How do you follow up a movie like "Frank," a quirky musical comedy about the lead singer of an avant garde band who has spent years wearing a large papier-mâché head? In Lenny Abrahamson's case, you direct "Room," a tender yet harrowing story about a mother and her young son held in captivity for years by a sexual predator.
The two films perhaps aren't as different as that brief synopsis suggests. Irish filmmaker Abrahamson has often told stories about outsiders with a different perspective on the world throughout his career. As he once told Far Out:
"A lot of my work is about people who are stepping away from society. I think it's fair to say that I look at those marginalized, or feel different, in society. It helps us to empathize with the characters if they're outsiders looking in."
"Frank" and "Room" share this theme. Once Frank (Michael Fassbender...
The two films perhaps aren't as different as that brief synopsis suggests. Irish filmmaker Abrahamson has often told stories about outsiders with a different perspective on the world throughout his career. As he once told Far Out:
"A lot of my work is about people who are stepping away from society. I think it's fair to say that I look at those marginalized, or feel different, in society. It helps us to empathize with the characters if they're outsiders looking in."
"Frank" and "Room" share this theme. Once Frank (Michael Fassbender...
- 1/5/2023
- by Lee Adams
- Slash Film
Ahead of its full slate of nominations next month, BAFTA has unveiled the 10 short-listed films that will compete in the category of outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer.
The nominated works include “For Sama,” a portrait of a Syrian mother’s experience of her country’s civil war, and “Blue Story,” the story of two youths caught up in a South London gang war. “For Sama,” co-directed by Waad al-Kateab and Edward Watts, recently cleaned up at the British Independent Film Awards, winning the prize for best British independent film, while “Blue Story,” the directorial debut of YouTube rap star Rapman, has been in the news because of some theaters’ temporary decision to yank the film because of violence surrounding its screenings.
Other short-listed titles include “Maiden,” director Alex Holmes’ documentary about an all-female crew on an around-the-world yacht race, and “The Party’s Just Beginning” from writer-director Karen Gillan,...
The nominated works include “For Sama,” a portrait of a Syrian mother’s experience of her country’s civil war, and “Blue Story,” the story of two youths caught up in a South London gang war. “For Sama,” co-directed by Waad al-Kateab and Edward Watts, recently cleaned up at the British Independent Film Awards, winning the prize for best British independent film, while “Blue Story,” the directorial debut of YouTube rap star Rapman, has been in the news because of some theaters’ temporary decision to yank the film because of violence surrounding its screenings.
Other short-listed titles include “Maiden,” director Alex Holmes’ documentary about an all-female crew on an around-the-world yacht race, and “The Party’s Just Beginning” from writer-director Karen Gillan,...
- 12/9/2019
- by Henry Chu
- Variety Film + TV
In his latest podcast/interview, host Stuart Wright talks to Being Frank: The Chris Sievey Story documentary filmmaker Steve Sullivan about his new feature length doc, which is in UK cinames now. Check website for details www.beingfrank.film/tickets/
Pre-order the extra filled DVD or extra, extra filled Blu-ray here www.beingfrank.film/watch-at-home/
It’s a documentary about the life of eccentric comedian Frank Sidebottom who wore a huge paper mache’ head and whose true identity was a closely guarded secret until after died. The 2014 Magnolia Pictures film, titled Frank, was inspired by his sensational mystery.
Pre-order the extra filled DVD or extra, extra filled Blu-ray here www.beingfrank.film/watch-at-home/
It’s a documentary about the life of eccentric comedian Frank Sidebottom who wore a huge paper mache’ head and whose true identity was a closely guarded secret until after died. The 2014 Magnolia Pictures film, titled Frank, was inspired by his sensational mystery.
- 4/1/2019
- by Stuart Wright
- Nerdly
Further openers include ’Out Of Blue’, ’At Eternity’s Gate’ and ’Eaten By Lions’.
Fantasy adventure Dumbo is the headline title opening at the UK box office this weekend, and may oust Disney stablemate Captain Marvel from the number one spot it has held for three weeks.
Directed by Tim Burton, Dumbo is inspired by the 1941 Disney animation of the same name, which itself was based on the novel by Helen Aberson and Harold Pearl. Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Eva Green and Alan Arkin star in the story of a family which works at a failing circus, who...
Fantasy adventure Dumbo is the headline title opening at the UK box office this weekend, and may oust Disney stablemate Captain Marvel from the number one spot it has held for three weeks.
Directed by Tim Burton, Dumbo is inspired by the 1941 Disney animation of the same name, which itself was based on the novel by Helen Aberson and Harold Pearl. Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Eva Green and Alan Arkin star in the story of a family which works at a failing circus, who...
- 3/29/2019
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
This documentary about Sievey’s wacky comic creation makes a good case for bestowing posthumous national treasure status
It’s appropriate that this absorbing, tender documentary has been driven by a surge of fan loyalty and love. A grassroots Kickstarter campaign funded it, and utter devotion and commitment from film-maker Steve Sullivan has found order in the chaos of VHS tapes, cardboard cutouts, notebooks, costumes, memorabilia and inspired zine artwork. His subject is Chris Sievey, the talented Manchester guitarist and songwriter, whose strange destiny it was in the 80s to find fame – or cult status – for a wacky comedy character he created in an idle moment called Frank Sidebottom that he played on stage with a big papier-mache head.
The character took off. Chris’s pop dreams were in effect abandoned because Frank was a real success (though of a much more marginal sort than the success Chris was yearning...
It’s appropriate that this absorbing, tender documentary has been driven by a surge of fan loyalty and love. A grassroots Kickstarter campaign funded it, and utter devotion and commitment from film-maker Steve Sullivan has found order in the chaos of VHS tapes, cardboard cutouts, notebooks, costumes, memorabilia and inspired zine artwork. His subject is Chris Sievey, the talented Manchester guitarist and songwriter, whose strange destiny it was in the 80s to find fame – or cult status – for a wacky comedy character he created in an idle moment called Frank Sidebottom that he played on stage with a big papier-mache head.
The character took off. Chris’s pop dreams were in effect abandoned because Frank was a real success (though of a much more marginal sort than the success Chris was yearning...
- 3/27/2019
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
"No one's ever seen him with his head off - that was the big thing." Altitude Films has revealed the official UK trailer for the documentary Being Frank: The Chris Sievey Story, from director Steve Sullivan. Remember that film Frank a few years ago starring Michael Fassbender as a wierdo musician who wore a giant paper mache head the entire film? This is the feature documentary about the real person who inspired that film - the eccentric Manchester-based comedian Frank Sidebottom, whose real name is Chris Sievey. Being Frank: The Chris Sievey Story includes archival excerpts from Chris' personal collection of hundreds of boxes of notebooks, home movies, art and music. Along with insights from Chris' family, friends, and colleagues, including Johnny Vegas, Jon Ronson, John Cooper Clarke, Ross Noble, Mark Radcliffe, which reveal the unknown story of Chris Sievey - songwriter, artist, comedian, husband, dad, and wayward genius. Here's...
