Pretty men
I saw two movies lately, The Imitation Game and Frank. Both were enjoyable, starring good actors, none was a masterpiece, though. I'm not a big fan of biopics and I didn't have high expectations about the former, but I didn't hate it in spite of the usual historical inaccuracies; as for the latter it is actually not a biopic, even though the giant head the titular character is wearing is obviously inspired by Frank Sidebottom.
Both films kinda tackled the idea of genius and of normal vs not normal, but The Imitation Game is obviously aimed at a larger audience and neither the writing nor the actor directing is about subtlety. I liked Frank's understated way to suggest subtle stuff under the cover of apparent craziness, obvious quirkiness and comedy, just like there's a real human being with a real mental illness under the papier-mâché head.
Benedict Cumberbatch was fine as Turing -- there were still shades of Sherlock from time to time--, and Matthew Goode was his usual pretty and charming self -- Keira Knightley still annoys the hell out of me so don't ask --, but I have to admit that I'm more into Domhnall Gleeson who was simply terrific in Frank, and into Michael Fassbender who did deliver an unusual performance (and yes his face remains hidden under the papier-mâché head during almost the whole movie, only showing up in the last 8 minutes).
Gleeson is always very good, so I wasn't surprised, and he's such a beautiful redhead (his pretty green eyes can totally compare with Cumbertbatch's!). His character, Jon, is actually the lead, and it's all about his journey among so-called music freaks, even if Fassbender's gives the film its title.
As for Fassy...I wonder who got the idea to conceal a face as handsome as his. It seems like a provocation! I'd lie if I said that it wasn't frustrating at time. I guess it put the viewers in Jon's shoes, except that Jon didn't know what was under the head, while the audience already knows the face of the star.
Anyway it takes a great actor to rely only on voice and body language (and what a body!) throughout a film. Even with physical tansformation or heavy make-up actors usually can use their eyes to convey stuff, but under Frank's head he could not. He still managed to make the character...expressive. Also, I already knew from FishTank that he could move well, but he's a damn good vocalist too!
Pretty and talented Irish men...
Both films kinda tackled the idea of genius and of normal vs not normal, but The Imitation Game is obviously aimed at a larger audience and neither the writing nor the actor directing is about subtlety. I liked Frank's understated way to suggest subtle stuff under the cover of apparent craziness, obvious quirkiness and comedy, just like there's a real human being with a real mental illness under the papier-mâché head.
Benedict Cumberbatch was fine as Turing -- there were still shades of Sherlock from time to time--, and Matthew Goode was his usual pretty and charming self -- Keira Knightley still annoys the hell out of me so don't ask --, but I have to admit that I'm more into Domhnall Gleeson who was simply terrific in Frank, and into Michael Fassbender who did deliver an unusual performance (and yes his face remains hidden under the papier-mâché head during almost the whole movie, only showing up in the last 8 minutes).
Gleeson is always very good, so I wasn't surprised, and he's such a beautiful redhead (his pretty green eyes can totally compare with Cumbertbatch's!). His character, Jon, is actually the lead, and it's all about his journey among so-called music freaks, even if Fassbender's gives the film its title.
As for Fassy...I wonder who got the idea to conceal a face as handsome as his. It seems like a provocation! I'd lie if I said that it wasn't frustrating at time. I guess it put the viewers in Jon's shoes, except that Jon didn't know what was under the head, while the audience already knows the face of the star.
Anyway it takes a great actor to rely only on voice and body language (and what a body!) throughout a film. Even with physical tansformation or heavy make-up actors usually can use their eyes to convey stuff, but under Frank's head he could not. He still managed to make the character...expressive. Also, I already knew from FishTank that he could move well, but he's a damn good vocalist too!
Pretty and talented Irish men...