Franklyn (2008)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Gerald McMorrow

Writer:

Gerald McMorrow (screenplay)

Release Date:

27 February 2009 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

Reality hasn't got a prayer.

Plot:

The film is a split narrative set simultaneously in contemporary London and in a future metropolis ruled by religious fervor...

Plot Keywords:

Detective | Masked Vigilante | Slow Motion Scene | Sniper Rifle | Title Appears In Writing

Cast

Eva Green	...	Emilia Bryant
Ryan Phillippe	...	Jonathan Preest
Sam Riley	...	Milo
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Richard Coyle	...	Dan
Sam Douglas	...	Saul
Jay Fuller	...	Monk
Jeanie Gold	...	Patient
Bernard Hill	...	The Individual / Peter Esser
Georgia Mackenzie	...	Teri
Art Malik	...	Tarrant
Kika Markham	...	Naomi
Gary Pillai	...	Doctor
Stephen Walters	...	Wormsnakes / Wasnik
Chris Wilson	...	Police Officer
Mark Wingett	...	Frank Grant
Susannah York	...	Margaret

MPAA:

Rated R for language.

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

France | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Certification:

Ireland:16 | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #45556) | Portugal:M/16

Filming Locations:

Lincoln's Inn Fields, Holborn, London, England, UK

Company:

Recorded Picture Company (RPC)

Trivia:

Bernard Hill replaced John Hurt.

Goofs:

Continuity: The man talking to Milo in the room where the red haired woman disappeared to and another unseen character added some tiles to his original cross shaped design on the table. After Milo leaves the camera tilts down as the man writes into his notebook and the additional tiles are gone, reverting back to the cross shape.

Quotes:

Preest: The Individual had abducted a young girl in Duplex Drive. For what purpose somebody's god only knew.

One In The Eye For The Attention-Deficienct Popcorn Cattle

Yes, it's a slow, slow build-up featuring seemingly unconnected story threads, fantastical settings and comic-book characterisation. Yes, it's all a bit of a muddle at times, and plays like the disconnected fast-cut chapters of a cynically devise modern supermarket bestselling novel.

But it's different.

Not out-there different, just stoically different from the average Hollywood committee-designed faux art-slice. It's a film that refuses to bend to the will of popular expectation and also to the viewer's clamouring desire for exposition.

For that it's to be applauded; it seems remarkable it managed mainstream distribution given the fact so many will be 'bored' ('man') awaiting the connections to satisfy their anticipation.

And you may well gather what's going on before it's explained (with a little ultimate dubiety) on screen, but this is still a well-executed piece of cinema with a solid cast that dares to offer something a little different to current lame traits after seemingly setting itself up as just another by-the-numbers collage.

Clever at times, atmospheric, beautifully shot with a good cast. Worth, nay deserving, of a watch as a mild antidote to patronising Hollywood mainstream. A solid seven out of ten.