- 2/27/2019
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Applications also open for Breakthrough emerging talent strand.
London Screenings, the export market dedicated to UK film, has announced its dates and a new venue for the 2019 event.
This year’s market will be held at the Picturehouse Central in Soho for the first time and will take place from June 24-27, 2019.
It is moving from the BFI Southbank, where it had been held for the past 15 years.
Run by Film London, London Screenings brings some 150 international buyers and festival programmers to London to watch around 45 selected titles handled predominantly by UK sales companies.
Applications are also open for the...
London Screenings, the export market dedicated to UK film, has announced its dates and a new venue for the 2019 event.
This year’s market will be held at the Picturehouse Central in Soho for the first time and will take place from June 24-27, 2019.
It is moving from the BFI Southbank, where it had been held for the past 15 years.
Run by Film London, London Screenings brings some 150 international buyers and festival programmers to London to watch around 45 selected titles handled predominantly by UK sales companies.
Applications are also open for the...
- 2/14/2019
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
It’s never an easy feat to examine cultural phenomenons when the people telling the story are close to the subject, but Being Frank: The Chris Sievey Story makes a valiant if flawed effort. Steve Sullivan’s exploration of Chris Sievey, a multi-hyphenate musician turned experimental video maker, maverick comedian and animator feels as disjointed as the comedy of his most well known creation, Frank Sidebottom. Frank Sidebottom, portrayed by Sievey, of course, bears a striking resemblance to the Frank portrayed by Michael Fassbender in Lenny Abrahamson’s dark comedy, Frank–even if the film is only referenced in passing by Sullivan.
Being Frank: The Chris Sievey Story is more or less concerned with the man behind the mask, who never had the dramatic reveal he’d hoped for in his career. The paper mâché, Frank, morphed into the type of Pee-wee Herman character that simultaneously entertains adults at music...
Being Frank: The Chris Sievey Story is more or less concerned with the man behind the mask, who never had the dramatic reveal he’d hoped for in his career. The paper mâché, Frank, morphed into the type of Pee-wee Herman character that simultaneously entertains adults at music...
- 3/15/2018
- by John Fink
- The Film Stage
Familiar to film buffs as the inspiration for 2014's Domhnall Gleeson/Michael Fassbender vehicle Frank, the true story of Frank Sidebottom is, for once, even stranger and more colorful than its fictionalization. An engrossing doc portrait of the English cult star whose head was a watermelon-sized ball of papier-mache, Steve Sullivan's Being Frank: The Chris Sievey Story lends an ear to those who knew the man beneath the mask. A charmer with strong appeal for video release, it is lively enough to merit a niche theatrical run beforehand.
Before he became Frank, an alter-ego that consumed him, Chris Sievey was one...
Before he became Frank, an alter-ego that consumed him, Chris Sievey was one...
- 3/14/2018
- by John DeFore
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Set to enjoy its world premiere at SXSW 2018 next Tuesday, March 13 at 9:00 Pm (Alamo Ritz 1 - limited seating capacity, get there early), Steve Sullivan's debut feature documentary Being Frank: The Chris Sievey Story "tells a twisted tale of split personalities." That's according to the official verbiage. Here's more about it: Chris Sievey was a songwriter, artist, comedian and wayward genius. A man whose life was a fantastic, subversive piece of performance art. His greatest creation, the mysterious Frank Sidebottom becomes a star - a manic, insane, mercurial star who obscures his own creator - playing at Wembley Stadium, getting his TV show and building an army of fans. Chris Sievey grows to resent his creation and descends into alcoholism and bankruptcy,...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 3/9/2018
- Screen Anarchy
Mark Harrison Jul 1, 2016
Need a laugh? Here's our guide to 25 comedies that are on Netflix UK now, and are well worth your time...
Putting aside all of the chunter about VPNs and rising subscription costs for a moment, there are more hidden gems to be discovered on Netflix UK than you might expect, and we've been combing through the streaming site's current catalogue to find some of the most underappreciated comedies on offer.
We've come up with this fairly broad selection of films that varies on several fronts. We've picked out a mix of belly laughers and dark comedies, with a couple of dramedies thrown in for good measure. They're not all big Hollywood comedies, but neither are they all films that you're hearing about for the first time, though we've tried to order them according to how well known they may or may not be. What they all have...
Need a laugh? Here's our guide to 25 comedies that are on Netflix UK now, and are well worth your time...
Putting aside all of the chunter about VPNs and rising subscription costs for a moment, there are more hidden gems to be discovered on Netflix UK than you might expect, and we've been combing through the streaming site's current catalogue to find some of the most underappreciated comedies on offer.
We've come up with this fairly broad selection of films that varies on several fronts. We've picked out a mix of belly laughers and dark comedies, with a couple of dramedies thrown in for good measure. They're not all big Hollywood comedies, but neither are they all films that you're hearing about for the first time, though we've tried to order them according to how well known they may or may not be. What they all have...
- 6/29/2016
- Den of Geek
From Guardians Of The Galaxy to Godzilla, and Noah to Paddington, our pick of 2014's finest film soundtracks and scores.
After Gravity blew your eardrums out of the airlock in 2013 with its seamless mix of sound effects and music, it was hard to imagine a film wowing just as much the year after, but 2014 was a year in which movie soundtracks became, if anything, even more intricate, from films about the nature of being a musician to those that replicated the noise of human existence for alien senses.
Before 2014 becomes a distant ringing in the ears, here are the top 14 movie soundtracks of the year.
1. Under the Skin (Mica Levi)
Once you've heard Mica Levi's soundtrack to Under the Skin, everything else sounds both disappointing and even more exciting. I say 'soundtrack' because, like the best movies, Jonathan Glazer's sci-fi understands that sound and music are two halves of the same hastily-conceived metaphor.
After Gravity blew your eardrums out of the airlock in 2013 with its seamless mix of sound effects and music, it was hard to imagine a film wowing just as much the year after, but 2014 was a year in which movie soundtracks became, if anything, even more intricate, from films about the nature of being a musician to those that replicated the noise of human existence for alien senses.
Before 2014 becomes a distant ringing in the ears, here are the top 14 movie soundtracks of the year.
1. Under the Skin (Mica Levi)
Once you've heard Mica Levi's soundtrack to Under the Skin, everything else sounds both disappointing and even more exciting. I say 'soundtrack' because, like the best movies, Jonathan Glazer's sci-fi understands that sound and music are two halves of the same hastily-conceived metaphor.
