“Robot & Frank” is a film that is touching and also fascinating. It’s a film with a story that depends on its talent to make the film seem believable and fortunately, Frank Langella’s performance makes this film worth its while. “Robot & Frank” is recommended!
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DVD TITLE: Robot & Frank
FILM RELEASE DATE: 2012
DURATION: 85 Minutes
DVD INFORMATION: Anamorphic Widescreen 2:40:1, English, Portuguese and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Portuguese and Spanish
COMPANY: Stage 6/Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
RATED: PG-13 (Some Language)
Release Date: February 12, 2013
Directed by Jake Schreier
Written by Christopher D. Ford
Producer: Lance Acord, Jackie Kelman Bisbee, Sam Bisbee, Galt Niederhoffer
Co-Producer: Cody Ryder
Executive Producer: Jeremy Bailer, Bob Kelman, Bill Perry, Ann Porter, Danny Rifkin, Tom Valerio
Associate Producer: Theodora Dunlap
Music by Francis and the Lights
Cinematography by Matthew J. Lloyd
Edited by Jacob Craycroft
Production Design by Sharon Lomofsky
Art Direction by Lisa Myers
Set Decoration by Michelle Schluter-Ford
Costume Design by Erika Munro
Starring:
Frank Langella as Frank
James Marsden as Hunter
Liv Tyler as Madison
Susan Sarandon as Jennifer
Petter Sarsgaard as the voice of Robot
Jeremy Strong as Jake
Set in the near future, Frank, a retired cat burglar, has two grown kids who are concerned he can no longer live alone. They are tempted to place him in a nursing home until Frank’s son chooses a different option: against the old man’s wishes, he buys Frank a walking, talking humanoid robot programmed to improve his physical and mental health. What follows is an often hilarious and heartwarming story about finding friends and family in the most unexpected places. Starring an ensemble cast led by Academy Award nominee Frank Lengella (2008, Best Actor, Frost/Nixon), Academy Award Winner Susan Sarandon (1995, Best Actress, Dead Man Walking), Liv Tyler and James Marsden.
From former film school students at the New York University Tisch School of Arts, director Jake Schreier and writer Christopher D. Ford have said to each other that they would work on a project. And in 2008, the two would collaborate for the film “Robot & Frank”, the winner of the Alfred P. Sloan Prize at Sundance 2010.
Inspired by a story from Japan about caretaker robots being produced in Japan and the rapid development of technology, Schreir had started the story for “Bob & Frank” as far back as 2000. In order to make the technology work for the film, the two would work with the company Alterian for the use of an actual robot for the film and smartphones and tables for the future were design by Tumblr’s Justin Ouellette.
With only 20 days to shoot and 2.5 million dollars for the budget, the film received positive reviews from film critics and now “Robot & Frank” will be released on DVD courtesy of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
“Robot & Frank” is a film about a man named Frank (portrayed by Frank Langella), a former cat burglar who served time for a string of robberies and missed out on the lives of his son and daughter while they were young.
Now older and suffering dementia,his son Hunter (portrayed by James Marsden) knows his father is getting worse and wants to place him in a nursing home but his father refuses to listen to his son and feels he is fine. So, because his father wants to be left alone, Hunter decides to buy his father a robot caretaker.
Because Frank is a bit traditional, he doesn’t see the need for having a robot take care of him. But the robot is very good at reminding Hunter about his medication, cleaning up after him but most importantly giving him sound advice. Meanwhile, old habits are hard to break as Frank likes to visit a local soap shop where he is not allowed to go into (because of previous thefts).
One day, he goes into the shop with his robot, to steal again, but when the shopkeeper stops him and tells him to empty his pockets, Frank quickly puts the soap he was stealing away to the side and shows the shopkeeper that he hasn’t stolen anything and he leaves with his robot.
While walking away, the robot gives Frank the soap that he tried to steal and realizes that the robot is not aware that he just stole from the store.
Meanwhile, his daughter Madison (portrayed by Liv Tyler) is having an argument with Hunter for allowing a robot caretaker to take care of their father. And Madison wants the robot to be taken away from the father. But for Frank, he realizes that the robot is becoming a better friend than he expected.
Itching to get back to the cat-burglary game once again, Frank decides to teach his robot about stealing. And for the robot, it knows stealing is wrong but he is programmed to put Frank’s happiness and health as a priority, so it subjects itself to learn of how to break into a building, learn how to steal. And because Frank is one of the best burglars still alive, the robot is learning from the best!
So, the first place that Frank wants to rob is the local library ran by his friend Jennifer (portrayed by Susan Sarandon). The library is going digital and the books of the past are being removed, thanks to the administrator Jake (portrayed by Jeremy Strong). But Frank wants to rob the library, primarily to get certain books that he cares about. And so, Frank and the Robot work on their first heist as a duo.
