Think it's higher than that now.
― James Mitchell, Thursday, 8 July 2010 07:25 (thirteen years ago) link
Go Frank!
― Mark G, Thursday, 8 July 2010 07:36 (thirteen years ago) link
There's a celebration of him tonight, somewhere in Manchester. Don't know the details though.
― djh, Thursday, 8 July 2010 12:40 (thirteen years ago) link
number 22 or something now. i've bought it.
― Humbert Humberto Suazo (jim in glasgow), Thursday, 8 July 2010 15:38 (thirteen years ago) link
"Because of the sheer amount of love and goodwill, the family have alsoagreed to host another seperate send-off for Frank Sidebottom which will beheld at Castlefield Arena on 8th July between 7:00pm and 10:00pm. The eventis totally free and will feature the likes of Badly Drawn Boy, CharlieChuck and others. More details can be found athttp://www.radiotimperley.com/franks-fantastic-send-off-information/ "
― koogs, Thursday, 8 July 2010 16:03 (thirteen years ago) link
Charlie Chuck!
― Ned Trifle II, Thursday, 8 July 2010 16:10 (thirteen years ago) link
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/About/General/2010/11/2/1288721883143/frank-sidebottam-006.jpg
Selfridges in Frank Sidebottom head row
― Mark G, Wednesday, 3 November 2010 12:52 (thirteen years ago) link
A+ final paragraph
― StanM, Wednesday, 3 November 2010 17:01 (thirteen years ago) link
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-19516388
Frank Sidebottom inspires Michael Fassbender film
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/62748000/jpg/_62748010_frank1_bodypa.jpgFassbender (l) will wear a false head in the film similar to that worn by Frank Sidebottom (r)
Michael Fassbender is to star in a film partially inspired by Frank Sidebottom, the eccentric comedy character renowned for his over-sized, papier-mache head.
Frank, a Film4 collaboration with the Irish Film Board, tells of a musician who joins a band led by Fassbender's mysterious title character.
The film is written by journalist and author Jon Ronson with Peter Straughan.
― Mark G, Monday, 10 September 2012 14:53 (eleven years ago) link
http://aws-c4-generic-sites.s3.amazonaws.com/film4blog-prod/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/frank.jpg
http://blog.film4.com/first-photograph-of-maggie-gyllenhaal-michael-fassbender-and-domhnall-gleeson-in-frank/
― useless chamber, Thursday, 10 January 2013 13:54 (eleven years ago) link
So, is Clara meant to represent Paula?
― Mark G, Thursday, 10 January 2013 14:21 (eleven years ago) link
Kickstarter for Sidebottom documentary: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/126673955/being-frank-the-chris-sievey-story
― emil.y, Wednesday, 1 May 2013 17:42 (ten years ago) link
Trailer
http://www.theguardian.com/film/video/2014/mar/06/frank-trailer-michael-fassbender-video
― American Fear of Pranksterism (Ed), Thursday, 6 March 2014 20:04 (ten years ago) link
So...nothing whatsoever to do with Frank Sidebottom or Chris Seivey then?
― everything, Thursday, 6 March 2014 20:23 (ten years ago) link
A quirky band takes a road trip across America to take a shot at their one chance at fame. There's a movie I want to see.
― everything, Thursday, 6 March 2014 20:41 (ten years ago) link
yowch that looks dreadful. weird how they've pitched it as a high-octane action comedy with buff hollywood star in the lead role, words like HILARIOUS and ABSURD in a jolly yellow font flashing up on screen to signpost that the 'jokes' are actually jokes. then there's this clip which takes more of a twee sub-spike jonze equally-irritating tack: http://vimeo.com/84321394
either way ronson has gotta be having sleepless nights about how rotten this is looking like turning out
― NI, Thursday, 6 March 2014 20:56 (ten years ago) link
http://susiemadrak.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/wahmbulance-1.jpg
― landschlubber (Noodle Vague), Thursday, 6 March 2014 23:44 (ten years ago) link
I like that it's a 'different' Frank.
It remains to be seen if it's a good movie though.
― Mark G, Thursday, 6 March 2014 23:58 (ten years ago) link
What I've read so far, this seems to be allegorical, hugely, to Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band, around the time of "Trout Mask Replica"...
