Mmm... I see that many are calling this an unexpected and difficult film, but I don't know; it felt quite "traditional" and straight-forward to me, in a good way, of course. After seeing the trailers, I was afraid this whole "old movie" look will turn out to be a gimmick, but it completely absorbed me, and I couldn't imagine this story told in a "conventional" way.
And I'm sure others have already pointed it out, but the film just feels so timely. Some dialogues are maybe even a bit too much on the nose, but I wouldn't know if it was intentional or not. But this whole movie is about things we all know, things we all experience, it's about universal truths and how we all keep forgetting about these universal truths.
The film itself, how it's written and structured is trying to convey that same message, I think. It's an anti-blockbuster, and I think it wants to show that off. I think there are moments when it gives the middle finger to the modern blockbuster industry. Which is expected in a way of Fincher, I think, but it also tries to make its audience re-discover some of the forgotten, basic values of an ideal reality where liars and lies are called out, and grand manipulators are called out. I mean, there are several moments where you cannot help but think of contemporary politics and issues, but the film is not trying to be a metaphor for modern days, but rather it tries to prove how modern issues are not modern at all. They are centuries old, or maybe: these are universal, historic issues people always had to face and deal with.
And it's surprising that this sort of exploration of the deepest human struggles emerges from a biography about a Hollywood screenwriter. I was surprised, at least. And I watched this film without watching Citizen Kane beforehand, and don't worry, I think it still works. (I've seen Kane a long, long time ago)
I don't think this film is that difficult to grasp, or that "weird" or unconventional - it's simply a good film with great scenes, sharp dialogue (sharper than those of Chicago 7, maybe?) and masterful direction - the latter shows itself how economic the whole movie feels. It's on point, it's straight down to business, there's nothing standing out, it knows what it wants to achieve. Maybe the only scene that was a bit too much for me was the walk in the zoo (with its animal puns), but now that I think of it, it could be thought of as a simple, comedic detour.
All in all, I liked it, and more importantly, it made me think of soooo many things in my own life as someone struggling with creative aspiration and energies, and of things we are seeing and experiencing in our present day reality. Great ride. And I love Oldman (but, as expected, everyone was top-notch).
