Franklyn - Brit Sci-Fi

Mr Majestik · 10-01-2009, 13:02

This looks quite interesting, A new British fantasy flim with a decent cast that seems to have come out of nowhere...

It's out Feb 20th.

RomerojpgX · 10-01-2009, 13:53

Ahh a trailer at last.

Does still seem like V for Vendetta crossed with Watchmen

I thought the trailer may change that, but it hasnt. No bad thing mind you as V is great and Watchmen seems like it should be great.

Ratfink · 10-01-2009, 15:17

It actually had its premier at the last London Film Festival, as I almost went to see it.

Looks interesting, and I'm sure I'll catch it on general. I've not seen V for Vendetta yet, so must catch that too.

RomerojpgX · 10-01-2009, 15:22

Ahhh I did not know it was finished, mnever mind played at any places, it seems to have been in production for a long time so I just assumed they were going to bury it for some reason. Philipe gets my support for Way of the Gun alone

he may be a pretty boy in films, but he is a good un

V is well worth a watch, and its cheap as chips now

Boink! · 10-01-2009, 16:46

Wow, that looks good.

Morton · 01-03-2009, 00:56

I saw this tonight and unfortunately there were only 5 people in the theatre, including the two of us, so I think this is going to bomb.

We came out of the cinema not really sure what to make of it, it is a 'different' film - certainly not your run-of-the-mill hollywood movie and it's definitely not a sci-fi/martial arts/shoot em up/action film that the trailer implies.

Not sure if this is a spoiler: The closest film I can compare Franklyn to is

Spoiler:

The Machinist.

It was all acted well, the fantasy city/world was well realised with good effects. The twist is fairly obvious early on if you're paying attention. However, the 'mystery' is far too drawn out and the pace is too slow. I was bored in the middle part waiting for the reveal. Thankfully, it did arrive and the conclusion was over quickly but satisfying.

RomerojpgX · 01-03-2009, 01:02

Its going to bomb as its on Limited Release

and they have treated it like crap, no advertising at all really. It will not even make it into the top 10 box office, never mind make cash.

I could not even get to see it if I wanted to

Todd Tomorrow · 01-03-2009, 09:21

This gets my vote for worst film I've seen so far this year. I went with a friend and we both said at the end that we wished we'd gone for a pint instead after twenty minutes. It's based on an uninvolving, mock profound screenplay with a cliched premise and flat footed characterisation. The special effects are impressive for a film of it's budget, but the director never lets us forget it, with self indulgent shots of the camera going up and down the Gotham style buildings while the music keeps swelling so we are suitable awed.

Like WAZ (Se7en for dummies) and Straightheads (the idiots Straw Dogs) this is another UK attempt to reach a wider market to ripping off a much better film (Dark City) and by casting Internationally known actors.

Spoiler:

The film is disingenuous in that it purports to be a film about mental illness, but all it really aspires to is to show you how well the filmmakers can realise yet another dystopic Brazil/Dark City/Gotham style cityscape. It's a Dark City like mystery without that films pay off. In fact the mystery is easy to figure out and very dissappointing. The cliched reasons for the two main characters mental instability trivialises the issue of mental illness.

Franklyn is the cinematic equivalent of some angst ridden goth teenagers self indulgent poetry and it's just as boring and embarrassing.

statto · 01-03-2009, 13:30

Jonathan Ross hated it too.

ian turner · 01-03-2009, 17:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by statto

Jonathan Ross hated it too.

Hmm sounds like a recommendation

I liked it

statto · 01-03-2009, 17:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by ian turner

Hmm sounds like a recommendation

I liked it

No need to take offence, I haven't seen it yet, but I'm going to try to (if I can find a local place showing it) because I'm a big fan of Ryan Phillipe's work.

ian turner · 01-03-2009, 17:47

Limited releases at random Cineworlds and the like it seems.
It annoys me when reviewers suggest that there are better films to see when this means at their local London cinemas and the odd one or two arts cinemas across the country.

Todd Tomorrow · 01-03-2009, 19:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by statto

No need to take offence, I haven't seen it yet, but I'm going to try to (if I can find a local place showing it) because I'm a big fan of Ryan Phillipe's work.

You are going to see his body double wearing a mask for 80% of his characters screen time.

dodgy316 · 02-03-2009, 07:37

I was looking forward to this and caught it last night. I'm pretty sure this is the first film I've seen at the cinema where so many people have walked out, which I found surprising (well, the film wasn't that good either but still).

baloobas · 03-03-2009, 22:09

Saw this today and wanted to walk out after 30 mins - I'm glad I didn't.
It's not great (or even good tbh) but at least it has a tiny bit of ambition and tried to be something (a little) different.

Rob · 13-07-2009, 06:47

Saw this on DVD at the weekend. I'm surprised at the negative comments because I thought that it was actually pretty good.

I did guess what was happening about 3/4 of the way through, but it didn't stop my enjoying the film. A good one to watch if you like films where after 10 minutes you ask yourself "How the hell are these 4 plot lines going to come together?"

KeyserSoze · 13-07-2009, 21:15

I also quite enjoyed it. It does take a while to get going and I can see how people can get bored. Will get better on repeated viewings me thinks. Also good to see a film set in London.

Shey Tapani · 16-07-2009, 07:14

I liked the trailer, we shall see how good the movie is going to be.

sleep4ever · 16-07-2009, 09:34

I'm in two minds whether or not to slate it as it at least tried to do something different

But the pacing was off, the middle part did drag, and the videos with Eva Green were pretentious nonsense

There were some good ideas (casting Jim Carver out of the Bill wasnt one of them), it looked pretty good and I couldnt guess how the plot threads were all going to come together.