Robot & Frank (2012)

Set in the near future, an ex-jewel thief receives a gift from his son: a robot butler programmed to look after him. But soon the two companions try their luck as a heist team.

Director:

Jake Schreier

Writer:

Christopher Ford (screenplay)

Stars:

Peter Sarsgaard, Frank Langella, Susan Sarandon

2 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Frank Langella	...	Frank
James Marsden	...	Hunter
Liv Tyler	...	Madison
Peter Sarsgaard	...	Robot (voice)
Susan Sarandon	...	Jennifer
Jeremy Strong	...	Jake
Jeremy Sisto	...	Sheriff Rowlings
Rachael Ma	...	Robot Performer
Bonnie Bentley	...	Ava
Ana Gasteyer	...	Shoplady
Katherine Waterston	...	Shopgirl
Dario Barosso	...	Freckles
Joshua Ormond	...	Flattop
James D. Compton	...	Skinny Sheriff
Dana Morgan	...	Additional Robot Performer

Storyline

In the near future, Frank is a retired catburglar living alone while his successful son, Hunter, tries to care for him from afar. Finally, Hunter gets him a robot caretaker, but Frank soon learns that it is as useful as a burglary aide. As Frank tries to restart his old profession, the uncomfortable realities of a changing world and his worsening dementia threaten to take beyond what any reboot can do for him.

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Plot Keywords:

burglary | near future | robot | dementia | thief | 

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Taglines:

Friendship doesn't have an off switch.

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Sci-Fi

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 October 2012 (Germany)

Also Known As:

Robot & Frank - Zwei diebische Komplizen

Filming Locations:

Rye, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$35,539 (USA) (17 August 2012)

Gross:

$3,325,638 (USA) (18 January 2013)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dog Run Pictures, Park Pictures, TBB

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Throughout the entire film, only once is the robot referred to by anything other than 'Robot'. At approx 36:25 in the movie Mr. Darcy refers to "Robot" as VGC-60L.

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Goofs

After the Robot is switched on for the first time, you can see the reflection of a crew member on the side of Hunter's car, then another time after the Robot goes into the house.

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Quotes

Frank: I knew you had an off switch.

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Crazy Credits

Over the closing credits, there's footage of real assisted-living robots in various stages of development.

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Connections

Featured in Maltin on Movies: Best and Worst Movies of 2012 (2013)

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Soundtracks

Fugue in C minor. K.546
Written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Andrew Manze & The English Concert
Courtesy of harmonica mundi usa, inc.

User Reviews

First rate

It's hard to fault this movie. Literally. I was going to rate it as an 8, but I have to give it a 9 because I can't think of anything about it to criticise.

The plot is rather simple. Frank is a confused older man who is finding it difficult to take care of himself. He is given a robot medical assistant who is programmed to do only one thing: help Frank. Frank resists mightily at first, but soon Frank improves remarkably and takes up his earlier vocation: stealing jewels. It turns out that the robot's programming does not extend to obeying the law...

This film is interesting, surprising, heart-warming, intelligent, thought-provoking, amusing, understated, well written and well directed. It delivers first-rate performances by first-rate actors.

It defies categorisation. Is it science fiction? A heist movie? A family drama? A melancholic feel-good story about aging? It has no shootouts, no car chases, no superspies, no superheros, no martial arts scenes, no demented villains. What it does have is character development, good writing and a nice story.

Kudos to Schreier, Ford, Langella and Sarandon.