Uncle Frank

Starts out interesting but halfway through it turns into a Standard Gay Story. It feels like a movie made in the 2000s, when writer-director Alan Ball has evidently become stuck. It's a bit of a waste of an incredible cast, truthfully. Someone else described this as subtle—it's about as subtle as a hammer to the face.

Irritatingly facile and unconvincing melodrama seems to (willfully?) have no understanding of the time period it is depicting, and characterises Frank's deep fried southern family members in ways that might not be convincing even in a contemporaneous tale! Bad laughs abound (especially during the will-reading) and a terrific cast struggle with their superficial characters. Sole saving grace is Bettany, whose Frank emerges as a genuine flesh and blood character, against considerable odds.

I think it'll take a lot of disappointments before I consider Alan Ball an untalented writer, and truthfully the first two acts of this -- while fairly connect-the-dotty -- are well written and believably captured of the time. It's a shame that the denouement is a cascade of sympathy that betrays the prior realism, but maybe the subject matter is too close to Ball. Maybe he needed more catharsis in writing it than he could give us. Paul Bettany, though, with a career-best (so far) performance.

Not too groundbreaking, but a nice film nonetheless. It is a little odd how most of the film is quite dark, but then with one scene has everything go beyond smoothly, especially when it takes place in the early 70’s. The casting is pretty good, and the actors all do a decent job. It’s worth seeing once, but I’m not so sure if this will be remembered 5+ years from now.

Very straightforward tale of what is was like to be a gay man in the early 70's. It also features a gay Muslim & had this been made a year later, I would assume he was forced in to meet DEI mandates & hated this on the spot. But Ball seems to have put him in to highlight the fact that although being gay in a Muslim country will get you killed, being gay in the US at that time might cause suicide. Sane older people know this already but maybe young Wokesters need to see how good gays have it now.

Thought this was a pretty good "gay" movie. It has good acting from the main character, interesting dialogue and a story that works while avoiding being a full on cliche fiesta (but there are some cliches here, specially at the end). Also, it is depicted in the 60s/70s, which is something that easily captures my attention. What annoyed me the most was the use of flashbacks, which were forceful and rhythm-breaking while adding very little to the story.

You've seen this movie hundreds of times, just with different cast and crew.

I guess I love LGBT theme for some reason (no homo). It's a rather sentimental film with touch of modernity and questionable zeitgeist depiction. Having a thing for intellectuals and 70's I enjoy this movie thoroughly. It's an emotional rollercoaster with a rather predictable ending. The movie had potential to be just a bit more, but never lived to it. But it's okay, one should give it an opportunity anyway, specially with great performances all around.

Did this movie get lost in the pandemic shuffle? Yes, it is too melodramatic at times, and the outcome is predictable, but the performances are so good that it pulls it off. There is such an easy flow and charm on display, and the tone is managed extremely well. A highly recommended crowd pleaser.

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Bettany continues to refine his craft with each new role, and this is another exceptional performance. He is one of the most talented actors around today, and he is incredibly captivating in this film. Ordinarily, mentioning Zahn, Root, or anyone else in this perfect cast wouldn't be a footnote, but it is here because this is all Bettany's film. Whether it's well written and directed (which it is) hardly even matters because Bettany's performance is just that unbelievably good.

The script is at odds with itself, when it's not saying its message (which it does so so matter of factly and out of character, it feels like the script thinks this is the first time someone has made the point "Hey love is love.") it's humor is laugh out loud funny and really surprising at times. I was really enjoying all the jokes. What carries this movie into average territory is by far the acting. Paul Bettany and Sophia Lillis are fantastic.

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stock music boring narration headass.

Stereotypes and clichés from gay movies from the early 2000s put in a 70s setting. It's like they gave them a certain timelessness, while each period, has its own way to deal a subject , as a result of previous periods. So they make 70's people deal and react to sexuality and those identities the way 2000's (would like to) deal (and yet just in movies). Everything seem wrong, bold and dated, (including cinematography, storytelling etc...)

okay movie

Written and directed by a gay man and it shows. Speaks to a particular history and does so with subtle yet perfect accuracy. Gorgeous cinematography.

nothing spectacular or inventive but a decent wholesome little movie