Uncle Frank
AmazonIt has always been a dream to go on a road trip. Perhaps not the one Frank Bledsoe (Paul Bettany) and his niece, Beth (Sophia Lillis) take though; the macabre undertones of taking such a journey from Manhattan to South Carolina for a funeral may put a dampener on my spirits. Still, it always remains on the bucket list, and Uncle Frank, the latest piece from director, Alan Ball looks to give us an inclusive approach to life in a time of cultural revolution and evolution. It showcases an incredible time for music, arts, and philosophy, but a horrid time for the repression of minority groups, with a war in Vietnam raging against the tides of revolution found on the streets of New York. It is a mixed bag, to say the least, and one that sees a tremendous shake up from a piece of representation that sheds light onto hardships.
The narrative structure is nothing out of the ordinary. The three-act structure brings us through the throes of a niece and uncle’s bond with one another and how a revelation opens them up to further connection. Road trip movies will forever have their place in film. Most, unfortunately, have no clue what to do with themselves. Uncle Frank manages to avoid the pitfalls of Green Book, Rain Man or the other socially aware cannon fodder we’ve seen over the past few decades where awards hopefuls are strapped into a Cadillac to head from Exposition Central to Closure City. It’s near impossible to avoid such complacency, but Paul Bettany, Sophia Lillis, and Peter Macdissi make for a formidable trio of characters. They provide thoroughly enjoyable performances that come across as broadly likeable and competent.
What surprises the most about Uncle Frank is how great the chemistry between Bettany and Lillis is. Their isolated moments together showcase the strong prose of Ball’s writing. Nothing extraordinary or groundbreaking, but there are articulate moments of emotional struggle, two characters who have such love for one another coming together to revel in a rather miserable reality. The effect is essential for the pacing of the film. Without the consistencies in writing or the enjoyable performances, Uncle Frank would have very little, if anything, to show for itself.
Uncle Frank boasts an impressive cast, collaborating in a period of time that’s beginning to appeal to those tapping into the nostalgia tour found in 70s culture. Neither contemptuous nor pretentious, Ball’s film is a good time that discusses the fears felt in erratic times. It crafts a compelling narrative, which gives Bettany at his best – not hard for a man who has toiled in made-to-order Marvel flicks and forgettable action films where he runs around in religious garments. Yes, remember Priest? a few people still do! Let’s just hope many more remember Uncle Frank, and the important representation it brings to discourse.