And as the heist was a success, Frank wants to do more. Meanwhile, while at a party with Jennifer, Frank confronts Frank that he suspects the robbery was done by him, but Frank tries to play things off that he had nothing to do with it.
Meanwhile, seeing all the wealthy at the party and seeing the jewelry that they wear, Frank decides that the first person he wants to steal from is Frank.
And as Frank puts so much time into casing the area and planning the heist, his daughter Madison shows up unexpectedly and deactivates Frank’s robot. She tells Frank that she doesn’t want him being dependent on the robot and as days go by, Frank feels that he has lost his best friend and wants the robot back.
But if the robot is activated, will Frank and his robot continue the big heist they have planned?
VIDEO, AUDIO & SUBTITLES:
“Robot & Frank” is presented in 2:40:1 anamorphic widescreen and audio is presented in English, Portuguese and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital. Picture quality is good, while most of the film is shot indoors. Lighting is well-done and no low level noise is seen, which is good. But overall picture quality for the film is good, no major artifacts or visual problems during my viewing. Dialogue is clear and understandable. The main soundtrack is center and front-channel driven which is appropriate for this type of film. For the most part, video and audio are very good as one can expect on DVD.
Subtitles are in English, English SDH, French, Portuguese and Spanish.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
“Robot & Frank” comes with the following special features:
- Audio Commentary – A fascinating audio commentary featuring director Jake Schreier and writer Christopher Ford who discuss the casting of the film but also how they came up with the concept and more.
- Robot Poster Campaign Gallery – A gallery of posters promoting “Robot & Frank”.
“Robot & Frank” is a clever film and an interesting take of the not-so-distant future of robotic caretakers and a bond between an elderly and a robot.
We have seen film about the disconnect between families, especially children and their elders. Especially those who can’t deal with the pressure of having a sick parent who is suffering from Alzheimer’s, especially dementia.
But this is not one of those film’s that tries to drive morality or immorality to audiences. It’s a heartfelt film about an aging father who knew he wasn’t their for his children because of past mistakes. He was a famous cat burglar who served his time, missed out on his children’s years of growing up while incarcerated. And now he’s an old man that is suffering from dementia, but part of him feels there is nothing wrong.
His children are now older, have busy careers, have their own families and they can’t be with him 24/7 but knowing his condition, they want to put him in a nursing home, which Frank refuses. So, for Hunter, the only son, he decides to purchase a caretaker robot for his father.
But the robot is programmed to keep the father, Frank and his health and happiness as a priority. The robot can learn and adapt to what Frank teaches it, but when Frank wants to feel relevant in this world, he goes back to wanting to steal.
And when Frank realizes that he can teach his new friend, a robot, to take part in crimes, but for a lonely man, he realizes that this robot is his only true friend. One that will not hurt him intentionally, one that is not human, so it really doesn’t understand the conundrums that humans may face.
But we see Frank being dependent on his new friend and what happens when his daughter Madison stops by to stay with him and deactivates the robot, especially during a time when Frank and his robot have planned a major heist.
Frank Langella does an amazing job of playing the character of Frank. A man who feels he is perfectly fine, but deep inside, he is a man full of regret, lonely and feels that his life was exciting when he was a cat burglar.
Susan Sarandon also plays a pivotal part in the film and we eventually get to see the importance of her character right at the end of the film. But as always, a talented actress and both she and Langella are great in the film!
And we also have James Marsden as the son who wants to get close to his father, but at the same time, isn’t so close because of his father’s past incarceration. While, Liv Tyler plays the caring daughter who wants to see her father happy but without the use of a robot. And last, you also get Peter Saarsgard as the voice of the robot.
For the most part, everything works well with this film. While the robot was created for the film, the movements internally were done by a dancer named Rachel Ma, who had to be fitted inside the robot. And for the most part, the movements seemed right and believable, not fake.
While some parts of the film, may seem a bit farfetched (especially when it comes to the police who suspect Frank for the thefts), fortunately those scenes are small enough to not distract from the film. It’s a cleverly written film about aging, life’s regrets and friendship. And director Jake Schreier and writer Christopher Ford manages to pull things off!
The DVD for “Robot & Frank” looks good as one can expect from a DVD, but no worries of major artifacts or any picture quality or audio problems. Dialogue is clear and the DVD comes with an audio commentary by director Jake Schreier and writer Christopher Ford plus a robot poster campaign gallery.
Overall, “Robot & Frank” is a film that is touching and also fascinating. It’s a film with a story that depends on its talent to make the film seem believable and fortunately, Frank Langella’s performance makes this film worth its while.
“Robot & Frank” is recommended!
