Gary Oldman's 10 Greatest Movie Performances - Ranked
2. Mank - Herman J. Mankiewicz
It took a long while for Gary Oldman to bag his first Oscar, but his second might not be so far behind. In David Fincher’s brilliant if messy new biopic of Citizen Kane producer Herman J. Mankiewicz, Oldman comes close to a career best performance portraying the legendary movie man in this touching tribute.
Mankiewicz is another character right in Oldman’s sweet spot, a mercurial, troubled talent with an outsized personality and a depth to dig into. Oldman has rarely been more charismatic than he is here. As the title character, he’s rarely off screen, and he makes the most of his headline opportunity with a portrayal equal parts wild fun and genuinely moving.
Oldman’s ably supported by a large cast including Amanda Seyfried and Charles Dance, and simply seems to be having a whale of a time for the duration of Fincher’s ambitious vision. The director is an obsessive, detail oriented, and in Oldman he has a star whose observational powers are second to none.
Gary Oldman as Herman J. Mankiewicz is the one to beat in this upcoming awards season, and it’s unlikely anyone will be able to do so.