Robot & Frank (2012)

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 | robot | dementia | thief | heist | 

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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:

19 September 2012 (France)

Also Known As:

Un amigo para Frank

Filming Locations:

Rye, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$35,539, 19 August 2012, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$3,325,638, 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

[first lines]
[a phone rings, and a recorded female voice announces: "Call from Madison Weld. Call from Madison Weld"]
Frank: [Sleepy] Hello?
Madison: Hey, dad!
Frank: What? Wha...?
Madison: [On a wall video phone, with noisy transmission] Daddy, it's me, Madison. Hi!
Frank: Oh, yeah! Yeah... Hey. How are you doing?
Madison: I'm wonderful. Turkmenistan is so beautiful. I am sorry I haven't called. How are you?
Frank: Oh! You know... fine. I'm OK.
Madison: Has Hunter been coming around?
[...]

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Crazy Credits

The end credits show various scenes of industrial and research robots performing various tasks, such as walking, gripping everyday items, pouring drinks and serving trays.

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Connections

Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Sci-Fi Movies of the 2010s (2014)

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Soundtracks

Fell On Your Head
Written and performed by Francis and the Lights
Courtesy of Polydor Ltd.
under license from Universal Music Enterprizes
K T T F Music (ASCAP)

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.