DVD Review: Frank
How long are we staying here?
Jon (Domhnall Gleeson) is a wannabe musician who ends up filling in for a keyboard player in a small band after he witnesses his suicide attempt. That band is lead by an eccentric front man, Frank, (Michael Fassbender) who never takes off a giant head he wears. Other band members are angry Clara, (Maggie Gyllenhaal) the mutes Nana and Baraque (Carla Aazar and Francois Civil..okay they're not actually mutes but they might as well be. They're strictly background) and Don (Scoot McNairy) the one Jon initially gets closest too. Soon he realizes that he's in over his head when they invite him to help make their album.
I had really high hopes for Frank, but honestly I feel a little disappointed now. The film had some funny moments, but those became less and less as we went on and the film ends up very muddled towards the end. I ended up feeling really bad for Jon towards the end, and I don't think that was the desired feeling the film was going for.
Gleeson is a good lead, and Fassbender is very charismatic despite the fact that you barely see his face. The rest are not given much to do. The final song they sing together is ridiculously catchy. I guess that counts for something.
Recommended: Sure, maybe you'll like it more than I did. It's certainly not bad.
Grade: C+
Memorable Quote: "I love you all." - Frank (Michael Fassbender)
I agree. I thought the movie looked lame, actually. But then I saw it, and...it was still lame.
ReplyDeletelol. Yep, pretty much. I thought it looked like it had potential though.
DeleteI'd watch virtually anything with Fassbender in it, but this doesn't sound like anything I'm in a hurry to watch.
ReplyDeleteI'm the same way, but yeah this wasn't his best.
DeleteI watched this because of Fassbender, and his performance was fantastic, considering his face was covered most of the time. It does get a bit weird at times so in the end I felt indifferent towards it.
ReplyDeleteHe does give a really good performance all things considered, but I was really hoping for more.
DeleteI'm pretty much with you on this. I think I gave it a B, but it was disappointing. It didn't have the snap I wanted it to, but I LOVED Gyllenhaal here, like so much.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it definitely could've been better. It sucks. lol
DeleteYup, that's pretty much my thoughts exactly. It's not great, not bad, inoffensive to watch, Fassbender is still insanely watchable even with the hotness obscured by a giant fake head (and a surprisingly decent singer!), and Gyllenhaal is hilarious. But it kinda just sits there, doesn't it?
ReplyDeletelol Yes! At least we got his hotness from the neck down.
DeleteI loved it when I first saw it. Kinda forgotten it by now, but Fassbender and the soundtrack are memorable. Really wish they'd been noticed by more of the critics last year.
ReplyDeleteThey probably forgot all about it as well. :S
DeleteI still haven't seen this but I should rent this soon! I didn't know Maggie Gyllenhaal is in this too, I love her so that's another reason to see this!
ReplyDeleteShe's good in it, even if the film itself isn't very strong.
DeleteI want to check this out eventually but for some reason it just hasn't excited me much. I do like Fassbender (even with a paper mache mask) so that may be some kind of drawing point.
ReplyDeleteI think it's on Netflix Instant now, so there's always that.
DeleteAw, shame you didn't like it as much as other people. I think I gave it a B.
ReplyDeleteIt fell apart a little in the last act for me, but I still really enjoyed it. I loved Fassbender and Gyllenhaal.
I felt really bad for Jon at the end. I'm not sure if I was meant to or not, but it was just sad.
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