World of KJ :: View topic - Dear Frankie getting surprisingly good reviews

Bradley Witherberry wrote:

Both Dear Frankie and Whale Rider are very culturally specific dramas that somehow manage to connect to a deeply universal emotional resonance. You might wish for subtitles at the beginning of this very Scottish movie, but by the midpoint you'll be immersed in the story such that you've transcended the accent-gap...

The acting is really splendid here, especially on the part of the three leads. Emily Mortimer, who's career has thus far been the definition of eclectic; Gerard Butler, who displays subtlety unforeseen in his Phantom role; and of course Jack McElhone, who's well-played character of Frankie is pivotal to the whole endeavor.

Although I'd rate it just a hair under the aforementioned exemplary Whale Rider -- for anyone who's ever had any kind of emotional attachment to parents or children, this one's gonna get to you...

5 out of 5.

Author:	dolcevita [ Mon Feb 28, 2005 5:20 pm ]
Post subject:	Dear Frankie getting surprisingly good reviews
I saw the trailer for this movie, Dear Frankie, awhile ago and wrote it off as utter sentimental garbage. Its about a boy who has maintained a correspondance with his father his whole life. His father is a sailor and the boy gets mail from all around the world. The catch is that its actually his mom who has been writing him letters the entire time. The trailer doesn't say what happened to the father, but basically his ship is coming back home. The gets dressed up and goes out on the town looking for a man who will agree to pretend to be Frankie's father. Gerard Butler, who was just in Phantom of the Opera, plays the faux-father who has to spend alot of time with Frankie and his mother Lizzie. It seemed like it would be very cheesy, but the reviews are at 100% right now. Granted there are only 7, but that's a good sign. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dear_frankie/ They say its pretty warm and nice, and manages to avoid becoming stereotypical sap. It begins limited release next week. I think its Irish, so might be toeing the line of rough working class landscape but with personable characters like Full Monty, Billy Eliot, etc.

Author:	torrino [ Mon Feb 28, 2005 5:52 pm ]
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This went through sooo many schedule changes. At newspaper, we'd always get screening information on this film. The screening date would always change. There was one in July, and then we got one in August, then one in November, then one in December, etc...

Author:	Riggs [ Wed Mar 02, 2005 10:27 pm ]
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Saw a trailer for this before Meet the Fockers and it seems to be a nice little movie. Nothing great, though, just nice and litte.

Author:	dolcevita [ Thu Mar 03, 2005 4:08 pm ]
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Yeah. Riggs, I sqw it recently and just thought it was going to be a "Oh, how cute," type movie. Pleasant, and perhaps a bit sugary at the end, not providing too much insight, but a feel-good story. Anyways, it might turn out to be more than that, RT now has 12 reviews in and its still at 100% This is one to keep an eye on this year. Its going to have very long legs and WOM, and might end up being a FUll Monty type run. I'm even starting to get interested and when I first saw the trailer I was turned off by the cuteness factor. Its looking to be more serious though.

Author:	dolcevita [ Sat Mar 05, 2005 11:03 am ]
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There we go, massive drop since more reviews came in. With 33 reviews its only at 70%, and is rotten at cream of the crop. Some of the arguements are quite scathing, about "kids liking to be lied to." I think those people might be taking the film literally rather than as a metaphor for protecting the innocence of youth. It would be like saying kids like being lied to was the ultimate moral of Life is Beautiful. Anyways, we'll see if it's still smart or if its bordering on late Meg Ryan and Julia Roberts romcoms. Anyone seen it yet?

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Dear Frankie getting surprisingly good reviews http://worldofkj.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=5013	Page 1 of 1

Author:	dolcevita [ Wed Apr 13, 2005 1:16 am ]
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bump for bradley...

Author:	Bradley Witherberry [ Wed Apr 13, 2005 2:01 am ]
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Oops...

Author:	dolcevita [ Wed Apr 13, 2005 2:25 am ]
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From Bradley's other thread, reading in title Dear Frankie: This Year's Whale Rider Bradley Witherberry wrote: Both Dear Frankie and Whale Rider are very culturally specific dramas that somehow manage to connect to a deeply universal emotional resonance. You might wish for subtitles at the beginning of this very Scottish movie, but by the midpoint you'll be immersed in the story such that you've transcended the accent-gap... The acting is really splendid here, especially on the part of the three leads. Emily Mortimer, who's career has thus far been the definition of eclectic; Gerard Butler, who displays subtlety unforeseen in his Phantom role; and of course Jack McElhone, who's well-played character of Frankie is pivotal to the whole endeavor. Although I'd rate it just a hair under the aforementioned exemplary Whale Rider -- for anyone who's ever had any kind of emotional attachment to parents or children, this one's gonna get to you... 5 out of 5.

Author:	Eagle [ Wed Apr 13, 2005 8:26 am ]
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Hmm ... sounds like a rental to me. The plot sounds like my moms type of movie.

Author:	Miruvor [ Sun Apr 17, 2005 4:35 am ]
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I'll go see it if it comes to the cinema here.

Author:	movies35 [ Sun Apr 17, 2005 12:27 pm ]
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Yeah, I really don't wanna see this.

Author:	Bradley Witherberry [ Wed May 11, 2005 1:15 am ]
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Nobody saw this one?!?

Author:	Miruvor [ Thu May 12, 2005 2:22 pm ]
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It opened here last weeked to the number #11 spot. Pretty good for such a small film. I expect it to rise in the coming weeks as other larger films slip. I'll soon give it a watch and will be back with my thoughts.

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