― Mark G, Tuesday, 22 April 2014 10:53 (nine years ago) link
I loved it, but it's 100% NOT a high-octane action comedy with buff hollywood star in the lead role, words like HILARIOUS and ABSURD in a jolly yellow font flashing up on screen and they don't actually position it that way at all. Blame the people who cut the trailers there.
That said, it's not about Frank Sidebottom, except in the abstract - it's about outsider musicians in general, and cult fame, and the thin line between a certain type of precious genius and mental illness. It's darker than I expected, but there are lots of gags. I feel like its ideal audience is people who find something haunting and beautiful in The Shaggs, not just something to laugh at. Daniel Johnston's story is definitely conjured as well. The music (I didn't recognize the name and can't remember it) is more-than-credible post-punk that doesn't sound anything like Sidebottom's plinky tunes. It's almost more like MX-80 or Pere Ubu or something.
I haven't read any reviews, so don't know what people have disliked who disliked it, but I could see some people being irritated by the running device of the lead character constantly Twittering (I personally cringe when I hear anyone in the world say "hashtag *something*" out loud).
It should get, and deserves, a cult following.
― Walter Galt, Wednesday, 23 April 2014 15:11 (nine years ago) link
watching the trailer with the sound off it does look QUITE bad
― conrad, Wednesday, 23 April 2014 15:28 (nine years ago) link
I haven't read any reviews, so don't know what people have disliked who disliked it, but I could see some people being irritated by the running device of the lead character constantly Twittering
yes this was absolutely awful. As well as the whole SXSW trip.
I enjoyed it on a superficial level but I'm not even a fan and I found the complete divorce from the actual Frank Sidebottom story puzzling and quite off-putting. He was such an authentically strange English eccentric (and 80s/90s artifact) that the modernisation and Americanisation felt a bit cheap and wrong. It seemed like a rather self-conscious attempt to make Sidebottom cool, which he obviously never was
― Number None, Wednesday, 23 April 2014 17:57 (nine years ago) link
The Jon Ronson "Frank" book, smallest (content) book ever, sets out and explains the why/what of the film, but it's mostly about the (real) Frank, and Jon being in his band and that.
― Mark G, Saturday, 17 May 2014 23:55 (nine years ago) link
probably the best ending to a film i didn't care for much that i've ever seen. the last 15 minutes were amazing especially the song IMO. it will sorta spoil it if you hear the song outside of the film though.
― piscesx, Sunday, 18 May 2014 02:27 (nine years ago) link
The Mick Middles book is great, by the way.
It's epub only at the moment, but it's due out on paper later in the year.
― Mark G, Wednesday, 9 July 2014 07:02 (nine years ago) link
http://thecolbertreport.cc.com/videos/mm5qvn/michael-fassbender----i-love-you-all-
― Insane Prince of False Binaries (Gukbe), Wednesday, 27 August 2014 06:11 (nine years ago) link
That reminded me a little bit of early Pulp.
I'm going to see Frank tomorrow.
― tokyo rosemary, Thursday, 28 August 2014 03:53 (nine years ago) link
apparently the movie basically...isn't about frank sidebottom at all?
― akm, Thursday, 28 August 2014 04:30 (nine years ago) link
No, not at all. It's quite good though. Well, it's hit and miss throughout but really nails the ending.
― Insane Prince of False Binaries (Gukbe), Thursday, 28 August 2014 05:17 (nine years ago) link
What a very strange film...
― Non-Stop Hongrotic Cabaret (dog latin), Monday, 29 September 2014 09:53 (nine years ago) link
Took me ages to realise the bits when Frank was speaking because of the US accent. Huge tonal shifts all over the shop, especially in the last third. Had trouble understanding many of the characters' motivations. Sometimes it played out like a whimsical UK comedy drama, other times like an avant-garde Spinal Tap, and other times like a surrealist Silver Linings Playbook. I was never sure whether the music Frank's band was making was supposed to be fractured genius or a deluded experiment...
And yet somehow it worked. I was enchanted by this film for the most part and I feel as though it's going to stay with me for a long while.
― Non-Stop Hongrotic Cabaret (dog latin), Monday, 29 September 2014 09:58 (nine years ago) link
did you guys really like the ending that much?
― Non-Stop Hongrotic Cabaret (dog latin), Monday, 29 September 2014 10:01 (nine years ago) link
Yeah, I liked the ending.
