I want more of funny Fassbender

Rating: 8/10 (15 October 2014)

Michael Fassbender deserves to be a household name like Brad Pitt or George Clooney, I think he's more talented than both of those guys. His turn as the eccentric title character in Frank is something unexpected and out of left field. Sometimes the best gifts are the ones we don't expect.
Frank on its base level is a comedy, but to call it just a comedy would be an injustice. This film speaks volumes about the creative process and the struggle that is involved. Domhnall Gleeson of About Time fame is the real main character that we follow throughout this film. Maggie Gyllenhaal and Scoot McNairy have great supporting roles as well.
I must mention the head that Fassbender wears throughout the movie, it's hilarious at times and creepy at others. It just adds to the mythic figure that is Frank. He is filled with this overwhelming sense of optimism. More than just the leader of the band, he's a friend to many. They don't really give much back story to the band, but there is a sense that Frank has impacted his bandmates lives in a very profound way.
The story flows pretty well but has a short lull in the 2nd act. I wanted a bit more back story into the characters, but this is a film that isn't very heavy on plot. The music in the film, much like the film itself, is not for everybody but I found it to be pretty catchy. The energy that Fassbender puts into the performance is reason enough to watch. The song he sings at the end is so sweet and hilarious, it put a nice ribbon on things.
I could see this being a very polarizing film if it hits a wide audience. It's not a quirky, laugh out loud comedy like the trailer would suggest. It has comedic beats here and there, but I thought of it more as an offbeat dramedy. I was looking forward to seeing this film and I don't know that it necessarily delivered on everything that I was expecting, but at the same time it's transfixing and entertaining beyond words.