Pjtaylor-96-138044
'Robot & Frank (2012)' is a quiet and quite charming piece that places more emphasis on its central character's relationship with an insentient yet seemingly alive mechanical assistant than anything else, with this core dynamic working remarkably well considering its one sided nature as it allows for both the protagonist and audience to project themselves onto the eponymous automaton and for it to become a lens through which all other relationships can manifest themselves in strangely honest ways. The film is never fantastic, especially from its basically basic technical stand-point (though the practical effects used on the titular 'Robot' are tangible, convincing and refreshing), but it always retains its wholesome aesthetic and entertaining outlook, allowing it to be an enjoyable picture that is a little forgettable but also a little touching too. 7/10
annuskavdpol
Robot and Frank is a good film. It is about medical ethics and the use of robots. On the one hand it seems like Frank has a form of dementia, which contributes to the plot. The robot is Frank's care-giver but also a pal who helps him steal, create new projects and get a piece of his memory back. Stealing here is Frank's past-time. Frank considers it a kind of skill and a kind of hobby which excites Frank. Having a partner in crime (the robot) makes Frank a little bit more hopeful in life.I believe the main question in this movie is about how ethical is robotics? Can a human befriend a robot? Can a robot do what humans cannot do? Can the robot be programmed to help a sick human?
mrhdbnger-04245
I heard about this one through one of those lists of obscure movies you never heard of and I am so glad we watched it. I love this movie. The elements of science fiction with the robot appeal to my love of that genre. The human drama was touching and intriguing and left us guessing about Frank. The robot was a delightful character and lent so much to humorous situations that I laughed out loud repeatedly. I was invested,engaged and I laughed and even cried a little. This covers everything a good movie should do. What an entertainment treat.
Jackson Booth-Millard
I saw the DVD cover for this well rated film, it is completely obvious what the film is about, I was attracted to it by the leading actor, and I was certainly interested in what the story would be. Basically set in the the near future, ageing ex-convict and thief Frank Weld (Frank Langella) lives alone and experiences increasingly serious mental deterioration and dementia. Frank's son Hunter (James Marsden), who has his own family and works as an attorney, is tired of visiting his father's home, but is reluctant to put him in full- time care, so he buys a robot companion (voiced by Peter Sarsgaard), programmed to provide Frank with therapeutic care, including a good diet, a daily routine and activities to improve creativity and memory. At first Frank is wary of the presence of the robot, but he slowly warms to his new companion when he learns the robot is not programmed to distinguish between legal recreational activities and criminal acts, and it can assist him picking locks. Frank wants to win the affections of local librarian Jennifer (Susan Sarandon), the library is being renovated and turned into a community center, as interest in print media in declining, so he and the robot commit a heist, stealing an antique copy of Don Quixote from the library. Frank's daughter Madison (Liv Tyler), who is in Turkmenistan on a philanthropic trip, she learns of the robot and returns home to convince her father to get rid of it, on ethical objections, Frank insists he wants to keep the machine, for both help and as a friend. Frank and the robot commit one last heist, stealing jewels from rich young developer Jake (Jeremy Strong), who is heading the library renovation project. The police investigate the robbery and question and monitor Frank, he maintains his innocence, so that Hunter will return he pretends his illness is becoming deadly, and to cover his tracks Frank has the decision whether to wipe the memory of his robot, even as his own memory deteriorates rapidly. Frank goes to see Jennifer at the library, he discovers from photographs that she is in fact his wife, he had forgotten. Frank then returns home and the robot convinces him to wipe its holographic memory, arguing that it is not person and his sole reason for existence is to help Frank, it wants to help him to avoid jail, he reluctantly does so. Frank is taken to the "Brain Center", where he receives help in coping with his dementia, the jewels are not recovered by the police, Frank implies to Hunter in a note that they are hidden under tomato plants in his garden, that the robot made. Also starring Jeremy Sisto as Sheriff Rowlings, Bonnie Bentley as Ava and Rachael Ma as Robot (body). Langella gives a most impressive performance as the cranky elderly retired cat burglar whose memory is fading, Sarsgaard is a good choice as the voice of the kindly machine, and there is good support from Sarandon and the other players. This is a very simple story, an old thief using a machine that knows the definition of stealing, but does not understand it when doing it, this works well as a character study, and splendidly mixes the right amount of laughs but also the poignant and heartfelt emotion, overall it is a most satisfying science-fiction comedy drama. Very good!