- 1/7/2015
- by simonbrew
- Den of Geek
A new year of films may beckon, but there are lots of movies from 2014 you may have missed. Here's a list of 2014's most underappreciated...
There was no shortage of magnificent films in 2014 of every kind, from the expensive and explosive to the low-key and experimental. But it's a sad fact of life that not all movies do as well as they should, either because of poor distribution or simply because they'd been released at the same time as something much bigger and more star-laden.
While the list below is by no means an exhaustive one - there are plenty of great films from 2014 that we're still getting around to seeing - it's our attempt to highlight a few fine pieces of work that didn't get quite as much love as they deserved.
So without further ado - and in no particular order - we'll start with a stunning...
There was no shortage of magnificent films in 2014 of every kind, from the expensive and explosive to the low-key and experimental. But it's a sad fact of life that not all movies do as well as they should, either because of poor distribution or simply because they'd been released at the same time as something much bigger and more star-laden.
While the list below is by no means an exhaustive one - there are plenty of great films from 2014 that we're still getting around to seeing - it's our attempt to highlight a few fine pieces of work that didn't get quite as much love as they deserved.
So without further ado - and in no particular order - we'll start with a stunning...
- 1/6/2015
- by ryanlambie
- Den of Geek
Chicago – Just like every year before it, there were no perfect films in 2014. I do not see this as a negative thing - reaching for greatness is far more electrifying than the plateau of achieving it, as presented in a hustler’s opus like ‘Whiplash,” which specifically eschews applause after a drum solo that just may have been perfection.
It’s all about genuine ambition - that’s the fuel that is going to keep cinematic storytelling arresting as it continues to jump, flip, retread, reboot, restore, subvert, invert, and stumble forward. The best films of 2014 are the ones that have this quality in front of or behind the camera, and sometimes both; the quality of pushing viewers along with them, of making polarizing choices that won’t land well for all, but yearn for something more.
This aspect was found in dollops throughout the film year. Separate highlights include...
It’s all about genuine ambition - that’s the fuel that is going to keep cinematic storytelling arresting as it continues to jump, flip, retread, reboot, restore, subvert, invert, and stumble forward. The best films of 2014 are the ones that have this quality in front of or behind the camera, and sometimes both; the quality of pushing viewers along with them, of making polarizing choices that won’t land well for all, but yearn for something more.
This aspect was found in dollops throughout the film year. Separate highlights include...
- 12/31/2014
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Christmas is over, and New Year's is bearing down upon us like a predatory alien seductress or a savagely ruthless photojournalist (take your pick).
You've already seen our list of the 25 best movies of the year so far, and now it's time to single out the actors and actresses who made the biggest impression on us in 2014.
Below are Digital Spy's 12 favourite big-screen performances of the year.
1. Jake Gyllenhaal (Nightcrawler)
Perhaps the most instantly iconic movie character of the year, Nightcrawler's Lou Bloom is the walking embodiment of naked ambition. A drifter determined to carve himself out a career, Lou stalks the streets of La in search of grisly crime scenes to capture on camera, selling the footage on to the highest bidding news outfit.
As the film's title implies, Lou is closer to predatory animal than man, Jake Gyllenhaal's wolfish smile and gaunt physique turning him wraithlike...
You've already seen our list of the 25 best movies of the year so far, and now it's time to single out the actors and actresses who made the biggest impression on us in 2014.
Below are Digital Spy's 12 favourite big-screen performances of the year.
1. Jake Gyllenhaal (Nightcrawler)
Perhaps the most instantly iconic movie character of the year, Nightcrawler's Lou Bloom is the walking embodiment of naked ambition. A drifter determined to carve himself out a career, Lou stalks the streets of La in search of grisly crime scenes to capture on camera, selling the footage on to the highest bidding news outfit.
As the film's title implies, Lou is closer to predatory animal than man, Jake Gyllenhaal's wolfish smile and gaunt physique turning him wraithlike...
- 12/27/2014
- Digital Spy
It's time to crack into the top ten! Our countdown of 2014's best movies heads into the home stretch with a dash of blockbuster science fiction and a pair of well-received films from Wes Anderson and David Fincher. Also included: Michael Fassbender in a papier-mâché head.
Digital Spy goes from 10 to 6 in the rundown below...
Best movies of the year 2014: 25-21
Best movies of the year 2014: 20-16
Best movies of the year 2014: 15-11
10. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
We said: "Three years after Rise of the Planet of the Apes stunned many with its quality, Dawn builds on these foundations with an emotionally powerful and visually stunning tale documenting the conflicts between humans and apes trying to survive in a world ravaged by a killer virus. A thought-provoking blockbuster, it serves as the perfect antidote to Transformers: Age of Extinction." [Brj]
9. Frank
We said: "Who needs a face to act?...
Digital Spy goes from 10 to 6 in the rundown below...
Best movies of the year 2014: 25-21
Best movies of the year 2014: 20-16
Best movies of the year 2014: 15-11
10. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
We said: "Three years after Rise of the Planet of the Apes stunned many with its quality, Dawn builds on these foundations with an emotionally powerful and visually stunning tale documenting the conflicts between humans and apes trying to survive in a world ravaged by a killer virus. A thought-provoking blockbuster, it serves as the perfect antidote to Transformers: Age of Extinction." [Brj]
9. Frank
We said: "Who needs a face to act?...
- 12/23/2014
- Digital Spy
1. Frank
Those of us who care about movie posters often complain about “big head” posters from Hollywood studios, but the design for Lenny Abrahamson’s Frank is the ne plus ultra of big head posters: a poster for a film about a big head. The head in question is the papier-mâché noggin worn by Michael Fassbender’s title character, which was inspired by the nearly identical prop worn by Chris Sievey, a.k.a. Frank Sidebottom, the nasal-voiced troubadour from Timperley, Manchester, who famously covered the Sex Pistols (“Anarchy in Timperley”) and had his moment of cult fame in the 80s. The poster for Frank, designed by an as-yet uncredited designer at P+A studio (the anonymity seems apt) subverts the chief function of the big head poster by not showing us the film’s star. To me it’s a thing of beauty (my affection for Frank Sidebottom and...
Those of us who care about movie posters often complain about “big head” posters from Hollywood studios, but the design for Lenny Abrahamson’s Frank is the ne plus ultra of big head posters: a poster for a film about a big head. The head in question is the papier-mâché noggin worn by Michael Fassbender’s title character, which was inspired by the nearly identical prop worn by Chris Sievey, a.k.a. Frank Sidebottom, the nasal-voiced troubadour from Timperley, Manchester, who famously covered the Sex Pistols (“Anarchy in Timperley”) and had his moment of cult fame in the 80s. The poster for Frank, designed by an as-yet uncredited designer at P+A studio (the anonymity seems apt) subverts the chief function of the big head poster by not showing us the film’s star. To me it’s a thing of beauty (my affection for Frank Sidebottom and...
