Male Guest: Communists!

    Female Guest: Anarchists!

    Herman Mankiewicz: No, our Quixote, he's a two-fisted muckraker. In fact, someone predicts that he will one day win the presidency and bring about, get this...

    [laughing uncontrollably]

    Herman Mankiewicz: ... a socialist revolution!

    Louis B. Mayer: What a bunch of bullshit.

    Herman Mankiewicz: Is it? Tell him, Willie. Tell him.

    [Silence]

    Herman Mankiewicz: Upton Sinclair used exactly those words to describe a young William Randolph Hearst.

    Louis B. Mayer: [leaping from his seat] You miserable bastard!

    Herman Mankiewicz: [bowing] How do you do?

    [Some guests begin to leave the room, but Hearst's and Mayer's eyes stay on Mank]

    Herman Mankiewicz: Our Quixote, he hungers, he thirsts, he lusts for the voters to love him, love him enough to make him president, but they won't. And they don't. How do you suppose that could happen? Could it be because, in their hearts, they know he values power over people?

    [More guests leave as Mank approaches Hearst, still seated]

    Herman Mankiewicz: Disillusioned in Congress, he authors not one single piece of legislation in two terms. Can you believe that? That'll take some writing. Placed in nomination for president... it's too radical for the boys in the back, his bid goes nowhere! But we're doing something. We're building sympathy!

    [Even more guests leave]

    Herman Mankiewicz: Rejected, he flees to lotus land, where his faithful troll, Sancho, has prepared a mythical kingdom for...

    [Mank eyes Davies, stopping himself totally]

    Herman Mankiewicz: Wait a minute. I forgot the love interest! Her name: Dulcinea.

    [Every remaining head in the room turns to Davies]

    Herman Mankiewicz: Funny, adventurous, smarter than she acts. Ah, she's a... she's a showgirl! Beneath his social stratum, but that's okay because true love on the big screens, we all know is blind. And she... well, she loves him, too. So he takes her away to his m-mythical kingdom,

    [to butler]

    Herman Mankiewicz: can I get a bicarb?

    [back to the guests]

    Herman Mankiewicz: Now, along comes nemesis, that's Greek for any guy in a black hat, nemesis runs for governor, and he's a shoo-in to win. Why?

    [points to Hearst]

    Herman Mankiewicz: Because he's EXACTLY what our Don used to be! An idealist, ya get it? And not only that, nemesis is the same guy who once predicted that our Quixote would one day preside over a socialist revolution. Our Quixote looks into the mirror of his youth and decides to break this glass, a maddening reminder of who he once was. Assisted by his faithful Sancho

    [pointing to Mayer]

    Herman Mankiewicz: and armed w-with all the black magic at his command, he does just this. Destroying, in the process, not one man... but two.

    [Hearst is clearly furious, but maintains his composure]

    Herman Mankiewicz: Well, what do ya think, Louis? Hm? Do ya think it'll play?

    [Mank finally belches onto the floor. Any guest who hasn't already left does so]

    Herman Mankiewicz: Don't worry, folks. The white wine came up with the fish!

  • Herman Mankiewicz: Irving, you are a literate man. You know the difference between communism and socialism. In socialism, everyone shares the wealth. In communism, everyone shares the poverty.