Review of Frank (2014) by Kate H — 14 Jan 2015

This is an odd one. It's a comedy but a very earnest story as well, even if the method is ridiculous. Jon wants to be a musician. Jon ends up in probably the weirdest band known to man. We have an aggressive theremin player, a ex-store mannequin lover, two French people who hate him almost as much as the theremin player does, and Frank - lead singer, band leader, and wearer of a papier mache head. Said head never gets removed. He has a certificate.

Jon and Frank get on really, really well. Clara (theremin player) gets very agitated about this and Jon doesn't realize how over his head he is until he manages to score them an internet following and a gig at South by Southwest.

The biggest draw for me here is the acting. I knew full well that it was Michael Fassbender under neath Frank's head but I didn't actually recognize him until a point in the film where he speaks German. Maggie Gyllenhaal is manic and fantastic as Clara and the off beatness of the film is enough to keep you watching even if you're not quite sure what you feel about it.