- 12/15/2014
- by Adrian Curry
- MUBI
At a loss for what to watch this week? From new DVDs and Blu-rays, to what's streaming on Netflix, we've got you covered.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
"Guardians of the Galaxy"
Chris Pratt stars as Peter Quill, aka Star-Lord, an outlaw who stumbles upon a special orb that it seems everyone in the galaxy is after. He inadvertently teams up with a few other alien misfits (Zoe Saldana as Gamora, Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer, Vin Diesel as Groot, and Bradley Cooper as Rocket) to save the world from some super bad dudes. The Blu-ray looks great, and it's full of cool little details, like the graphics that pop up when you pause the movie, as well as the regular old featurettes, commentaries, and so on. And, if you think the cast has amazing chemistry in the movie, just wait until you watch them go Unscripted.
"Frank"
Michael Fassbender...
New on DVD and Blu-ray
"Guardians of the Galaxy"
Chris Pratt stars as Peter Quill, aka Star-Lord, an outlaw who stumbles upon a special orb that it seems everyone in the galaxy is after. He inadvertently teams up with a few other alien misfits (Zoe Saldana as Gamora, Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer, Vin Diesel as Groot, and Bradley Cooper as Rocket) to save the world from some super bad dudes. The Blu-ray looks great, and it's full of cool little details, like the graphics that pop up when you pause the movie, as well as the regular old featurettes, commentaries, and so on. And, if you think the cast has amazing chemistry in the movie, just wait until you watch them go Unscripted.
"Frank"
Michael Fassbender...
- 12/8/2014
- by Jenni Miller
- Moviefone
Before you hit the comments section, yes, we know, the soundtrack to "Frank" was released digitally in August. But frankly, this movie could use a lot more love. Premiering at the Sundance Film Festival in January, the hilarious comedy got a lot of great buzz, but like many movies that get heat in Park City, for whatever reason, it dissipated by time "Frank" hit theaters. We're here to tell you, if you haven't seen it, go order it on VOD now or see it in theaters if it's playing near you. And the soundtrack is just one reason to put this movie on your radar. Directed by Lenny Abrahamson, the movie is loosely based on the real life Frank Sidebottom, and tells the story of a young kid with musical aspirations that finds himself recruited as the unlikely keyboard player for a fledgling band. They all retreat to the woods to record a new album,...
- 10/1/2014
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
Frank is a fictional story loosely inspired by Frank Sidebottom, the persona of cult musician and comedy legend Chris Sievey, as well as other outsider musicians like Daniel Johnston and Captain Beefheart. Frank is a comedy about a young wannabe musician, Jon, who discovers he's bitten off more than he can chew when he joins a band of eccentric pop musicians led by the mysterious and enigmatic Frank and his terrifying sidekick, Clara. Frank’s uniqueness lies in the fact that he makes music purely for the joy of creating…and because he wears a giant fake head. After a rocky start, Jon ingratiates himself with the band members, and they retreat to a cabin in the woods to record an album. As his influence waxes, creative tensions mount, and the band’s entire raison d'être is called into...
- 10/1/2014
- by Pietro Filipponi
- The Daily BLAM!
Written by Jon Ronson and Peter Straughan, Lenny Abrahamson's Frank (2014) is based on the memoir by Ronson himself. It's a fictional story loosely inspired by Frank Sidebottom, the persona of cult musician and comedy legend Chris Sievey, as well as other outsider musicians like Daniel Johnston and Captain Beefheart. To celebrate the home entertainment release of Frank this coming Monday (15 September), we've kindly been provided with Three DVD copies of Abrahamson's oddity to give away, courtesy of the hardworking team at indie cinema specialists Curzon Film World. This is an exclusive competition for our Facebook and Twitter fans, so if you haven't already, 'Like' us at facebook.com/CineVueUK or follow us @CineVue before answering the question below.
- 9/16/2014
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
★★★☆☆After impressing both audiences and critics alike with previous feature What Richard Did (2012), a slow-burning drama that put him front and centre on the filmmaking map, Irish director Lenny Abrahamson takes a decidedly different approach for his next project, Frank (2014), a fictional story loosely inspired by Frank Sidebottom, the persona of cult musician and comedy legend Chris Sievey. A story of a band made up of a ragtag group of outsiders and their newbie keyboardist, Frank has winsome curiosity in spades, yet does little with a tried and tested formula. Domhnall Gleeson plays Jon, a weary office drone who dreams of being a musician yet struggles with finding inspiration when it comes to writing his own music.
- 9/15/2014
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
First of all, something of an apology. I have been writing this column thinking that every single title due for release the following Monday would of course be released via some kind of pay to stream service. Of course it would, we are living in the future, and this is how things are done isn’t it?
Apparently not, last week I included Jeremy Saulnier’s much loved Blue Ruin in the pay to stream section and then it didn’t come out the way I thought it might. Turns out that some companies still have a fairly limited release pattern so Blue Ruin was released by channel 4’s DVD label and appeared on DVD and Blu but didn’t show up to stream on any of the major providers, not even Sky Store or Playstation Network.
So turns out that being a channel 4 release, you can of course rent...
Apparently not, last week I included Jeremy Saulnier’s much loved Blue Ruin in the pay to stream section and then it didn’t come out the way I thought it might. Turns out that some companies still have a fairly limited release pattern so Blue Ruin was released by channel 4’s DVD label and appeared on DVD and Blu but didn’t show up to stream on any of the major providers, not even Sky Store or Playstation Network.
So turns out that being a channel 4 release, you can of course rent...
- 9/15/2014
- by Chris Holt
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Stars: Domhnall Gleeson, Michael Fassbender, Maggie Gyllenhall, Clara Azar, Francois Civil, Scoot McNairy | Written by Jon Ronson, Peter Straughan | Directed by Lenny Abrahamson
People over a certain age in the UK will always remember Frank Sidebottom, he was that right kind of odd to stick in your memory forever. This is one reason that seeing his papier-mâché head make an appearance in a film that really isn’t about him is a bit odd. In truth though Frank is a film that is kind of based on memories of Sidebottom and if anything Jon Ronson and Peter Straughan’s writing has captured the spirit of what Frank actually represented.
When Jon (Domhnall Gleeson) a wannabe musician finds himself playing keyboard in an eccentric band, he becomes infatuated with the enigmatic front man Frank (Michael Fassbender). His face hidden behind a papier-mâché head he wears Frank is the inspiration for...
