Film No. 50 (2014) July 23rd. 5:00 PM LUNA Leederville.
Frank is the most unique film I have seen this year. It is not my favourite cinema experience of 2014 but it has kept me thinking for the last 3 days. Any film depicting mental illness is sure to explore new ideas and Frank certainly breaks new ground with respect to original concepts.
A cast comprising the likes of Maggie Gyllenhaal, Michael Fassbender and Domnhall Gleeson sets up an interesting mix of talent. The fact these actors chose this script gives the film credibility but I'm not sure the finished product would have fulfilled their initial expectations. I say this only because they seem to flounder during some of the "oddball" scenes.
Jon (Gleeson) is a talentless amateur musician who can't believe his luck when a travelling band who comes to his small, windswept Irish town, invites him to join as their keyboard player. Jon is an innocent soul who soon becomes the group's financial backer as they continue to roll, as if without a rudder, along in a vain commitment to recording an album. The theme would seem to be that Jon gradually comes of age as he discovers his true short comings as a musician in the midst of a group of strange but moderately talented people.
The film's co-writer Jon Robson was a key board player in a band with Frank Sidebottom who happened to wear a papier-mache head. The connection therefore is obvious but while Sidebottom was an eccentric there is no suggestion he was mentally ill. The characters surrounding Jon in Frank are definitely in need of some form of medication. It's an odd film, I continue to think about it and if you are a fan of Gyllenhaal you'll experience another string to her bow. 7GUMS
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