Frank Review

Head To Head

A great artist can come from anywhere, as Ratatouille said so eloquently, and it's a statement brimming with truth. Who knows where the next great artist will come from? In the world of music, talent pops up all the time, with some artists being well and truly distinctive. The titular character Frank could give any given artist a run for their money in terms of idiosyncrasy, as you might expect considering he's a man who constantly wears a giant head over his normal head 24/7.

That's the last figure Jon Burrough (Domhnall Gleeson) imagined would help give him a huge chance to make an impact on the world musically. Such a peculiar situation soon becomes his reality as he heads out to a cabin with Frank (Michael Fassbender) and his fellow bandmates that include Don (Scoot McNairy) and Clara (Maggie Gyllenhaal). 

It's a simple set-up that managed to subvert my expectations with wonderful frequency. The cast of musicians Jon finds himself living with for months on end at first seem like a series of hackneyed quirks, but some sharp acting and scripting helps eradicate that perception. The genuine likability of Frank is a big part of that, and helps make a bond between him and Jon feel natural. The two have a winning dynamic that helps explain why Jon stays with the camaraderie even when members like Clara push him to the limits.

But the best part of the film is how it takes its characters into a more realistic area towards the end of the film. Jon, who starts out as an audience surrogate of sorts to help introduce the viewer to the world of Frank, soon morphs into a man hellbent on achieving fame, while Frank begins to fall apart. Fassbender uses only his vocals and mannerisms to excellent effect in helping to sell the juxtaposition of having such a joyful character enter an emotional low-point.

As things fall apart, Jon Ronson and Peter Straughan's script keeps the film tight and focused, as well as helping the characters feel so realized as to make that harshness of the finale feel all the more impactful. Fitting considering it's primary character has such a large cranium, Frank is a thoughtful motion picture that's got laughs and charms, but also a terrific vessel to display how one can get wrapped in some very complex and compelling characters. It's that kind of accomplishment that helps makes the movies final scene so damn affecting and bittersweet, a great conclusion to one hell of a motion picture surprise.