People over a certain age in the UK will always remember Frank Sidebottom, he was that right kind of odd to stick in your memory forever. This is one reason that seeing his papier-mâché head make an appearance in a film that really isn’t about him is a bit odd. In truth though Frank is a film that is kind of based on memories of Sidebottom and if anything Jon Ronson and Peter Straughan’s writing has captured the spirit of what Frank actually represented.
When Jon (Domhnall Gleeson) a wannabe musician finds himself playing keyboard in an eccentric band, he becomes infatuated with the enigmatic front man Frank (Michael Fassbender). His face hidden behind a papier-mâché head he wears Frank is the inspiration for...
- 9/15/2014
- by Paul Metcalf
- Nerdly
Frank
Directed by: Lenny Abrahamson
Cast: Michael Fassbender, Domnhall Gleeson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Scoot McNairy
Running Time: 1 hr 35 mins
Rating: R
Release Date: August 29, 2014 (Chicago)
Plot: A songwriter (Gleeson) meets a bandleader who always wears a giant head (Fassbender).
Who’S It For? Those who cherish unabashed creativity.
Overall
Frank begins inside the head of scruffy yokel Jon (Domnhall Gleeson), a musician living with his parents who just wants to compose the hit song that will bestow him on his big break. By freak timing, the struggling pop-inclined keyboardist is randomly brought on board an enigmatic band called The Soronprfbs. Within this noise rock band (start by thinking of freakier Flaming Lips tracks) is acidic synth player Clara (Maggie Gyllenhaal), bassist and drummer Baraque and Nana (François Civil and Carla Azar), and their manager Don (Scoot McNairy). Their lead singer is also their chief songwriter, a man named Frank (Michael Fassbender...
Directed by: Lenny Abrahamson
Cast: Michael Fassbender, Domnhall Gleeson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Scoot McNairy
Running Time: 1 hr 35 mins
Rating: R
Release Date: August 29, 2014 (Chicago)
Plot: A songwriter (Gleeson) meets a bandleader who always wears a giant head (Fassbender).
Who’S It For? Those who cherish unabashed creativity.
Overall
Frank begins inside the head of scruffy yokel Jon (Domnhall Gleeson), a musician living with his parents who just wants to compose the hit song that will bestow him on his big break. By freak timing, the struggling pop-inclined keyboardist is randomly brought on board an enigmatic band called The Soronprfbs. Within this noise rock band (start by thinking of freakier Flaming Lips tracks) is acidic synth player Clara (Maggie Gyllenhaal), bassist and drummer Baraque and Nana (François Civil and Carla Azar), and their manager Don (Scoot McNairy). Their lead singer is also their chief songwriter, a man named Frank (Michael Fassbender...
- 9/2/2014
- by Nick Allen
- The Scorecard Review
I guess I can accept the the official plot synopsis description of Frank, calling it "wildly quirky", but I absolutely cannot find the subsequent "comedy" added to that description within this film's short running time. I also see where the film wants to question the clash of popularity and eccentricity, the question of whether or not something can be appreciated by the masses as a curiosity alone or must it conform to general norms, thus losing its soul, before it can be wholly acceptedc However, I'd just rather read that last sentence and discuss it than watch a bunch of people make nonsense music and bad decisions, which is pretty much all Lenny Abrahamson's Frank was to me. Written by Jon Ronson (The Men Who Stare at Goats) and Peter Straughan (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), Frank could first and foremost be looked at as a loving tribute to the...
- 8/22/2014
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
< This review originally ran as part of our Sundance 2014 coverage. Plot: A young, aspiring musician (Domhnall Gleeson) finds himself the keyboardist in an avant-garde punk-rock band of misfits led by a front-man named Frank (Michael Fassbender), who walks around wearing a giant head-mask, never taking it off. Review: After the first images of Michael Fassbender wearing a Frank Sidebottom mask started to spread over the net, everyone seemed to think Lenny...
- 8/19/2014
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
It's safe to say that I won't see anything else like "Frank" this year, because I don't think there's a chance anyone's going to make anything else like "Frank" this year. Written by Jon Ronson and Peter Straughan, who previously collaborated on the adaptation of Ronson's book "The Men Who Stared At Goats," this is the story of an ambitious young musician named Jon (Domhnall Gleeson) who is struggling to define his own voice as a songwriter. He crosses paths with Soronprfbs, a very strange band as he watches their keyboardist try to drown himself, and thanks to that meltdown, Jon is given a chance to play with them. What he doesn't realize until he gets to the run-through is that their lead singer, Frank (Michael Fassbender), performs wearing a giant sculpted head. More than that, though, he wears it everywhere, all the time. No one in the band says...
- 8/15/2014
- by Drew McWeeny
- Hitfix
The droll wit and formal daring of Frank start with the casting. Michael Fassbender has been an X-Man, a gladiator (300), a sex addict (Shame) and an Oscar nominee (12 Years a Slave). Also a hottie, whose posters get drooled over on dorm walls. So why cast Fassbender as a cult-music icon in the title role in Frank and then ask the swoony bugger to cover his head in plastic for 99 percent of the movie?
Don't ask. I'll tell. Because the role is the kind of risk the reliably ballsy Fassbender likes to take.
Don't ask. I'll tell. Because the role is the kind of risk the reliably ballsy Fassbender likes to take.
- 8/15/2014
- Rollingstone.com
Frank
Written by Jon Ronson and Peter Straughan
Directed by Lenny Abrahamson (as Leonard Abrahamson)
UK/Ireland, 2014
The look of Frank’s title character is based on English musician and comedian Chris Sievey’s guise Frank Sidebottom, very much a cult figure in the UK during the 1980s and 90s but virtually unknown outside of the island. (International audiences may recently have got a glimpse of the late Sievey’s material as Sidebottom in one memorable sequence of Filth.) Lenny Abrahamson’s film, however, is not the story of Frank Sidebottom, with co-writer Jon Ronson instead taking inspiration from his own time as a keyboardist for Sievey in order to explore fictional territory.
Ronson’s fictional stand-in in Frank is, appropriately enough, named Jon, and is played by Domnhall Gleeson. He is a small-town office stooge who dreams of escaping his humdrum life with musical pursuits, despite an apparent lack...
Written by Jon Ronson and Peter Straughan
Directed by Lenny Abrahamson (as Leonard Abrahamson)
UK/Ireland, 2014
The look of Frank’s title character is based on English musician and comedian Chris Sievey’s guise Frank Sidebottom, very much a cult figure in the UK during the 1980s and 90s but virtually unknown outside of the island. (International audiences may recently have got a glimpse of the late Sievey’s material as Sidebottom in one memorable sequence of Filth.) Lenny Abrahamson’s film, however, is not the story of Frank Sidebottom, with co-writer Jon Ronson instead taking inspiration from his own time as a keyboardist for Sievey in order to explore fictional territory.
