Frank (15)

Directed by Lenny Abrahamson

4/5

THERE is no masking Michael Fassbender’s extraordinary talents. They reach even newer heights in this surreal comedy which explores eccentricity, the power of social media and mental illness.  

Mostly inspired by comedian Chris Sievey’s Mancunian alter ego Frank Sidebottom, along with musicians Daniel Johnston and Captain Beefheart, the Frank (Fassbender) in this story is an outsider musician from the US who wears a giant fake head at all times — even in the shower.  

Domhnall (About Time) Gleeson plays Jon, the wannabe musician who joins Frank’s eclectic band and travels with them to Ireland to record their album. 

By constantly tweeting and uploading clips on YouTube about the group’s progress he manages to get them the biggest gig of their lives at the South by Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas. Unfortunately, that leads to the group’s undoing. 

The film’s co-written by Jon Ronson, who had been in Sidebottom’s band, and is loosely based on his writings. Stephen Rennicks, who has composed scores for Irish director Lenny Abrahamson’s past films, wrote all the songs which are performed live by Fassbender and the musicians. Theirs is a uniquely “different” sound which is something of an acquired taste. 

It is strange how quickly you accept Frank and his ridiculous head, whose wide-eyed painted face can appear both vulnerable and menacing as others project onto it. 

That  is also down to Fassbender’s remarkable performance which is his most masterful and playful to date. And, yes, it is he under the papier mache head throughout the film although it is hard to know. 

Gleeson is wonderfully ebullient as the uber-keen and eager to fit in newbie band member who is desperate to win Frank’s trust and make him and the group a global phenomenon, while Maggie Gyllenhaal strikes an unsavoury note as Frank’s prickly and hard-nosed girlfriend. 

With its deadpan humour and slapstick heart Frank is incredibly funny. But without warning it suddenly turns to darker territory as you watch Frank, clearly a troubled soul with mental health issues, battling with his demons.  

One of the weirdest films of the year but one not to be missed.