Frank
Dir: Lenny Abrahamson
2014
*****
If you don't know who Frank Sidebottom was then I pity your childhood but also envy you, as you have a wonderful discovery ahead of you should you choose. Google him. Do it now. Done? Great, cool huh! I grew up watching Frank Sidebottom. He didn't have his own TV show at first, he would just randomly appear in other people's shows and would have regular but erratic slots in kids shows and Football programs but then in 1992 came Frank Sidebottom's Fantastic Shed Show. It is still to this day, the best TV show ever made. It was axed after 6 episodes. The world makes no sense to me. Frank Sidebottom is a national treasure, a real individual and the epitome of fun and silliness in equal measure. It was a sad day when he passed in 2010. Before all that though he was the front man in his band, the Oh Blimey Big Band. Everyone in said band went on to be big successes in one way or another, in particular Jon Ronson. Jon Ronson wrote the 2014 film Frank with Frank Sidebottom's blessings before he died but on one condition; that it would be a fictional account of his life. That's exactly what he did. Frank looks like Frank, wears the head and fronts the band and Jon Ronson wrote the character of Jon (played by Domhnall Gleeson) based on himself as the keyboard player in the band (which he was) but the similarities end there. Ronson explores the idea of identity; the possibilities and the ramifications of wearing a mask, the idea that one can be be an enigmatic leader and a shy and neurotic anthropophobic. He also explores the idea of fame, or at least the way fame and popularity works through social media in this day and age, misconceptions and misunderstood talent, idea vs. reality and the utter meaninglessness of the word 'cool'. Frank Sidebottom did small gigs, TV slots here and there and could be easily missed. If he were around today then the internet would have undoubtedly have been his mode of success but then maybe it would have cheapened the memory, I don't know, never will either. When it was learned that he died penniless, Ronson started a money raising campaign to give him a good send off and not a paupers funeral. Within a a couple of days Frank's fans raised £21,631.55 until Ronson was forced to pull the fund as the money just wouldn't stop coming in, way beyond the amount they needed. The internet has it's powers and Frank had his fans, how was it that he was penniless and out of work? I think Ronson does his part in rectifying all this for his old friend. Although the film isn't about Frank Sidebottom, it is about what he stood for. Not what it was he seemed to be but what he really was; a downright genius. They come in all shapes and sizes, I can name a few I admire off the top of my head but none of them compare to Frank. The film will also appeal to struggling musicians, the real deal and the ones who know they have something creative to share, they just don't know how best to express it. Lenny Abrahamson is a great director and the cast all do an amazing job. One of the best films of 2014 without a doubt. I will add that the soundtrack is also one of the best of the year - decade even.

Read Jon Ronson's short book about the making of Frank, then watch the brilliant film, look out for the documentary that is coming soon called 'Being Frank: The Chris Sievey Story' (Which I part funded - good old Kickstarter) and then google everything you can on Frank Sidebottom, sit back and enjoy.