By this time, Frank is so schizophrenic he no longer knows truth from fantasy. with updates on movies, TV shows, Rotten Tomatoes podcast and more. Instead, the filmmaker lards Frank & Lola with red herrings and stock subplots, oscillating between Franks jealousy over Lola, his struggle to land a new stable restaurant gig in the wake of losing a job, and his stalking of one of Lolas past lovers, the rich, powerful, and evilly European Alan (Michael Nyqvist). Indiewire listed Ross as #3 on its list of 25 Filmmakers and Actors Who Rocked Sundance, saying that Michael Shannon is in almost literally a dozen movies this year, but we wonder if hell get a better showcase across the rest of 2016 as he does in Sundance movie Frank & Lola, and the man responsible, Matthew Ross, should get a ton of attention as a result. Welcome to the Quantum Realm. Hes a classic film-noir sap like Robert Mitchum in Out of the Past. Entertainment Weekly is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. His suspicions grow darker when Keith finds a position for Lola at a posh boutique. Theyre characters who exist only in cinema, working glamorous jobs that require them to occupy atmospheric sets in repose, looking commanding and sexy. While the character of Lola in particular calls to mind the women of Alfred Hitchcocks mysteries, or someone Raymond Chandler would writeopposite Philip Marlowe, its the visuals which ground us in a world of modern noir. Frank goes to Paris, ostensibly to look into a potentially lucrative chef job set up by Lola's mother ( Rosanna Arquette, overdoing the shallow self-regard and sexual voraciousness; when she tells Frank, "I can't wait to taste your food," I expected her to add a cartoon-y meow). Above all, Frank & Lolais a raw and honest look at the consequences of sexual assault on a woman. However, Frank & Lola, for all its focus on the idea of revenge, feels like the perfect antithetical response to an industry bloated with rape-revenge fantasies in the guise of horror and thriller films. The rest of the cast add significant supporting turns. This never changes the fundamental fact that Frank & Lolas message, if there is one to take away, is that a womans personal tragedy is hers to bear; if she requires anything, its understanding and not a man to take on that tragedy as his own. Its also the complete and total opposite of what Frank & Lola really is. Though she is the best at her job, her boss Calder mistreats her and refuses to acknowledge her hard work. The problem is that, despite being played by two charismatic and more-than-capable actors, the title characters never click in the way they need to. After a meeting with the restauranter in Paris, he visits Claire who confirms Lola's side of things. I'd been living with the script for eight years at that point, and my experience with Las Vegas was probably pretty typical of most people who don't live there hotels on The Strip and staying up all night in casinos. With: Franka Potente (Lola), Moritz Bleibtreu (Manni . Is it part of the case yall build to say these two are maybe underrated? Regardless, Lola approaches her and pitches her ideas, but the latter turns her down as her company is relatively new and still needs a license. Terms and Policies He also states he has no interest in joining the family business and requests his sister to keep the truth to herself. A few days after his talk with Hazel, he takes Lola to visit the winery, and she is elated to finally return to what she loves doing the most. But "Frank and Lola" ultimately feels like less of a compelling, free-standing work than a promise of better movies to come. Their honeymoon is endangered, however, by Frank's jealousy. Frank uses the trip as an opportunity to find Alan, intent on killing him. All rights reserved. At the same time, Calder loses Hazels contract due to his poor work ethic, but Lola decides to not go after her and looks for fresh clients. A former film journalist, Ross made a number of acclaimed shorts including Lola and Inspired by Bret Easton Ellis, but makes a striking debut with this feature.