May
18
Tags
FRANK
FRANK
Run time: 96mins
Director: Lenny Abrahamson
Cast: Michael Fassbender, Domhnall Gleeson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Scoot McNairy
Synopsis: An offbeat comedy about a young wannabe musician, Jon, who finds himself out of his depth when he joins an avant-garde pop band led by the mysterious and enigmatic Frank, a musical genius who hides himself inside a large fake head, and his terrifying band mate Clara.
Frank is an original and brilliant film, based on a memoir newspaper article by Jon Ronson, the writer and documentary film-maker, who co-wrote the screenplay with Peter Straughan.
It loosely recounts the story of 1980’s cult figure, Chris Sievey, a musician and comedian, who created an alter ego Frank Sidebottom who wore a giant cartoon Papier-mâché mask onstage.
Domnhall Gleeson (Harry Potter, About Time, Calvary) plays Jon who becomes the keyboard player of Frank’s band, “Soronprfbs”. Their enigmatic and eccentric front-man Frank is played by Michael Fassbender (12 Years a Slave, Shame, Hunger, X Men) and Jon soon finds out that he has bitten off more than he can chew when he joins the odd group of musicians in the unpronouncable “Soronprfbs” Maggie Gyllenhall is outstanding as the cold and acidic Clara. The whole ensemble convince as the quirky, offbeat band but the stand-out performance is from Fassbender, who still manages to spellbind and make the vulnerability and enthusiasm of Frank believable from under a huge cartoon head.
A memorable, amusing and poignant film with some great music.
Images courtesy of Curzon Film World
