Michael Fassbender is excellent in Frank.

Saw it yesterday!

“What goes on inside the head inside that head,” Domhnall Gleeson asks about Michael Fassbender’s titular Frank. There’s always that one film that will have everyone talking about where people weren’t sure what to think, accept or even appreciate. And while quirky films about an indie band with an edge have been made before, Lenny Abrahamson’s Frank is sure to succeed by word of mouth, because what can you expect from a movie that has Michael Fassbender wearing a giant head? Well, quite a lot actually.

Loosely based on British comedian, Chris Sievey, whom everyone knew as Frank Sidebottom. Writers Jon Ronson and Peter Straughan turn this odd set-up into something much more complex and innovative. Frank follows Jon (Domhnall Gleeson), a young man whose passion is to be a musician and dreams of gaining fame one day. Well, be careful what you wish for as Jon is whisked away to join the Soronprfbs and realises he may have bit off more than he can chew. Jon begins his journey as the band’s keyboard player and keeps track of the Soronprfbs’s progress by using forms of social media. To Jon’s surprise, he gains more twitter, youtube and tumblr followers and realises this band could go somewhere. However, the main interest isn’t the music, it’s more so Frank (Michael Fassbender).

Domhall Gleeson continues to make impressive career choices and giving impressive performances in films like Never Let Me Go, Anna Karenina and About Time. Gleeson plays Jon, who plays as the voice of reason in the film the audience, using narration to explain and detail his journey with the band. Gleeson brilliantly embodies the shy British stereotype that is so obviously unsuited for a rock-attar image, although this doesn’t stop him from dreaming of becoming famous and successful. His regular-guy attitude and mannerisms provide an excellent counterweight to Frank’s overall odd behaviour.

The heart of Soronprfbs comes in the form of Michael Fassbender’s most unique and touching role to date, as the puzzling and complex Frank. Fassbender manages to be cynical, funny, sympathetic and naïve all while he is hidden away in a giant fake head. His faceless but appealing performance is performed with such quirky presence that you can’t ignore him. Fassbender’s effort is impressive and delivers some of the most emotive moments of his career in his final scenes. Jon and Frank’s relationship provides the central drama – can Jon’s aspiration for success co-exist with Frank’s desire for originality? Maggie Gyllenhaal impresses as the captivating vicious Clara whose motives are never clear and behaviour often conflicting. On paper, Clara is someone who should really belong in another film, but Gyllenhaal’s remarkable performances grounds Clara and does the best with what she’s given to make Clara more than just a bitter bandmate. Scoot McNairy also impresses as the peculiar Don; the glue that holds the band together.

The relationship between Jon and the band are some of the film’s best moments and the script really provides us with a bunch of interesting characters, it’s just a shame it doesn’t go any further than that. Frank loses its way during the third act and goes from a story about a quirky band to one about mental illness and emotion. There are a lot of excellent ideas during this act, but it’s dealt with in a very distasteful and unsubtle way that leaves a lot of questions unanswered. It’s incredibly frustrating that Frank could have really been perfect if dealt with more carefully. Frank often feels as though it’s trying to be too many things rolled into one, which feels very obvious during the second half of the film.

In conclusion, Lenny Abrahamson’s Frank examines the process of becoming famous and the difficulty of living with a mental illness. Most of the film takes place in a remote house in Ireland where the band practice and record an album. It’s here where Lenny Abrahamson’s unique vision comes to life giving us a humorous, yet touching film about youthful ambition. With its awkwardness and sweet blend of genuine admiration, Frank will put a smile on your face or break your heart. Perhaps both.