Some people didn't like this movie because they expected something else, they wanted something like a funny, happy and joyful movie, I'm sure about this. But its greatness relies on the pain of the characters. It is full of concepts and problems and love and hate. Loved it and unfortunately underrated.

Frank is exactly my type of quirk. Humorous, endearing, whimsical and unpredictable. Fassbender is great as the titular eccentric musician. How the hell wasn't an A24 film???

The most disturbing and uncomfortable movie I have ever seen, God I don't feel good..

This movie is so, so, so great. I loved every second of it.

A young musician, struggling to find his voice, backs into a gig as spot keyboard player for an eclectic art rock band whose lead singer wears a large papier-mâché mask at all times. Though his first performance is a disaster, the fresh recruit is invited to join the group in an open-ended rehearsal / recording session / retreat somewhere in remote Ireland. There, the close quarters and limited social opportunities force them to hone their sound and face the tumult of adding a new member. Having played with a number of bands myself, I can recognize and relate with _Frank_’s depiction of a dysfunctional group creative process. Getting any number of smart, devoted, protective artistic types to agree on a direction can be an exercise in futility, especially without someone decisive and commanding at the helm. Frank, he of the big fake head, is a musical savant who can pick the most savory bits from an idea, adapting and expanding their essence into something rich and meaningful. An essential component of any successful group, but not necessarily what you need in a leader. That hasn’t been a problem for these guys so far, because they’re content to live in a van and essentially play music for themselves. When the new guy pushes them towards a broader audience, Frank’s thrilled, but the rest of the crew is skeptical. Doubly so when someone mentions toning down their sound. Are we trying to be radio-friendly now? I didn’t sign on for that. Building a great band is hard. It takes a lot of stale repetition. Personalities will rub wrong. There will be jealousy and gatekeeping as ideas are overlooked or discarded. And, even if you get over those humps, there’s no guarantee you’ll find the right ears or that your tenuous private alliance will survive the spotlight. Most of Frank’s band is damaged goods. Frank is damaged goods. Their faults feed the music, but for some that’s not a healthy loop. We see that in full effect during the film’s third act, where everyone’s cracks and faults are stressed and stretched, and suddenly it’s not such a fun ride. Delightfully obtuse at its best, I much preferred _Frank_’s first hour, where the band is fighting to create and not simply fighting. Its latter explorations of mental illness and social misunderstanding can be poignant, but very drab. After sixty minutes of fraught color, it's difficult to appreciate something so bleak.