[22] Additionally, The Film Stage named Frank & Lola as one of 15 best films of the festival,[23] and Ioncinema included Ross on its list "Top 10 New Voices" at Sundance 2016. Cinemark In that Lola, the victim in question, doesnt need anybody to do away with her abuser, nor does she even need him driven forever from her presence. Yet as the mystery unfolds, the relationship between Frank and Lola becomes more intricate. When she accidentally sprays manure over Hazel one day, she decides to quit out of embarrassment and go back home. Elsewhere, in Los Angeles, Audra finds out that Lola is in Australia to meet Hazel as their potential competition. Theres an almost labyrinthine quality to the screenplay, weaving us back and forth from Lola to Frank, not always sure if the truth is really truth, or if its an illusion. All he has is his piece of work and while he gets invites from his co-workers to go out and hang, that isnt strongly his interest. While pleasurably dark itself, it makes one think of how well Shannon would be as the protagonist in an adaptation of one of Thompsons books. He cooks for her and while they say the quickest way to a human beings heart is through his breadbasket, the same seems to apply to women too. Things come to a head when a figure from Lolas past (Michael Nyqvist) brings to light a number of secrets which erupt in a sea of of eroticism and violence. Its title is an early tip-off that "Frank & Lola" will be a new riff on Frankie and Johnny's old . Despite everything that has happened between them, she relents and hires Audra into her company. document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a3dd0662509d2e9a6b5ea6d97ffcd6ca" );document.getElementById("facec42938").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The biggest way in which Frank & Lola manages this is by not wasting a great amount of time explaining much of anything regarding plot. At one pivotal juncture in the story, the protagonist is led to believe that his lover was once raped, and the viewer senses that he hopes this to be the case, so as to relieve himself of the possibility that she enjoys kink. [12] On Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating to reviews, the film has a score of 56 out of 100, based on reviews from 18 critics. Directed by Stuart McDonald, it revolves around Lola, a dynamic Los Angeles-based wine executive, who travels to the Australian farmlands to meet Hazel Vaughn, a potential client. Together, . One night, Lola and Max share a sweet moment in Hazels swimming pool, and the latter notices them together. After the trial, Bonnie is standing next to Annalise and is the first to notice Frank was heading towards the Governor. Instead, the film just quietly jumps right into its characters lives in an extremely refreshing way. These are quite real feelings that should be explored by filmmakers, but Ross keeps butting into these themes inadvertently, regarding his heros self-absorption with a generally straight face. The love story between the two main characters drives so much of the films intentions, as they work to stay together even after so much hurt. Coming Soon, Regal So it all really worked out perfectly. Then, theres no turning back. Theyre in the heat of passion. He said, "An opportunity came up from producers and financiers who said that if I moved the film to downtown Las Vegas, they would finance it. The poster features the two acclaimed actors looking dreamily at one another with such captivating and loving looks in a pose that just oozes romance. [8] Shortly after, Universal Studios acquired worldwide distribution rights, excluding a few territories, with Paladin co-distributing the film. He introduces himself as "Keith", and tells Alan that he read his memoirs while studying at Northwestern University, where Alan was previously a professor. Though Lola stops her former boss and refuses his selfish offer, she gets dejected when Hazel decides to give the Vaughn Family Wines contract to Mythos. His dark side flashes a bit more often, but before Lola ever comes clean, we realize there is unhappiness in her past. Your Ticket Confirmation # is located under the header in your email that reads "Your Ticket Reservation Details". Frank, a chef in Las Vegas, meets and falls in love with Lola, a mysterious young woman who is new to the city. But that is only if you saw the film around the time you had the argument. Frank goes to Paris, ostensibly to look into a potentially lucrative chef job set up by Lola's mother (Rosanna Arquette, overdoing the shallow self-regard and sexual voraciousness; when she tells Frank, "I can't wait to taste your food," I expected her to add a cartoon-y meow). Amazed at how much he knows about her and the Vaughns, Lola asks him about his past, but he strangely evades her questions and just shares how he was a rather rebellious youth who mended his ways after his mothers death. He follows the man outside and beats him in a fit of rage. Mystery & thriller, Unlock access to all of Film Inquiry`s great articles. They excel as lovers in this tightly-wound psychosexual love story that has elements of the best of Eyes Wide ShutFrank & Lola has some of that film's noir-esque aesthetic, too, with hints of Michael Mann's night-time city lookCarried by two accomplished performances, and despite a tight 87-minute running time, this is a rich saga, bathed in atmosphere that disturbs as much as