Uncle Frank

Name: Uncle Frank
Genre: Drama
Released: November 25, 2020
Duration: 95 min
Rating: 58
Cast: Alan Campbell, Caity Brewer, Cole Doman, Dave Blamy, Hannah Black

2020

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 21 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 34 Ratings

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7.3

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7.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 34 Ratings

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Uncle Frank: I Like Beth

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Movie Details & Credits

Amazon Studios | Release Date (Streaming): November 25, 2020 | R

Starring: Alan Campbell, Caity Brewer, Cole Doman, Dave Blamy, Hannah Black, Jane McNeill, Judy Greer, Lois Smith, Margo Martindale, Paul Bettany, Peter Macdissi, Rochelle Aycoth, Sophia Lillis, Stephen Root, Steve Zahn, Townsend Fallica, Voltaire Colin Council

Summary: In 1973, teenaged Beth Bledsoe (Sophia Lillis) leaves her rural Southern hometown to study at New York University where her beloved Uncle Frank (Paul Bettany) is a revered literature professor. She soon discovers that Frank is gay, and living with his longtime partner Walid “Wally” Nadeem (Peter Macdissi) -- an arrangement that he has keptIn 1973, teenaged Beth Bledsoe (Sophia Lillis) leaves her rural Southern hometown to study at New York University where her beloved Uncle Frank (Paul Bettany) is a revered literature professor. She soon discovers that Frank is gay, and living with his longtime partner Walid “Wally” Nadeem (Peter Macdissi) -- an arrangement that he has kept secret for years. After the sudden death of Frank's father -- Beth’s grandfather -- Frank is forced to reluctantly return home for the funeral with Beth in tow, and to finally face a long-buried trauma that he has spent his entire adult life running away from.… Expand

Director: Alan Ball

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: R

Runtime: 95 min

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Critic Reviews

Ty Burr

Nov 27, 2020

The movie rarely takes the easy way out of a scene, and the observational details can be rich. Read full review

Richard Roeper

Nov 25, 2020

When the material in Uncle Frank wades into soapy, melodramatic waters, the performances are pure and powerful. Read full review

Bill Goodykoontz

Nov 24, 2020

Bettany is outstanding. He infuses Frank with just the right amount of inner turmoil and confusion as he tries to balance his love for his family with the wounds they have inflicted upon him — and as he tries to come to terms with his own identity among them. Read full review

The Guardian Jordan Hoffman

Jan 27, 2020

It is a frustrating filmgoing experience, but still one worthy of your time for the acting alone. Read full review

Alonso Duralde

Nov 25, 2020

Those moments that land, whether funny or moving, occur when Ball isn’t getting in his own way and instead trusts in the characters he’s written and the actors who are performing them. Overall, the film works, but there are times during this road-trip saga where one wishes Ball would apply the brakes. Read full review

Gary Goldstein

Nov 25, 2020

A finely acted, often deeply emotional period piece that, despite its share of strong moments, stacks the deck too much for its own dramatic good. Read full review

Leslie Felperin

Jan 27, 2020

Although clearly made with earnest good intentions, this shabbily constructed work feels way too thirsty for audience love as it strings together a series of life-affirming, message-laden and sometimes embarrassingly anachronistic moments that feel too unconnected to satisfy as a drama. Read full review

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User Reviews

lessacebola

Feb 3, 2021

Um filme com uma ótima critica social e com momentos realmente pesados e emocionantes. Íncrível.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

puna

Feb 18, 2021

Incredible performances, brilliant writing and directing. Really enjoyed this film!

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

Florisent

Nov 26, 2020

It’s a beautifully written movie. It presents the duality of queer joy alongside queer trauma/pain as well as the nuances of acceptance. Heartwarming, tear-jerking, and beautiful. Sophia Lillis did an amazing job, as did Paul and Peter. Thank you, Alan Ball, for a film that doesn't botch theIt’s a beautifully written movie. It presents the duality of queer joy alongside queer trauma/pain as well as the nuances of acceptance. Heartwarming, tear-jerking, and beautiful. Sophia Lillis did an amazing job, as did Paul and Peter. Thank you, Alan Ball, for a film that doesn't botch the queer experience.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Patrick333

Dec 18, 2020

A movie that underscores the immediate pain a gay person has to confront in coming out to their nongay family and friends. But the pain diminishes once confronted- it's heart constriction but so necessary for relief of stress. For those who "need" the consent of family and old friends it'sA movie that underscores the immediate pain a gay person has to confront in coming out to their nongay family and friends. But the pain diminishes once confronted- it's heart constriction but so necessary for relief of stress. For those who "need" the consent of family and old friends it's a life passage… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

DawdlingPoet

Feb 6, 2022

I expected this to be more of a carefree, funny road trip type of a film than the LGBT guy seeking family acceptance tale that it definitely is. I've nothing against that kind of film but I'd heard it was a comedy drama about a road trip so I guess I made the wrong assumptions about it.

