If you read enough posts on this website, you will begin to understand that many of us are huge fans of David Fincher. Of course, that’s not unique to us, at all. Fincher is one of the best filmmakers on the planet, and some would argue that his technical skill is second to none. But that doesn’t mean he’s happy with the direction of the film industry in 2020. Especially when he’s trying to promote a black and white period drama about the making of “Citizen Kane” in a world that seemingly only cares about Marvel and lightsabers.
READ MORE: David Fincher’s ‘Mank’ Is Gorgeously Mounted But Ultimately Distant Biopic [Review]
Speaking to Total Film, Fincher explained why “Mank” isn’t the easiest film to get made in the current industry climate, where studios are forever chasing franchises, sequels, reboots, and whatever else can earn them $1 billion at the box office.
“Unless you’re making a tentpole movie that has a Happy Meal component to it, no one’s interested,” Fincher explained.
The filmmaker also admits that “it’s not particularly a smart business plan to make a love letter to another movie that’s on [rival streaming service] HBO Max… But, listen, if we only did the stuff that was smart, there’d probably only be Marvel and ‘Star Wars’ and ‘Jurassic Park’ movies.”
READ MORE: David Fincher Explains Why ‘Mindhunter’ Ended Too Soon: “I Was Exhausted”
It’s clear that Fincher isn’t pleased with the direction the film industry has been heading in over the last decade. He’s definitely not a guy that is going to rush out and make a blockbuster just because that’s what people are watching. Clearly, if he wanted to do that, he would have gone through with the much-discussed “World War Z” sequel that has fallen apart. But the director also understands that if you’re not making billion-dollar franchise films, you better be making awards contenders.
“There’s really only two seasons for movies,” Fincher said. “There’s ‘spandex summer’ and there’s ‘affliction winter.’ You’re making your movie for one of two seasons. And if you miss, you’ll fall into one of those other two seasons, which are nominally dumping grounds. Does that make sense?”
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Of course, this year, “Mank” is in the latter “affliction winter” category, as the film is the current front runner for many awards that will be handed out over the next several months. So, it’s not all bad, right? Well, even with that attention and his clout as one of the best filmmakers around, Fincher just isn’t happy with what’s going on.
“I’m not really just a jaded fuck,” he explained. “I’m an informed, jaded fuck.”
As long as he keeps making films, he can be whatever he wants to be, right?
