You know how I always say that I like certain actors’ voices so much that I could literally watch them read the phone book? I do say that. It’s an expression. And it’s probably true – I could listen to men like Liam Neeson, Benedict Cumberbatch and Ralph Fiennes just talk and talk and it wouldn’t matter what they said. Michael Fassbender used to be in that group. I’m kind of over him right now, but I guess I still enjoy hearing his voice and seeing his ginger mop, he just doesn’t give me the feels right now. Anyway, I bring this up because in Michael’s new movie, we don’t get to see that sweet mop of ginger loveliness. At all.
The film, Frank, is an Irish-financed movie that Michael fought hard to make. It’s loosely based on a real guy/musical act who used to perform wearing an enormous fake head. So even though Fassbender is the star of this movie, we can’t see his face. At all. He wears the big head throughout the whole movie. Here’s the trailer:
The other ginger is Domhnall Gleeson, who is everywhere these days (and he’s going to be in Angelina Jolie’s Unbroken as well). The film also stars Scoot McNairy and Maggie Gyllenhaal, although I’m not sure what Maggie’s character is supposed to be. The film premiered at Sundance to decent-to-glowing reviews and it was picked up quickly there too. The film premieres in the UK and Ireland on May 2. God knows when Americans will get it. It might be a harder sell in America. Most Americans have only just now learned who Michael Fassbender is, and I doubt many of us are prepared to see a movie with Fassbender where we can’t actually see his face.
Now, all that being said, it seems like a unique acting challenge for Fassy and I’m glad that he finally got a chance to do a (dark, quirky) comedy. If you’ve seen him interviewed, you know he’s actually pretty funny and silly in real life, and it sometimes feels like he fell into dramatic work by default.
Oh, and there’s this clip from Frank making the rounds too:
Photos courtesy of PR Photos.
Thanks for the trailer–it looks like fun. He’s a terrific actor, and I think it is a good thing that he is doing something that is (mostly) comic. His acting choices are consistently brave.
Can’t wait to see the film, the trailer looks so funny!
I’m happy to see that he took this role–I haven’t really seen him play ‘quirky’ yet.
That being said, no Fassy Face? Boo 🙁
I kind of remember Frank Sidebottom. He was HUGE for a while, but I never really got it. I think there’s probably a hardcore cult audience for this.
It’s a bit of a comedy connections thing, isn’t it? Didn’t Frank Sidebottom launch Aherne, Cash et al? All very Madchester.
“Frank” slept on my couch once. Fascinating guy
I want to see it, looks really good.
Frank was a well-loved real -person from Manchester. I don’t care if the film is inspired by, Frank Sidebottom, not actually about him, he’s been transformed. Franks’ real fans are making a movie based on our real social hero. I know when Frank was alive, he apparently approved of the film and so did his family. [money talks, no doubt] But, to me, ‘frankly’ it’s not on. [pun intended]
Ooh do tell more about your Frank. How was he a social hero? Did he really wear a mask or is that just part of the film’s sybolism?
Isn’t there room for both films? Why must the existence of a more truthful and accurate portrayal of Frank Sidebottom be an automatic indictment of this film’s worth?
I would think that Frank’s true fans would be excited that a relatively big name is attached to a film that may expose people (like myself) to this man’s work and generate an interest in learning more about him.
I understand the people that are not happy with this representation though. Although it is not the same thing (not real life) I get upset when The Walking Dead TV show veers off too much from the comic. Sometimes I get upset about it but then I get over it.
Hopefully people who really love the real “Frank” will get over it too and enjoy the Fassbender Frank for what it is. Merely an inspiration for the film.
The movie looks great, I hope to catch it come May 9th when I have read it will start playing in the U.S. I don’t know if it’s a wide release though since this is an Indie.
Oh and just from the trailers and clips: Fassbender voice. Sigh… and he sings pretty good too!
I can’t wait for this, the trailer looks hilarious and a friend who went to Sundance said it will definitely be a cult classic!
It’s nice seeing him do something different, he’ll ace this.
When images were coming out while they were filming, I was on the fence about the movie. Now, after seeing the trailer, I could get behind it. If I’m laughing just by hearing his voice and what his body is doing in a trailer, then I’m sure it will be fine in the full movie. But seeing how it is a independent film, I might have to wait for it to be out on DVD.
In the first photo, I thought that was Benedict Cumberbatch because of the eerily similar looking costume to Star Trek and the pretty slim fingers.
Domhnall Gleeson is in the film, I don’t care about the other ginger.
Love Fassy… but I’m ready for him to shave the beard already.
I’m intrigued. I really want to see this.
Lol this looks effing hilarious and I hope we get a US release for this. Yay for Michael doing some comedy. He was riding the same wave as Will Smith with how most of his film work makes me super depressed afterwards lol. I was super annoyed that we never got McAvoy’s Filth over here.
Domhnall Gleeson is in it? Everybody must watch this and get to know him!!!
“Artsy Crap or Quirky Cool?”
As if it is a binary choice and there isn’t wide swath of things in between.
I love this site but GODDAMN these click-baity stupid-question-as-post-titles are enough to make me want to injure myself. Please stop it.
Righhhhhhtttt? Glad i’m not the only one annoyed by the binary option titles! Please don’t do that anymore!
I saw the premiere of Frank at Sundance. I was pysched to see a new Michael Fassbender film, and the trailer is true to the film. you see Michael’s face in maybe 5 minutes at the end of the entire 95 minute film. That’s IT. The entire rest of the time he is inside that paper mache head.
The film is very bizarre, and my husband loathed it. I thought it was amusing, and I do like Domhnall Gleeson as well. I did not know before the fest, that he is Brendan Gleeson’s son. They were in a film together at Sundance called Calvary that I liked much better.
Michael Fassbender is funny in the film, and he does sing, too, which is nice. It’s all about this band that makes very, very avant garde music. Domhnall Gleeson tries to make the band more commercial, but that doesn’t work out, to say the least.
Frank wasn’t my favorite film at Sundance, but I didn’t hate it like my husband did.
As to Maggie’s character. She’s a member of the band, and possibly it’s most extremely avant garde player. She’s against Domnhaill trying to make the band commercial, and she’s very protective of Frank. At the end of the film, we see why.
Love his voice/accent, so sexy! And yes I will see this, its my kind of quirky, funny, weirdness.
I will watch this when it becomes available. That voice…………sigh!
Fassbender isn’t afraid to test his abilities as an actor and truly like that about him.
This looks like a lot of fun, glad he’s gotten around to doing something that’s comedic.
This is completely up my alley. Looking forward to seeing it now.