Frank

I live in a city where there are literally 500,000 musicians walking around with a banjo or some sort of an instrument like a piccolo trying to separate themselves from the rest of the pack. You also see randomness like Black artists walking around in robes and shower caps or Hispanic dj's rocking the Skrillex hairdo. Now admittedly a lot of them are really talented but there's just too much competition in this city. So when I saw the trailer for Frank, I couldn't help but laugh because I know that it's just a matter of time before someone walks around with a Mickey Mouse helmet on their head trying to start a band. Oh wait, DeadMau5 already exists! It's too late hipsters, it's too late!

Anyway, the movie Frank is about a wannabe musician in John Burroughs; he can only play about three notes on a keyboard and he writes these awful songs. But one day he runs into this crazy Avant-garde indie band with an unpronounceable name that is full of these odd characters, half of which spent time in a mental institution. Now due to an emergency, they needed a keyboardist for their show that night, so they decided to invite the incredulous John to come play with them. And after some hipster nonsense cuts their show short, Frank decides that he likes John and he invites him to live out his dream of being a part of a band and recording an album with them.

You soon realize that Frank (Michael Fassbender) is a musical genius but for some reason he refuses to take off his mask under any circumstances. He can however literally write a beautiful song about almost anything on the spot and he feeds off of his equally weird and talented band mates which includes the psychotic Clara (Maggie Gyllenhaal). Clara has these weird anger issues and they all seem to be directed at poor John; which leads to some pretty funny exchangess between the two of them. You halfway expect her to physically beat him every time they cross paths. But it's her anger that makes her an integral part of the band and you can see her channel this anger through her music. And I have to admit that the results are pretty good.

Once Lenny Abrahamson (director) allows you to get a feel for everyone in the band,  he takes you through all of the ups and downs that an odd ball band like this can experience. And eventually everything culminates when they make their trip to Austin for SXSW with the hopes of being discovered.

Fassbender is one of the best actors in the game right now. He manages to bring life to what is essentially a live action cartoon character in Frank with his charm and his vulnerability. As you get to know him, you feel as though you'd do anything  Frank told you to do musically because it's like having Thom Yorke for your older brother. He's a bit crazy but man he sure brings the best out of you. I had almost written Gyllenhaal off as another old face killah (see Kate Hudson) but the craziness she brings in this film had me strangely attracted to her. She is probably the most memorable character in the movie and that's saying something when it includes a guy that wears a giant mask the entire time.

This movie shows you all of the weird quirks of a band and takes you behind the music making process as well, most of which is pretty comical, but ultimately its a film about relationships and chemistry. It shows you what makes a band and what can tear it apart.

I have to warn you though, this movie was made for music geeks like me. It's not for everyone but it is an original and hilarious film that gives you a pretty spot on look at the music industry. I found myself looking up the soundtrack online when I got home because their noisy and dark music is right up my alley. I rate this movie as FRESH.