Frank (2014) - Lenny Abrahamson

Jon, a young man who aspires to be a musician, finds himself in over his head when he plays a one-time gig with a eccentric pop band led by the enigmatic and mysterious Frank, lead singer and visionary artist.  Frank loves what he sees in Jon, inviting him to join their band, where they soon retreat to a cabin in the woods to record an album.  Frank is a unique musician, for more than the simple fact that he always wears a giant plaster head, he makes music purely for the joy of the creative process.  With cabin fever sinking in, Frank's influence begins to waiver, leading to creative tensions which threaten the band's whole original purpose for existing.  Lenny Abrahamson's Frank is a thoroughly entertaining dramedy which succeed on both a comedic and dramatic level, though never excelling at either.  The film's main theme is pretty clear-don't let anyone dictate what makes you artistically satisfied- but it managers to never come off as preachy or overindulgent in the process.  Stylistically the film borrows from Wes Anderson's playbook, using insert shots, dead-pan delivery, and inventive editing to create a quirky, memorable experience.  Frank is certainly one of the most interesting characters in recent memory, an enigmatic caricature that personifies creativity, struggling in his own ways.  While I don't think Frank completely succeeds at all of its dramatic intentions, particularly its portrait of mental illness, it's a unique, fascinating portrait of the importance of artistic freedom, expression, and resolve.

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