Frank (2014)

Directed by: Lenny Abrahamson
Country: USA

Movie Review: American independent filmmaker Lenny Abrahamson (“What Richard Did”) picks up a plot written by Jon Ronson and Peter Straughan, and creates an offbeat exercise populated with weirdness, mental illness, and indie rock. The writers sought inspiration in Frank Sidebottom, comic persona of the deceased English musician and comedian, Chris Sievey. Jon Burroughs (Domhnall Gleeson) is a keyboardist and songwriter who is trying to come out of his shell, looking forward to play with someone or be contacted by some band. After some letdowns, an invitation comes from a band whose eccentric leader, Frank (Michael Fassbender), hides himself behind a large fake head, triggering curiosity and fascinating everybody in many ways. Delicate mental conditions seem to be a problem in the band, which isolates itself in a forest to record the first album. Not only Frank is a good character to be studied here. Weird behaviors and out-of-control situations are depicted, while Jon struggles to turn the band famous through social media. A good opportunity to make a public appearance arises in a respectable venue, but will the band be prepared to play decently with so many internal/personal conflicts? Amusing and visually polished, the film takes us to its very own psychedelic world. As Jon says in the film, the objective in joining the band is to push him into the furthest corners of himself. Despite some inspiring moments, I didn’t feel it all the time, since Abrahamson’s endeavor to captivate us results fine, but the film becomes memorable not for its story but for its extreme weirdness and distorted sounds.