Ronson’s fictional stand-in in Frank is, appropriately enough, named Jon, and is played by Domnhall Gleeson. He is a small-town office stooge who dreams of escaping his humdrum life with musical pursuits, despite an apparent lack...
- 8/15/2014
- by Josh Slater-Williams
- SoundOnSight
The first thing most people will hear about Frank is that Michael Fassbender is in it, wearing a giant papier-mâché head, so I might as well start there. After all, that’s the only part of the movie I was aware of before sitting down to watch it. Luckily for director Lenny Abrahamson, there’s a lot more going on than just that odd (but somehow perfect) casting choice. Though Fassbender will almost certainly be what reels audiences in, Frank is less about the actor’s performance and more about what the character, an enigmatic band leader who pulls brilliant lyrics out of thin air and demands nothing less than his own unique vision of musical perfection, represents.
Taken at face value (or mask value, in this case), Frank is the tortured artist, capable of producing great beauty but only out of terrible pain. A lonely childhood, social anxieties, you name it,...
Taken at face value (or mask value, in this case), Frank is the tortured artist, capable of producing great beauty but only out of terrible pain. A lonely childhood, social anxieties, you name it,...
- 8/14/2014
- by Isaac Feldberg
- We Got This Covered
Covering Fantasia for the first time was a hectic, enjoyable experience. They give you a badge with your name on it and everything. However, as for this year’s lineup, I have a little trouble being enthusiastic. With some major exceptions like Guardians of Galaxy, not listed here only because it’s appearance at the Festival seemed more coincidental than prestigious, a lot of the hyped up releases played weakly. Also, I’ve been no stranger to openly criticizing Fantasia audiences as a whole, more than willing to behave as sheep (or, in this case, cats) and applaud even the weakest of films due to a genre-note or laugh –however unintentional. So I found respite in some of the quieter films, and maybe a few major ones. No matter; Here are five things that truly deserve to gain wider audiences.
The Top Five Films of Fantasia
Time Lapse
Written by...
The Top Five Films of Fantasia
Time Lapse
Written by...
- 8/14/2014
- by Kenny Hedges
- SoundOnSight
Genius is hell, both for the blessed and those stuck in the shadows, cursed to spend a lifetime smashing their heads against the glass. In its presence we find ourselves dwarfed and dumb, like moths. We know we’re before brilliance we can’t comprehend — and we know we’ll never have it, no matter how hard we try. In England in the ’80s, there was a pop musician named Frank Sidebottom, who became less famous for his fuzzy covers of hits than the giant mask he wore while he sang, an 18-inch fiberglass globe with round eyes, big lips, and a prim side part. He wasn’t a genius. He was a novelty, and perhaps a bit of a nut. Like so many gag acts from that decade, Frank Sidebottom and his band, The Freshies, were as much performance artists as ...
- 8/13/2014
- Village Voice
Michael Fassbender and Domhnall Gleeson are no strangers to big event movies. However, their latest film, "Frank," does not fall into that category. Directed by Lenny Abrahamson, and also starring Maggie Gyllenhaal, the movie is an off-beat comedy loosely inspired by Frank Sidebottom, but it is its own tale. Here, Gleeson plays a would-be keyboardist, Jon, who finds himself with a gig in a band when the previous keyboardist has a breakdown. A relatively normal guy, Jon soon meets the enigmatic, odd, leader of the band, Frank (Fassbender), who, it must be noted, wears a huge fake head all the time. As perhaps should not be surprising in a band where the leader wears a huge fake head, Jon finds that Frank and company are not terribly invested in making popular, catchy, or even very accessible music. Still, being in a band, Jon is loathe to quit and he soon...
- 8/11/2014
- by Josh Lasser
- Hitfix
Right now, everyone wants to know whatever they can find out about J.J. Abrams' Star Wars Episode VII, currently shooting at London's Pinewood Studios, a project so veiled in secrecy that it makes journalists even more eager to ask the cast about it, fully knowing the results.
While interviewing actor Domnhall Gleeson (About Time) for Jon Ronson and Lenny Abrahamson's semi-autobiographical Frank, their tribute to avant-garde British comedian and musician Frank Sidebottom, ComingSoon.net tried to throw in a few innocent questions about "Star Wars" in hopes Gleeson might crack under the pressure of keeping it all a secret. It didn't really work although the resulting conversation was kind of fun.
While interviewing actor Domnhall Gleeson (About Time) for Jon Ronson and Lenny Abrahamson's semi-autobiographical Frank, their tribute to avant-garde British comedian and musician Frank Sidebottom, ComingSoon.net tried to throw in a few innocent questions about "Star Wars" in hopes Gleeson might crack under the pressure of keeping it all a secret. It didn't really work although the resulting conversation was kind of fun.
- 8/7/2014
- Comingsoon.net
Frank is a fictional story loosely inspired by Frank Sidebottom, the persona of cult musician and comedy legend Chris Sievey, as well as other outsider musicians like Daniel Johnston and Captain Beefheart. Frank is a comedy about a young wannabe musician, Jon, who discovers he's bitten off more than he can chew when he joins a band of eccentric pop musicians led by the mysterious and enigmatic Frank and his terrifying sidekick, Clara. Frank’s uniqueness lies in the fact that he makes music purely for the joy of creating…and because he wears a giant fake head. After a rocky start, Jon ingratiates himself with the band members, and they retreat to a cabin in the woods to record an album. As his influence waxes, creative tensions mount, and the band’s entire raison d'être is called into...
- 8/6/2014
- by Pietro Filipponi
- The Daily BLAM!
The members of the onscreen band in Frank reunited on Tuesday night at the New York City premiere of the Magnolia Pictures title, complete with a Fassbender-in-a-headmask performance of the film's final number, "I Love You All." Frank casts Michael Fassbender as the mysterious, masked frontman of an offbeat rock band with a confusing name and very niche sound — a fictional character loosely inspired by Frank Sidebottom (the persona of cult musician and British comedy legend Chris Sievey), as well as outsider musicians such as Daniel Johnston and Captain Beefheart. "What was difficult was singing
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- 8/6/2014
- by Ashley Lee
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
With "summer" blockbuster season becoming increasingly a thing of the past (this year's began in March with Captain America: The Winter Soldier), narrowing down the Best Of shortlist for even half a year's worth of cinema has never been tougher.
Since we're going by UK release dates for this list, we had both the cream of the awards season crop to consider alongside the tentpoles, not to mention a handful of exceptional indie offerings from spring.
Below are Digital Spy's top ten movies of the year so far. Be sure to vote for your favourite in our poll, and leave your own list in the comments!
10. 12 Years a Slave
"Despite the overall lack of McQueen's stamp, the film's physically unflinching treatment of its subject matter is where he does make himself felt. This is a tremendously powerful drama that simultaneously highlights the human capacity for cruelty and for resilience, bolstered by an extraordinary,...
