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Parents' Guide to

Frank

By Jeffrey M. Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Quirky dramedy has strong language, suicide attempts.

Movie R 2014 95 minutes
Frank Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 14+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Gresh854
Gresh854 Adult
January 10, 2015
age 12+

Frank is Absolutely Unique and Brilliant

Frank was a very different but entertaining film with lot of meaning put into it. I think the movie is not that inappropriate. The real problem in the movie to give it it's R rating is basically cursing and one minor sex scene that was close to a PG-13 sex scene with barely noticeable nudity. There are a lot of F Bombs in the film which is the main thing to consider.
Ncarb
Ncarb Parent of 10-year-old
January 2, 2015
age 16+

twisted, clever and funny!

this film tells the story of a wannabe, who falls in with a group of painfully talented alternative musicians. In his attempts to steal some of their startdust, he manages to break up the band and almost kills Frank. The message being that stars are born, and not everyone has a Voice.... you can't be a rock star just because you want it badly. there's also some examination of the myth of madness and creative genius going hand in hand. there is an achingly funny sex scene where the woman is definitely in the driving seat; but it's the drug use and suicide which plant it firmly as a prospect for older teens only. worth noting that the film offers useful talking points if you want to broach mental illness, mental illness and suicide, drug use with savvy older teens. and it is a really fun watch for adults. especially for anyone who's ever had quiet dreams of a music career and hankered after a week in SXSW. look out for the superb chameleon of a star - Scoot Mcnairy (also in Argo; Monsters; Killing Them Softly) as one of the band; the utterly vicious, beautiful and funny Maggie Gyllenhaal, and the genius Michael Fassbender as Frank (with a large papier mache head on).
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Jon (Domhnall Gleeson) wants to be a songwriter but doesn't seem to have much luck. One day he witnesses an attempted suicide by a keyboard player in a visiting band. The band needs a new one, and Jon gets the job. Onstage, he meets the mysterious, charismatic Frank (Michael Fassbender), a musical genius who always wears a weird, papier-mâché head. Soon, Jon finds himself a permanent member of the group, recording an album for months and months in the woods and eventually putting up his own money to help finish it. Tensions rise, especially between Jon and Theremin player Clara (Maggie Gyllenhaal), and eventually things come to a breaking point at the South by Southwest festival.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (5 ):

Lenny Abrahamson's FRANK starts off with a strong idea, the image of the man in the fake head. This basic but powerful image toys with several great themes, including the nature of identity, the nature of physical appearance, and even the idea of art versus commerce. But though Frank touches the surface of these ideas -- and it's certainly entertaining enough -- it seems more content to squeeze into the framework of a familiar kind of quirky art-house comedy-drama.

The movie comes a little too close to the typical "passive observer" formula in which the main character dilutes the story's power by viewing everything from a distance; he also has a kind of naïveté that prevents the movie from digging deeper. The filmmakers are happier making jokes about how strange things are to the newbie. Remarkably though, Fassbender gives a captivating performance even without the use of his face or eyes.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Frank's central image: the fake head. What feelings or ideas come up around this head/character? Do you know anyone who ever pretended to be someone else? What were their reasons? How did it turn out?

  • What's the movie's take on social media? Is it ultimately helpful or harmful? Does the way it's used here seem realistic?

  • Why do you think the characters smoke so much? How does that make them appear? What are other examples of a "rock 'n' roll" lifestyle?

  • What does Frank's music sound like? Is it reasonable to ask him to make it more likable?

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