Robot And Frank Movie Review

Robot and Frank

Releases: 15^thNovember 2012

Rating: M – Contains offensive language

Duration: 89 minutes 

Genre:  Drama/Comedy

Starring: Peter Sarsgaard, Frank Langella and Susan Sarandon

Director: Jake Schreier (Debut Feature Film)

Reviewer: Jon E Clist 

The Premise>> Set in the near future, an ex-jewel thief receives a gift from his son: a robot butler programmed to look after him. But soon the two companions try their luck as a heist team.

The Review>> What a crazy idea for a movie, a retired thief who is losing his mind to old age and despite his initial reluctance, he finds out that a robot might very well be his best friend. This really is the perfect use of the genre of Sci-Fi. After all, Sci-Fi is about the concept of how the future could look. So often we approach the genre as needing to be a complete view of flying cars and aliens and all sorts of crazy futuristic things, of course some of the best Sci-Fi films have been ones that work mainly on just a handful of minor changes to our current reality. Here is simply about basic robots being around to help serve us. Of course the bonus in this film that really draws you into the whole story is that this Robot is a learning robot, and so he is deceptively clever.

I think that I really enjoyed that core element within the plot that you spend a lot of time trying to figure out just how clever this robot really is. In so many ways he plays Frank (Langella) and yet it is hard to figure out if it fits with his basic programming or if he has completely learnt how to be that way. This plays so very well in the building of the relationship between Robot and Frank, to the extent that Robot becomes more important than Franks own family in so many ways.

At times it does slow in pace but at less than ninety minutes, this is not a long film, so it doesn’t distract you at any stage or lose your interest. Even though it is a shortish film, you also feel that it was the right length and no more was needed when it comes to a close. Plus it is also good sometimes to not feel like sitting through the credits in case there is some little bonus scene or tease for a follow up, as has become such a part of modern cinema.

I think I would say that this is more of a drama than a Sci-Fi film, hence its mainly arthouse release around New Zealand. However if you find a cinema that is showing it, do give it a chance. I think you will find that Frank Langella is brilliant and will draw you into this weird little story of digital friendship.

The Verdict>> A digital friendship story that will suck you in to love a robot for what seems like programmed humanity but is definitely a wonderful tale.

Some extra bits to know about the film and to look out for>> The vehicle that passes Frank when he is walking down the road is an available production car, a Tango by Commuter Cars.

Barrymore Movie Review

Barrymore

Releases: 15^thNovember 2012

Rating: M – Contains offensive language

Duration: 134 minutes (80 Minutes in some)

Genre:  Live Theatre

Starring: Christopher Plummer

Director: Erik Canuel (TV- Lost Girl, Bullet In The Face)

Reviewer: Jon E Clist

The Premise>> As John Barrymore reckons with the ravages of his life of excess, he rents an old theatre to rehearse for a backer’s audition to raise money for a revival of his 1920 Broadway triumph in Richard III.

The Review>> okay so this will be a short review, because I think that I can sum it up very quickly. Christopher Plummer give a dazzling insight into one of the unsung heroes of early cinema, in a format that is so very engaging an thought provoking, filmed theatre. He completely and utterly demands your attention for the entire show, to the point where you will want to clap his performance even though you know he will not hear it through the cinema screen.

In some cinemas it is being released in its extended format, which after a brief intermission it includes a behind the scenes documentary that follows Plummer as he tries to find out about Barrymore. The documentary is not nearly as enthralling as the play itself and would be best served up as a bonus feature on DVD for those with time and desire to know a little more. However the live Theatre component is amazing and so very worth the box office spend.

The Verdict>> Christopher Plummer at his absolute career best brings such a wonderful approach to a legend of the theatre and early cinema.

Some extra bits to know about the film and to look out for>> John Sidney Blyth (February 15, 1882 – May 29, 1942), better known as John Barrymore, was an American actor of stage and screen. He first gained fame as a handsome stage actor in light comedy, then high drama and culminating in ground-breaking portrayals in Shakespearean plays Hamlet and Richard III. His success continued with motion pictures in various genres in both the silent and sound eras. Barrymore’s personal life has been the subject of much writing before and since his death in 1942. Today John Barrymore is known mostly for his portrayal of Hamlet and for his roles in movies like Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde (1920), Grand Hotel (1932), Dinner at Eight (1933), Twentieth Century (1934), and Don Juan (1926), the first ever feature length movie to use a Vitaphone sound-on-film soundtrack.

The most prominent member of a multi-generation theatrical dynasty, he was the brother of Lionel Barrymore and Ethel Barrymore, and was the paternal grandfather of Drew Barrymore.