UNCLE FRANK

by Le Anne Lindsay, Editor (Originally posted February 17, 2020)

UNCLE FRANK (Sundance World premiere) by writer/director Alan Ball (Oscar winning screenplay “American Beauty”).

“Uncle Frank” stars Paul Bettany (better known as Marvel’s Vision) as a closeted gay man of the 70’s. Although he lives in NY as a well-respected literature professor at NYU, with his Middle Eastern partner Walid, aka Wally (Peter Macdissi), together for the last decade; he’s still not out to his colleagues at the University, and most certainly not out to his small town Southern family, whom he visits as infrequently as possible. When he’s obligated to return home for occasions such as the opening scene, the celebration of his gruff, heavy-handed, patriarch of a father’s birthday (Stephen Root) he spends most of his time with his 14 year-old niece Betty (Sophia Lillis). Betty is bright, inquisitive and thoughtful, so she also feels like an outsider within this seemingly basic, rural family and life.

It’s during this visit Betty confides in Uncle Frank some hopeful ambitions, and quickly takes it back, opting for what’s expected of her future. Uncle Frank advises her she can carve out her own way in life, and not to think small, dream big. I’m paraphrasing, but that’s the gist, and Betty takes it to heart. We’re soon transported four years into the future and Betty is now Beth, a freshman at NYU. Obviously Uncle Frank has helped her get there, but surprisingly her mother (Judy Greer) and father (Steve Zahn) aren’t standing in her way. In fact, they accompany their daughter to settle her into her dorm, forcing Uncle Frank to not only host his brother and sister-in-law, but to create the pretense of a long-term girlfriend to complete a picture of domestic normalcy.

I won’t spoil how it happens, but Beth does discover her uncle’s secret and is introduced to Wally. However, before she has time to fully process Uncle Frank being a homosexual; they’re both called back home for a family emergency.

#UncleFrank is a drama with some comedic over-tones, particularly whenever Wally’s in the scene. And I admire it for giving us some feel good moments, when typically a film like this would leave you with a “damn, that’s sad, why are people so hateful?” sentiment. But I was really looking forward to a more heartfelt, friendship bond between uncle and niece.

Perhaps the way it’s handled is more realistic – Frank is sweet to Beth, but still distant. Beth admires and wants to be closer to her Uncle, but tries not to push or be too intrusive; which like I said, is more accurate to how a relationship of this nature would play out. Except then, the focus of the movie deals with the tragic remembrance of Frank’s first teenage gay love, and after years of sobriety, falling off the wagon, threatening his relationship with Wally. I would have preferred Beth remain the protagonist throughout, instead of beginning there and then turning the movie over to Frank, despite the fact that Bettany delivers a smart, understated performance.

T&T LAMB rating: 3 outta 5

Below is video I took during the post screening Q&A with cast and crew at the Eccles Theater during #SundanceFilmFestival …