Since we're going by UK release dates for this list, we had both the cream of the awards season crop to consider alongside the tentpoles, not to mention a handful of exceptional indie offerings from spring.
Below are Digital Spy's top ten movies of the year so far. Be sure to vote for your favourite in our poll, and leave your own list in the comments!
10. 12 Years a Slave
"Despite the overall lack of McQueen's stamp, the film's physically unflinching treatment of its subject matter is where he does make himself felt. This is a tremendously powerful drama that simultaneously highlights the human capacity for cruelty and for resilience, bolstered by an extraordinary,...
- 7/3/2014
- Digital Spy
Frank is a fictional story loosely inspired by Frank Sidebottom, the persona of cult musician and comedy legend Chris Sievey, as well as other outsider musicians like Daniel Johnston and Captain Beefheart. Frank is a comedy about a young wannabe musician, Jon, who discovers he's bitten off more than he can chew when he joins a band of eccentric pop musicians led by the mysterious and enigmatic Frank and his terrifying sidekick, Clara. Frank’s uniqueness lies in the fact that he makes music purely for the joy of creating…and because he wears a giant fake head. After a rocky start, Jon ingratiates himself with the band members, and they retreat to a cabin in the woods to record an album. As his influence waxes, creative tensions mount, and the band’s entire raison d'être is called into...
- 6/20/2014
- by Pietro Filipponi
- The Daily BLAM!
What more do we have to tell to convince you to see "Frank" when it opens later this summer? We called it a “terrific and sublime experience" when we saw it at the Sundance Film Festival, and have brought you trailers, interviews and the single “I Love You All” and more from the movie. And today, we have another two-minute clip, and yes, it's an excuse to remind you this is coming and you need to see it. Directed by Lenny Abrahamson, the movie is inspired by the real life Frank Sidebottom, in this story of an enigmatic, papier maché wearing band leader (played by Michael Fassbender) who goes with this merry band of misfits to a cabin to make an album, following his various eccentric whims. And in this clip, we see some of the oddball instructions that lead to musical breakthroughs (of a kind) while the whole endeavour...
- 5/29/2014
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
Michael Fassbender is one of the hottest properties in Hollywood today. A champion of British independent cinema, having formed one of the most consistent actor/director partnerships with the Academy award winning Steve McQueen, Fassbender has also managed to make the successful transition to Hollywood, having worked with the likes of Brian Singer and Ridley Scott, appearing in both the X-men and Prometheus franchises.
One of the main reasons behind Fassbender’s success is his adaptability to a role, whether he is playing a morally ambiguous robot or an Ira member on hunger strike Fassbender is utterly captivating and it is this diversity that makes him one of the most attractive names in Hollywood today.
This month we have seen the release of two films starring Michael Fassbender; two totally different films that highlight just how diverse an actor he is. First of all we saw the release of Frank,...
One of the main reasons behind Fassbender’s success is his adaptability to a role, whether he is playing a morally ambiguous robot or an Ira member on hunger strike Fassbender is utterly captivating and it is this diversity that makes him one of the most attractive names in Hollywood today.
This month we have seen the release of two films starring Michael Fassbender; two totally different films that highlight just how diverse an actor he is. First of all we saw the release of Frank,...
- 5/27/2014
- by Liam Hoofe
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
An unexpected hit out of Sundance, where we called it a “terrific and sublime experience," Lenny Abrahamson’s “Frank” has since gathered momentum on its way to a theatrical release via continued positive buzz, as well as a strong promotional push of its odder elements. We’ve already seen a host of trailers, interviews and the single “I Love You All” from the film, and now you can add two new clips to the bunch that give a sense of its strange and singular rhythms. Starring Michael Fassbender as the titular band leader and loosely based on the artist Frank Sidebottom aka Chris Sievey (mostly from the papier maché head that he wears), the film captures the occasionally exhilarating, oftentimes tedious day-to-day of musicians and dreamers struggling to make a mark. Two new clips showcase the dark humor too that comes from band relationships, as Maggie Gyllenhaal issues a violent...
- 5/13/2014
- by Charlie Schmidlin
- The Playlist
Stars: Michael Fassbender, Domnhall Gleeson, Scoot Mcnairy, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Tess Harper, Hayley Derryberry, Mark Huberman | Written by Jon Ronson, Peter Straughan | Directed by Lenny Abrahamson
Frank, the latest film from the supremely promising Lenny Abrahamson, is perhaps one of the most passive-aggressive films ever made. A film which brings people in with the promise of Michael Fassbender only to have him wear a giant Frank Sidebottom head throughout. A film which seems to have been given permissions and access by the oh-so-hip SXSW festival and the titan of social media, Twitter, only to have the film acidically mock and berate those who attend and use them respectively. A film that casts the likeable Domnhall Gleeson as our narrator through its crazy journey only to have him succumb to ever higher levels of being an awful human being, albeit one who feels like he could be just like many members of the audience (hey,...
Frank, the latest film from the supremely promising Lenny Abrahamson, is perhaps one of the most passive-aggressive films ever made. A film which brings people in with the promise of Michael Fassbender only to have him wear a giant Frank Sidebottom head throughout. A film which seems to have been given permissions and access by the oh-so-hip SXSW festival and the titan of social media, Twitter, only to have the film acidically mock and berate those who attend and use them respectively. A film that casts the likeable Domnhall Gleeson as our narrator through its crazy journey only to have him succumb to ever higher levels of being an awful human being, albeit one who feels like he could be just like many members of the audience (hey,...
- 5/12/2014
- by Ian Loring
- Nerdly
In a funny yet poignant film, Michael Fassbender's turn as cult character Frank Sidebottom proves liberating rather than limiting
If you've ever wondered what would happen if you transplanted the method of Captain Beefheart and the madness of Daniel Johnston into the gigantic papier-mache head of Frank Sidebottom (and frankly, who hasn't?) then this surreally comic – and yet poignant – oddity has the answers. Investing the frame of Chris Sievey's madcap creation with the tortured soul of avant garde rock, Frank manages to get beneath the mask and the skin of its eponymous antihero in a manner that bridges the gap between absurdist laughter and all-too-tender tears. The result is something weird, wonderful, and utterly unique – a cracked classic which takes its place alongside the Barbie-doll animation Superstar and the conjoined twins mockumentary Brothers of the Head in the pantheon of genuinely unexpected pop movies.
Continue reading...