― Mark G, Monday, 20 October 2014 13:47 (nine years ago) link
he just showed up without his mask and had a bit of a cry didn't he? maybe i expected more...
― Shepard Toney Album (dog latin), Monday, 20 October 2014 13:48 (nine years ago) link
It was sentimental as hell: he had his defences broken forever, thought he couldn't do it without, managed to overcome and take steps forward. Naked and vulnerable.
...............
(last sentence a bit spoilery, so removed: available on application)
Actually, I have had a great idea...
― Mark G, Monday, 20 October 2014 14:32 (nine years ago) link
Spoiler post location, click and read if you are OK with it
Posted the spoilery bit here. Up to you.
― Mark G, Monday, 20 October 2014 14:36 (nine years ago) link
Yeah, sorry everyone. That was my bad.
― Shepard Toney Album (dog latin), Monday, 20 October 2014 14:40 (nine years ago) link
I think the whole 'who is Frank?' part was the least interesting bit about it for me. Once they went to SXSW, I felt the film sag a bit and I'd have sort of been happy with a sort of no-wave Spinal Tap movie with a very eccentric frontman.
― Shepard Toney Album (dog latin), Monday, 20 October 2014 14:48 (nine years ago) link
Bearing in mind that I had no knowledge or comprehension of who/what Frank Sidebottom was, I thought that the movie was very good.
― Elvis Telecom, Tuesday, 11 November 2014 01:37 (nine years ago) link
Probably makes it easier.
― Mark G, Tuesday, 11 November 2014 10:37 (nine years ago) link
YEah, it's got nothing to do with the OG Frank Sidebottom
― joni mitchell jarre (dog latin), Tuesday, 11 November 2014 10:57 (nine years ago) link
People who liked this should also see 'We Are The Best'.
If this is nothing to do with the original Sidebottom, then why use a similar mask and name. I don't understand.
(not seen the film btw)
― Drop soap, not bombs (Ste), Tuesday, 11 November 2014 11:27 (nine years ago) link
nobody understands. i don't.
― joni mitchell jarre (dog latin), Tuesday, 11 November 2014 11:33 (nine years ago) link
it took me ages to realise it was 'Frank' talking in the film, because he had a US accent.
― joni mitchell jarre (dog latin), Tuesday, 11 November 2014 11:34 (nine years ago) link
If you want to know why, seek out Jon Ronson's "Frank" the making of the movie, hardback, small but cheap.
If not, stick with "they used a similar mask and name" and leave it at that.
In other news, I did get the original soundtrack CD for this film, I liked it a lot. I have placed it next to my Frank Sidebottom CD box set , they seem to be coexisting OK, so far
― Mark G, Tuesday, 11 November 2014 12:28 (nine years ago) link
Another movie to come?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1jConflbmo
― Mark G, Wednesday, 19 November 2014 01:46 (nine years ago) link
.
― Mark G, Wednesday, 19 November 2014 10:45 (nine years ago) link
the film 'frank' is great, one of the best films about music i've seen
it entirely sympathises with frank and his band, and turns its gormless narrator/observer into a genuine monster, the aggressively vapid carcass of british indie and social media valorisation inflicted on the delicate integrity of artists. and yeah, the closing movement is absolutely incredible. the song, my god the song! and then the final five seconds are up there in final five seconds of any movie i've seen - it's perfect, a sort of miniature musical manifesto, a purging of evil
― imago, Tuesday, 9 December 2014 15:39 (nine years ago) link
GCHQ cracks Frank Sidebottom's secret codes
― Do you like 70s hard rock with a guitar hero? (Tom D.), Sunday, 14 April 2019 10:03 (five years ago) link
Awesome
― El Tomboto, Sunday, 14 April 2019 13:01 (five years ago) link
Boffins and bobbins in the same sentence but not in the title? :(
― StanM, Sunday, 14 April 2019 13:41 (five years ago) link
Gratifying to see the British secret services are good for least one thing.
― Do you like 70s hard rock with a guitar hero? (Tom D.), Sunday, 14 April 2019 13:42 (five years ago) link
wasn't sure if 100 mins of a frank sidebottom documentary might become trying but i ended up thoroughly enjoying it.
― visiting, Wednesday, 28 August 2019 00:11 (four years ago) link