Rosebud! On-Air Reviews of ‘Mank’ & ‘The Last Vermeer’

Submitted by PatrickMcD on November 19, 2020 - 6:05pm

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Rating: 4.0/5.0

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on November 19th, 2020, reviewing the new films “Mank” (in theaters, on Netflix December 4th) and “The Last Verneer” (only in theaters).

Mank - Herman Mankiewicz (portrayed by Gary Oldman) was the co-screenwriter on CITIZEN KANE, and this film is his adventures in Hollywood from the pivotal years of the 1930s (told in flashback) to his struggle with KANE in the story’s present tense … including with Orson Welles (Tom Burke). This essentially becomes the story of Mank, William Randolph Hearst – whose life KANE is based on – and Hearst’s mistress, actress Marion Davies (Amanda Seyfried). Davies friendship with Mank becomes the basis for KANE, which depicts him doing the lion’s share of screenplay work, disputed to this day. Directed by David Fincher. 4/5 stars.

Mank
Photo credit: Netflix

Rating: 3.5/5.0

The Last Vermeer - Guy Pierce portrays Han Van Meegeren, a real life Dutch artist that was put on trial for treason because he sold rare Johannes Vermeer paintings to the Nazis during World War II. He is aided at that postwar trial by an American military officer (Claes Bang), who defends him in that court. Directed by Dan Friedkin. 3.5/5 stars

The Last Vermeer
Photo credit: TriStar Pictures

Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com reviews “Mank” and “The Last Vermeer” during the Scott Thompson Show on WBGR-FM, Monroe, Wisconsin, November 19th, 2020 …

“Mank” is currently in theaters, and will be available on Netflix on December 4th. Featuring Gary Oldman, Tom Burke, Lily Collins and Amanda Seyfried. Written by Jack Fincher. Directed by David Fincher. “Rated R.“ “The Last Vermeer” releases in theaters on November 20th. Featuring Guy Pierce, Claes Bang, Vicky Krieps, Rolland Moller and Olivia Grant. Screenplay adapted by James McGee, Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby. Directed by Dan Friedkin. Rated “R”