Product Details

• Actors: James Faulkner, Bernard Hill, Art Malik, Kika Markham, Susannah York
• Directors: Gerald McMorrow
• Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English, Spanish
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Studio: Image Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: November 17, 2009
• Run Time: 98 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B002KLQ2Y0
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #85,381 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

FRANKLYN - Blu-Ray Movie

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Visually Stunning, September 30, 2010

By 

Brian Harris "WildsideCinema" (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Franklyn (DVD)

What a wonderfully original and unique viewing experience! Not only was Franklyn visually stunning but it was quite thought-provoking as well. After kicking back to watch the film, the wife and I chattered on about it for another good hour trying to sort through what we'd seen. And who we felt the characters represented.

If you're wondering what Franklyn is, a drama or fantasy, well its pretty much both in equal parts. It moves back and forth between Meanwhile City and modern-day London. Admittedly the London sequences, for me anyhow, really seemed to drag on as not one single character was remotely warm or likable. After each Meanwhile City segment ended, I found myself impatiently waiting for the next visit back to check on the progress of the faceless Preest, the hilarious religions and the amazing steampunk environment. Thankfully both London and Meanwhile City do end up converging but that's inevitable, the real question the film leaves you with is whether Meanwhile City was real and who brought the worlds, and characters, together.

Visually, this blew my mind. It was a little Blade Runner, The Crow, From Hell and The City of Lost Children, in other words it was absolutely beautiful; I can't even begin to imagine what writer/director McMorrow could do with a bigger budget. It's a shame none of the characters really popped but I found it still riveting how their lives all slowly began crossing paths from the first few minutes of the film down to the last. This was definitely weaved together with careful thought; let's just hope next time around McMorrow gives his characters a bit more soul.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unique film, very good Blu, November 15, 2009

By 

Steve Kuehl "SLV Video" (Boulder Creek, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Franklyn [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray)

One of those films where even as the credits roll, you almost want to say WTF just happened mixed with knowing you just watched a great little movie.

Story descriptions that I have read here and elsewhere can confuse more often than help, but a quick summary could include two "parallel" worlds in London converging over the course of the story, culminating in a final climactic event that ties all of the stories (real and imagined) together. Meanwhile, the visuals and sounds are conveyed eloquently and with outstanding Blu clarity. The picture is tested in every single Meanwhile City panoramic, and each time I would pause it to look for flaws and holes - but couldn't really find any. There are very few scenes with bright colors, but when they show up the saturation/contrast is just right. The DTS was ideal. Reference the scene with Ryan's character surrounding the snake guy, or any of the off-camera sounds being moved around the channels perfectly (answering machine shots, hospital sounds, etc.) Phillippe's voice does not the have the ideal inflections for a film-length narration, but you get through it because it is usually over the fantasy world sequences where you might spend more time looking at all they are putting before you.

The supplements include:

* A brief ad-plug style making of that should definitely be watched after the movie (gives away all of the twists).
* Interviews. They all last 32 minutes total, and can be watched individually or as a play all. Main cast and crew are dryly interviewed on set, but they give some vital info on the inspiration, logistics and (appropriately) some of the confusion people have in trying to describe everything that is Franklyn.
* Deleted scenes. Less than 10 minutes but I enjoyed seeing more of the red haired lady and her wonderful role.

A very obscure and darkly anti-religious/faith film, but worth the watch if you would like a mix of Dark City (Director's Cut) [Blu-ray] meets a masked man noir narrative. Blu quality is superb - not the best I have seen but great overall for what this was.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Frank Miller Meets The Dark Knight Meets Brazil, March 5, 2010

By 

B. Merritt "filmreviewstew.com" (WWW.FILMREVIEWSTEW.COM, Pacific Grove, California United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Franklyn [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray)

Once in a blue moon, a film comes along that defies genre identification ...and so goes FRANKLYN, a movie that transcends anything you think you've ever seen. A hybrid in terms of style, Franklyn might best be described as Frank Miller (the artist) meets The Dark Knight (Batman) in Brazil (the movie). I say this because none of these items alone help explain the convoluted-ness that is this story, and none should. It goes beyond them. Way beyond them.

Visually appealing on almost every level, Franklyn has two divergent stories that seem to have nothing to do with each other. In one we're privy to a kind of superhero trying to avenge the death of a young girl whom we know nothing about. He chases after "The Individual" in a city known as Meanwhile. Looking, as stated earlier, somewhere along the lines of a Frank Miller graphic mixed with a kind of Dark Knight quality, the story intrigues and makes us cheer on the main character, Jonathan Preest (Ryan Philleppe, Flags of Our Fathers). I mean, trying to avenge the death of an innocent girl is noble, right? Equally intriguing within the city of Meanwhile are the many religions that flourish, including the Seventh Day Manicurists. Everyone is required to have a religious affiliation ...except our "hero" who is subsequently tracked by highly skilled fighting monks.

In the second story, a woman named Emilia (Eva Green, The Golden Compass) tries to come to terms with her life and her art. She consistently tries to kill herself for the sake of it only to learn that her art just isn't inspiring enough. Also, a man in search of his missing son comes to the psychiatrist who'd been treating him only to learn that his son escaped and is out in the world with a rifle slung over his shoulder.

As the two storylines begin to mesh, reality skews, men and women we thought we knew either don't exist, exist as something else, or are strictly symbols (including a janitor who plays a vital role). The fascination the viewer will feel at the realizations of what is coming will shock, delight and sink their heart. Yes, it's THAT good.

The visuals are what will initially draw you in. You'll be asking yourself "Why?" many times: Why is the city so muted? Why is he wearing a mask? Why are these religious fanatics chasing him? If you pay close attention, everything is answered in one final scene which, in itself, reveals amazing storytelling.

I can't stress enough how closely everything is linked in the film and how paying attention reaps great benefits in the end. Even the names of the characters (Preest, The Individual, Wormsnakes, Pastor Bone) all have relevance.

Made on a paltry $12 million budget, the movie feels much more expensive and expansive. Sadly, it did not get a wide release and suffered because of it. Not many people have ever heard of it. I know I never had until a friend I work with mentioned it. But I'm glad he pointed me in the right direction. This one's a hidden gem. And it's so original that you'll wonder which genre you're watching. I'm still wondering!