AsI expected this to be more of a carefree, funny road trip type of a film than the LGBT guy seeking family acceptance tale that it definitely is. I've nothing against that kind of film but I'd heard it was a comedy drama about a road trip so I guess I made the wrong assumptions about it.

As I say, I do appreciate the message/themes and it has a good cast and everything but its certainly cheesy and a bit predictable perhaps...not entirely original and I'm not sure I'd personally categorise it primarily as a comedy. I'd say its more a drama. Its an ok film, yes but nothing amazing really.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Dan_B

Jan 27, 2021

(Español / ENglish)

Abstract Español El reencuentro con la culpa, el dolor y la pérdida Este drama sobre el reencuentro de un profesor universitario gay con su conservadora familia en los años 70s funciona mejor en su primera mitad, donde su tono contenido y sobrio se corresponde con el(Español / ENglish)

Abstract Español

El reencuentro con la culpa, el dolor y la pérdida

Este drama sobre el reencuentro de un profesor universitario gay con su conservadora familia en los años 70s funciona mejor en su primera mitad, donde su tono contenido y sobrio se corresponde con el de su protagonista. Es cuando se cargan las tintas que el relato se vuelve más convencional. De todos modos, la película se sostiene por la muy buena la labor de su elenco, en particular de Paul Bettany, cuyo Frank describe un arco que va de una placidez distante y preventiva al dolor más desgarrador.

English Abstract

The reunion with guilt, pain and loss
This drama about a gay college professor's reunion with his conservative family in the 1970s works best in its first half, where its restrained and sober tone matches that of its protagonist. It is when the inks are loaded that the story becomes more conventional.

Anyway, the film is sustained by the very good work of its cast, particularly Paul Bettany, whose Frank describes an arc that goes from a distant and preventive placidity to the most heartbreaking pain.

Reseña Español
Frank (Paul Bettany) es un profesor universitario gay que vive con su pareja Walid (Peter Macdissi) en Nueva York a principios de los años 70s. Ante la muerte de un familiar, debe retornar a su pueblo natal de Carolina del Sur, acompañado por su sobrina Beth (Sophia Lillis, protagonista de la muy buena serie Esta mierda me supera/ I Am Not Okay With This y presente en It y Sharp Objects), lo que implica un traumático reencuentro con su pasado.
La película de Alan Ball recorre el tópico bastante transitado de la conflictiva relación de un varón homosexual con su familia y en particular con su padre. Frank no ha cortado lazos con su familia, pero se mantiene lejos de ella y le oculta celosamente su vida.
La película funciona mejor en su primera mitad durante el planteo del statu quo anterior al viaje del protagonista, con situaciones que incluso bordean la comedia. Luego mantiene cierto precario equilibrio durante su segmento “road movie”. Es en el reencuentro de Frank con su familia cristiana y conservadora e irrumpen hechos de su pasado donde cambia el tono de la película, con el relato entrando en un territorio más dramático, pero también más convencional. Se podrá decir que esas etapas se corresponden con la evolución del protagonista, pero están mejor tratadas las primeras.
De todos modos, la película se sostiene por la labor de su protagonista, en un arco que va de una placidez distante y preventiva al dolor más desgarrador

English Review

Frank (Paul Bettany) is a gay college professor who lives with his partner Walid (Peter Macdissi) in New York in the early 1970s. Before the death of a relative, he must return to his hometown of South Carolina, accompanied by his niece Beth (Sophia Lillis, protagonist of the very good series This **** surpasses me / I Am Not Okay With This and present in It and Sharp Objects), which implies a traumatic reencounter with his past.

Alan Ball's film covers the well-traveled topic of the conflictive relationship of a homosexual male with his family and in particular with his father. Frank has not cut ties with his family, but is staying away from her and jealously hiding his life from him.

The film works best in its first half during the raising of the status quo prior to the protagonist's journey, with situations that even border on comedy. Then he maintains a certain precarious balance during his “road movie” segment. It is in Frank's reunion with his Christian and conservative family and events from his past erupt that the tone of the film changes, with the story entering more dramatic, but also more conventional territory. It could be said that these stages correspond to the evolution of the protagonist, but the first ones are better treated.

Anyway, the film is sustained by its cast, in particular by the work of its protagonist, in an arc that goes from a distant and preventive placidity to the most heartbreaking pain.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Mauro_Lanari

Nov 26, 2020

(Mauro Lanari)
Alan Ball: "I take you to places of the soul that are worth visiting". How much egocentric presumption. An on the road remake of "American Beauty" over 20 years later.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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