Sam's Blog - Frank

Director Lenny Abrahamson presents a funny, unusual, and ultimately surprising film that balances music with mental illness.

Domnhall Gleason plays Jon, a shy, wannabe musician who trudges along with his 9-5 cubicle work while desperately trying (and failing) to write his own music. In a completely chance encounter, when a touring band called Soronprfbs (your guess for the pronunciation is as good as any) asks him to replace its suicidal keyboard player, Jon jumps at the opportunity and is thrust into the midst of a surreal experience: the members of the band are an eccentric bunch, and play to please no one but themselves.

Don (Scoot McNairy), the band's manager, often speaks of his time in a mental institution and his mannequin fetish, and laughs at odd moments. Clara (Maggie Gyllenhaal), chic and stoic and clearly unstable, is the glue of the group in a controlling, overly-protective sort of way. Baraque and Nana are perhaps the most "normal" of the group, Baraque preferring to speak French, and Nana preferring not to speak much at all. But the crown jewel of the band is the frontman (Michael Fassbender), whose musical genius is slightly overshadowed by the large papier-mâché head that he wears over his own at all times. ALL times. This man's name is Frank.

As Soronprfbs retreats deep into the woods of Ireland to record its next album, trying to push any and every musical boundary, Jon gives updates of their progress to the online world, all the while slowly becoming attached to Frank's work and enigmatic nature. But Jon's ambition begins shoving its way into the picture, causing friction within the band as he tries to get them to perform for a bigger audience.

FRANK borrows from the real life story of Chris Sievey, a musician and comedian who performed under the name of Frank Sidebottom, wearing a similarly ridiculous head. Jon Ronson, FRANK's screenwriter, played the keyboard for Frank Sidebottom's band, so it is clear where he got his inspiration from. But FRANK is fictionalized, turning the head into less of an alter ego and more a sign of psychological struggle.

FRANK gives a really interesting glimpse into the world of the mentally ill. As more and more information is revealed about Frank's strange condition, we begin to see him more and more as a person instead of as an oddity. The story allows for a really unique study on identity, social anxiety, and a sense of belonging... it keeps you enraptured for the entire length of its 95-minute screen time.

The entire cast gives a magnificent performance (there's a lot of chemistry between these actors), but Fassbender deserves a particular nod, as Frank's head forced him to act without falling back on facial expressions. It is fascinating to see his character unfold onscreen... Even without the laughs laced throughout the film, FRANK is a must-see for the characters. Check it out this week at the Midtown Cinema!