If you've ever wondered what would happen if you transplanted the method of Captain Beefheart and the madness of Daniel Johnston into the gigantic papier-mache head of Frank Sidebottom (and frankly, who hasn't?) then this surreally comic – and yet poignant – oddity has the answers. Investing the frame of Chris Sievey's madcap creation with the tortured soul of avant garde rock, Frank manages to get beneath the mask and the skin of its eponymous antihero in a manner that bridges the gap between absurdist laughter and all-too-tender tears. The result is something weird, wonderful, and utterly unique – a cracked classic which takes its place alongside the Barbie-doll animation Superstar and the conjoined twins mockumentary Brothers of the Head in the pantheon of genuinely unexpected pop movies.
Continue reading...
- 5/11/2014
- by Mark Kermode
- The Guardian - Film News
In a funny yet poignant film, Michael Fassbender's turn as cult character Frank Sidebottom proves liberating rather than limiting
If you've ever wondered what would happen if you transplanted the method of Captain Beefheart and the madness of Daniel Johnston into the gigantic papier-mache head of Frank Sidebottom (and frankly, who hasn't?) then this surreally comic and yet poignant oddity has the answers. Investing the frame of Chris Sievey's madcap creation with the tortured soul of avant garde rock, Frank manages to get beneath the mask and the skin of its eponymous antihero in a manner that bridges the gap between absurdist laughter and all-too-tender tears. The result is something weird, wonderful, and utterly unique a cracked classic which takes its place alongside the Barbie-doll animation Superstar and the conjoined twins mockumentary Brothers of the Head in the pantheon of genuinely unexpected pop movies.
Continue reading...
If you've ever wondered what would happen if you transplanted the method of Captain Beefheart and the madness of Daniel Johnston into the gigantic papier-mache head of Frank Sidebottom (and frankly, who hasn't?) then this surreally comic and yet poignant oddity has the answers. Investing the frame of Chris Sievey's madcap creation with the tortured soul of avant garde rock, Frank manages to get beneath the mask and the skin of its eponymous antihero in a manner that bridges the gap between absurdist laughter and all-too-tender tears. The result is something weird, wonderful, and utterly unique a cracked classic which takes its place alongside the Barbie-doll animation Superstar and the conjoined twins mockumentary Brothers of the Head in the pantheon of genuinely unexpected pop movies.
Continue reading...
- 5/11/2014
- by Mark Kermode
- The Guardian - Film News
Don’t forget you can listen to our exclusive interview with Frank’s director, Lenny Abrahamson by clicking here When last we saw director Lenny Abrahamson, he brought us the powerful and harrowing What Richard Did. For his latest film, he has taken a much different tack, delivering the wonderfully offbeat and whimsical Frank. Partly inspired by comedian Chris Sievey's creation, Frank Sidebottom (co-written by Jon Ronson, former member of Sievey's band), the movie takes us into the strange world of Frank (Michael Fassbender), an eccentric musical genius, clad in giant paper mache head he refuses to take off. Jon (Domhnall Gleeson), an unhappy office drone with a strong interest in music, is our guide through this world, having been invited to play keyboard for Frank's band, 'Soronprfbs', after witnessing the former keyboard player attempt to drown himself. What follows is a beautifully weird, sometimes dark, and always absorbing...
- 5/10/2014
- by noreply@blogger.com (Tom White)
- www.themoviebit.com
Writer Jon Ronson (The Men Who Stare At Goats) draws on his experience as keyboard player for off-the-wall Mancunian frontman Frank Sidebottom in this bittersweet comedy. Michael Fassbender plays the eccentric Frank, a mentally ill loner who constantly hides behind an expressionless papier-mache mask at all times. Lending support are Maggie Gyllenhaal as a bitchy fellow band-member while Ronson's part is played by Domhnall Gleeson, who provides the wry commentary on Frank's descent into despair.
- 5/9/2014
- Sky Movies
Andrew Pulver and Peter Bradshaw join Xan Brooks for our weekly round-up of cinema releases. This week the team get in tune with Frank, a comedy inspired by Jon Ronson's experience touring with Frank Sidebottom; head for the depths of Hollywood satire The Canyons; take to the skies with Hayao Miyazaki's final film The Wind Rises; and cheer for the biggest underdog as the world's worst football team strive for victory in Next Goal Wins. Plus, interviews with Frank star Domhnall Gleeson and writer Jon Ronson
Want to blank Frank? Listen to the audio-only version of this week's show
Watch the full-length Frank interviews Continue reading...
Want to blank Frank? Listen to the audio-only version of this week's show
Watch the full-length Frank interviews Continue reading...
- 5/9/2014
- by Xan Brooks, Peter Bradshaw, Andrew Pulver, Henry Barnes, Richard Sprenger and Thibaut Remy
- The Guardian - Film News
Lenny Abrahamson’s comedy-drama, co-written by Jon Ronson, captures brilliantly the anxiety, narcissism and long periods of boredom and inertia that go along with being in an indie band. Domhnall Gleeson plays a young musician recruited to join the “Soronprfbs” after the keyboardist tries to drown himself. The band is fronted by “Frank” (inspired by Frank Sidebottom), who never takes off his papier-mâché mask. The band spend months in a rural retreat in Ireland trying to record an album before, largely thanks to Jon’s efforts on social media, they are invited to the South by Southwest festival in Texas.
- 5/8/2014
- The Independent - Film
Michael Fassbender's chops remain hidden during most of this beguiling tragicomic fable inspired by Jon Ronson's memoir about indie enigma Frank Sidebottom
After just a few minutes in the company of this beguiling and bizarre tragicomedy, the metaphor becomes irresistible. Maybe it is only possible to be frank if you are wearing a mask. Fictional imposture is what makes honesty possible. The facade is liberating. Or is it that the rigidness of the mask enables individual expression? Frank is based on the memories of journalist Jon Ronson, a friend and sometime bandmate of cult singing phenomenon Chris Sievey, who performed fascinatingly weird, muzaky cabaret numbers calling himself Frank Sidebottom. He wore an enormous papier-mache head, bearing a cartoon face, a hairstyle like the Mad magazine boy and big, staring cow eyes. He died of cancer in 2010, having achieved some TV success in which this persona was thought to be intentionally comic,...
After just a few minutes in the company of this beguiling and bizarre tragicomedy, the metaphor becomes irresistible. Maybe it is only possible to be frank if you are wearing a mask. Fictional imposture is what makes honesty possible. The facade is liberating. Or is it that the rigidness of the mask enables individual expression? Frank is based on the memories of journalist Jon Ronson, a friend and sometime bandmate of cult singing phenomenon Chris Sievey, who performed fascinatingly weird, muzaky cabaret numbers calling himself Frank Sidebottom. He wore an enormous papier-mache head, bearing a cartoon face, a hairstyle like the Mad magazine boy and big, staring cow eyes. He died of cancer in 2010, having achieved some TV success in which this persona was thought to be intentionally comic,...
- 5/8/2014
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
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