Customer Reviews

Dear Frankie

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I first heard of this film when I rented another video, and Dear Frankie was in the previews. I looked in my local newspaper to see when it would be coming out but after a few months, I gave up. Then the day of my birthday as I was skimming through the Today section of my newspaper, I saw an add for it. So I went to go see it with my mother. I can honestly say, it is one of the best movies that I've seen. The characters are down to earth and can easily be related to. The set was not distorted by any Hollywood gimics, rather, it looked like any small town in Scotland. The storyline was not overly sappy. It had exactly the right amount of all of the elements which make a good movie. The acting was superb. It's one of those films that you just fall in love with and want to watch over and over again.

I don't understand why I didn't watch "Dear Frankie" before. I have no idea why there is no more hype surrounding this movie, despite the fact that it is OUTSTANDINGLY GOOD. Truth be told, I only watched it yesterday because one friend recommended it to me...

If you are in doubt whether to see this film or not, please take my advice and don't miss it. "Dear Frankie" is entertaining, touching, and has remarkably good actors. Also, the Scottish scenery where the story develops is extremely beautiful, probably even more so for someone that isn't familiar with it, like me. What is more, the film has a great ending, that with leave you with a smile on your face and wishing for a sequel. Finally, and as an extra bonus for all the women reading this, it has Gerard Butler as part of the cast. Butler is an excellent actor who happens to be extremely handsome and my new favourite leading man :)

I believe that Shona Auerbach, the director of this film, deserves congratulations on a wonderful movie, that is part drama and part comedy at times. The whole cast consists of wonderful actors that really become the characters they are playing, conveying what they are supposed to be feeling so clearly that it impossible not to be trapped by the story after the first few minutes.

The plot of this film isn't overly complicated. Lizzie Morrison (Emily Mortimer) abandoned her abusive husband years ago, taking her little son with her. Lizzie lives with her son Frankie (Jack McElhone) and her mother (Mary Riggans) in a Scottish city near the sea. Frankie is deaf, and as he grows up, he wants to know more about the father he doesn't remember. As a result, his mother makes up a whole new personality for Frankie's father, and tells her son that his father is a sailor, visiting exotic places in the ship Accra. Frankie begins to write letters to his "father", and his mother answers them, trying to protect Frankie from the truth of what and who his father really is.

But one day, when Frankie is nine, another kid tells him that the Accra is going to visit the city, and bets Frankie that his father won't drop by to visit him. When Lizzie finds out about that, she has no better idea that to hire someone, a stranger "with no past and no future", to play Frankie's dad. Thanks to the help of her friend Marie (Sharon Small), she finds someone that seems good enough, a stranger (Gerard Butler) that will only be in town for two days. What will happen? Well, if you are really interested, watch this film.

All in all, I highly recommend "Dear Frankie" to you, unless who hate films that aren't full of action, or cannot stand the melodious Scottish accent. Personally, I don't mind the lack of fast-paced action if the story is good enough (and in this case it is), and I find the Scottish brogue enchanting. I sincerely think that most of you will not only like, but love this movie. Enjoy it!

Belen Alcat

I knew when I first saw the previews for this film that it would be great; or at least I hoped it would be. I am thrilled to say that I was right. Emily Mortimer has always been seen as a substantial actress and Sharon Small has been very good in the handful of films I've seen her in, but Gerry Butler really needed to prove that he has the makings of a great actor. Personally I knew he could do it (although reign of fire and Dracula 2000 proved otherwise)and I'm absolutely thrilled that he proved his might with such a touching role. I realize that many people will see this as "Frankie's" film, but I believe that the adult roles give this film the power, as they are the one's holding in some painful histories while trying to maintain their every-day lives while protecting Frankie. I never thought I'd ever say that I would love to see a sequel; something that shows how their lives have changed after the fact...FANTASTIC!

Great movie, not glitz and glamour, just down home entertaining. A mother does what she feels is right in order for son to believe he had a fabulous father. Quiet and unassuming movie. Well worth watching.

I FOUND THIS MOVIE TO BE SO TOUCHING. WHAT A MOTHER WILL DO TO MAKE HER SON HAPPY. GERARD BUTLER WAS GREAT AS THE STRANGER. ALL THE ACTING WAS REALLY GOOD. A WONDERFUL STORY.

A good movie for the whole family to see heartwarming. I just love gerard butler. I was glad to find it on Amazon.
My whole family liked this movie

The condition of this dvd was excellent. I received it in very good time. I was very happy with this purchase.

Maybe I'm getting soft, but I was quite touched by this movie. I don't naturally gravitate toward heartwarming dramas, but the premise of this film sounded quite interesting and, after seeing Phantom of the Opera, I've become a Gerard Butler fan. Dear Frankie really is the kind of film we need in this increasingly cynical world. It's all about love of the strongest kind.

Frankie (Jack McElhone) is a deaf, nine-year-old boy who lives with his mother and grandmother, and the little family moves around fairly often. Frankie's dad is a sailor; the child has no actual memories of his father, but the two exchange letters every week or two. Actually, though, his mother Lizzie (Emily Mortimer) is the one writing the letters to Frankie, making up all the stuff his "father" tells him about life at sea. She feels guilty about lying to her son this way, but she has her reasons - for one thing, she doesn't want Frankie to know that his father is no good and that the reason they move so often is to keep his father from finding out where they are; equally important, though, is the fact that she really only hears her son's "voice" in the letters he writes to his father. Frankie reads lips very well, and he and his mother certainly do communicate, but he really opens up only in the letters he writes. It looks like these letters back and forth will continue indefinitely - but then Frankie learns that his father's ship is set to dock right there in Glasgow. His mother sort of freaks out when she learns about this (she didn't even know a ship with that name existed). Rather than tell Frankie the truth, she finds a stranger (Gerard Butler) to be Frankie's dad for a day. It's all rather awkward at first, as "Davey" clearly isn't used to interacting with a "son," but he warms up to Frankie - and to Lizzie - rather quickly.

The big question is, of course, how the movie will end. Things get even more complicated as things go along, with Lizzie ultimately facing a really tough decision related to Frankie's real father. I must say I was very happy with the conclusion, as things played out quite differently than I expected - and an already poignant film became even more emotionally compelling in the process. It really is a wonderful ending.

I would go so far as to call this a truly precious movie. I had a little trouble with the accents, especially at first, but once my ears tuned to the thick Scottish brogue, things became a lot easier. The acting is really so superb, though, that you could easily get swept up in the story even if you didn't understand a word anyone was saying. Great acting does not need dialogue, and this movie offers weighty proof to that statement. If you like a lot of action in your movies, this one isn't going to satisfy you, but for those who enjoy a well-made, heartwarming drama, Dear Frankie is far too good to be missed.

Although this movie was hard to understand the dialog at times, it truly is one of the most touching movies I have seen in a long time. Gerard Butler's performance was amazing and so soft. He is one of the most under-rated actors in Hollywood. I highly recommend this move to anyone interested in a story with a plot.

This is a wonderful movie about a little boy, Frankie, who has been writting letters to his dad and one day he hears his dad's ship will be docking in town, so the anticipation is to meet the dad. It turns out his mom has secretly been writting the letters because they are actually fleeing from dad and he isn't a sailor at all. So, a friend arranges for a stranger to play the role of dad. The stranger is aloof and hesitant at first, but drawn to Frankie. The bond continues the next day when the stranger asks for one more day with the boy - and his mom. Just a beautiful story full of hope for all involved. Beautifully filmed.