Franklyn Details

Poorly made drama

Went to a free screening a week prior to it's theatrical release, and what stood before me was a film that attempted to fool people into thinking it was an action thriller for a half reel, before becoming the dullest of dramas. The main character is ignored for the most part and given little for plot, the main female lead is a typical emo-ey student film character, i.e. suicidal, odd and annoying. Ryan Phillippe being the biggest name of the bunch is unfortunate in that he actually tries harder than anyone else, but the poorly written film, with simplistic dialogue and twists evident to all but the writer from the twenty second minute make for this to be a tedious watch.

Why Gerald spent six and a half years trying to get it made, and why people backed him., I have no idea, however if he just wrote the short film he wanted to first, this might have been a simple, entertaining and smart tale, stretched out to an undue feature length, it's dull, obvious and dumber than it thinks it is.

Don't waste your time, and I say that feeling upset that it wasn't what it could have been.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Spanking Franklyn!

Strangely enough Franklyn was recieved quite poorly in general, unlike its vastly over rated cousin 'Pans Labrynth'. Although very similar in many ways with its cross over between elaborate fantasy scenes and gritty real life, Franklyn manges to portry a much more realistic and gripping drama.

With strong performances by Ryan Phillipe (yes I did just say that), Sam Rilley and Eva Greene, Franklyn manages to give its viewer more than food for thought by tackling numerous powerful subjects and still manages to deliver a vastly heart warming finale. Although the first twenty minutes may confuse some, patience provides more than reward as the threads of storyline fall into place.