Losing faith in madness

Rating: 7/10 (19 January 2015)

According to conventional wisdom Paul McCartney's comfortable upbringing lead directly to the bouncy but inane parts of The Beatles catalog while John Lennon's tortured childhood produced the inspired, timeless bits. In "Frank" keyboardist Jon Ronson takes us through his loss of faith in the most cherished artistic belief - that crazy is the soil from which talent springs. His idol, in this fictionalized version of the Frank Sidebottom character, gets presented as a mad musical genius twisted by a bleak upbringing in wildest Kansas. As Ronson integrates in the band the evidence that Frank/Chris is just a decent musician with deep mental problems mounts but Ronson having already committed financially and spiritually continues to tilt at the windmill that eventually the unpronounceably-named band will produce an album for the ages. Step by step, Jon comes to understand that Frank/Chris and bandmate Clara, played in a one-note fashion by Maggie Gyllenhaal, will take any step to avoid coming out from behind the physical and proverbial mask to face an actual audience to be judged on actual work. This progression and the ultimate peeling away of the mask that occurs in the same small Kansas town prompts a fascinating discussion of faith, madness and common beliefs about the artistic temperament. In short, a very under-appreciated film well worth your time.