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]

Not what I expected

This is one of those films that falls foul of its own trailer. Either you'll go in expecting something between Watchmen and Dark City, or you'll avoid it for that very reason. The thing is, when you actually watch the film, it is something entirely different.

Its difficult to explain why the film is so different from that presented in the trailer without giving the main device away. Suffice to say, I can best describe it as two films fused into one, but the trailer has only focused on one of those (the Watchmen/ Dark City side of the film which, admittedly, is much easier to try and sell). The other side, and how and why the two combine, is a lot more interesting.

Approach this film with a completely open mind, and its actually quite an enjoyable hour and a half.

In terms of the Blu Ray transfer, well, its ok... but it doesn't exactly sparkle, and you won't be putting this film in your player to show it off at its best.