it engrosses. Based off the life we see him take, his enjoyment doesnt necessarily come from people. Unavailable on an ad-supported plan due to licensing restrictions. Your email address will not be published. However, she is forced to work in Hazels sheep station, where she gets attracted to Max- the charming farm boss with a deep secret. Frank becomes obsessed with exacting revenge on Alan, and begins finding out details about him online. Cinemark As we witness Frank go through a tumultuous period of Should I or shouldnt I? and border on violent action, he soon comes to understand the cost of his masculinity. As we do, we start unravelling the chest-thumping masculinity which drives Frank in how he responds to Lolas revelations of abuse. As it happens, that suits Frank perfectly, since hes just learned that Lola was once raped by Alan (Michael Nyqvist), the lustful and wealthy one-time boyfriend of her freewheeling mother Patricia (Rosanna Arquette). Frank plays to all of Shannons strengths as an actor, especially when he has to keep his character a rage-filled, yet contained figure, while Poots proves herself the appropriate well that Lola needs to be in order to register as a complex woman she is. 2 Views. One night, Frank is hired to cook dinner for Keith, who, impressed with his culinary skills, flies him out to Paris for a trial with a French restauranter. However, for those like me who take become sort of numb to physical allure, information technology makes you lot very skeptical. Please reference Error Code 2121 when contacting customer service. However, Lola's reflection can be seen in one of the doors, watching Frank, leaving the status of their relationship ambiguous. Cracks begin to show after Lola suddenly cheats on Frank, which leads to Frank's evolving. Coming Soon. After a compelling opener with the characters, Ross takes us inside their beautiful and tragic world, where Lola runs from her former self and Frank comes to grip with the negative side of his fierce masculinity. She explains that Alan did in fact rape her while she was studying fashion in Paris, but that she had fallen in love with him due to Stockholm syndrome. A young daughter, a higher pupil at the time, named Lola meets this . Rest assured, our passports are ready.[17], The Film Stage's Ed Frankel: "Frank & Lola, a noirish erotic thriller from journalist-turned-director Matthew Ross, finds leads Michael Shannon and Imogen Poots in top form. The triumph of getting past Lolas abuse is hers to reach. Together, Frank and Lola build an intense relationship that saves them from their mutual despair. Drinking alone in a bar, he sees a man abusing his girlfriend. This is obviously a modestly-budgeted film, but production designer Gerald Sullivan and cinematographer Eric Koretz have collaborated to give it a glossily seedy look, while editors Rebecca Rodriguez and Jennifer Lilly maintain a deliberate pace without sacrificing tension and Danny Bensi and Saunder Jurriaans have confected a properly unsettling score. The story doesnt always follow along that path, but Ross uses the visual aesthetic of the genre to drape his characters and their situations in mystery. Starring: Michael Shannon, Imogen Poots and Justin Long Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. And Frank must either accept that, or let her go. We wont be able to verify your ticket today, but its great to know for the future. Do Dario and Rita talk through their issues? Franks own personal journey into understanding Lola, what happened to her, takes an atypical turn. We get it: you like to have control of your own internet experience. When up-and-coming chef Frank ( Michael Shannon) meets aspiring fashion designer Lola ( Imogen Poots ), they fall hard and fast for one another, until Lola's past becomes part of their. A seductive and intense noir romance for our times, FRANK & LOLA is the story of two people locked in a battle of passion and obsession. This is nuts considering how crazy they both are, but Ross makes it workOne thing that's significant about Frank & Lola is that it's a legitimately serious film about sex, something that's increasingly rare these daysRoss has a really sharp eye, with it having a rich, sophisticated look that gives the film studio-level production values. For Lola, with Poots charm and expect of innocence, it is difficult to not empathize how fifty-fifty a sort of recluse like Frank didnt get snagged. [5] In July 2015, the Sundance Institute selected Frank & Lola and director Matthew Ross to take part in its Feature Film Program's annual Music and Sound Design Labs at George Lucas's Skywalker Ranch. Pam Grier reflects on her most iconic roles, from. Frank is a talented French chef and Lola is just starting her career as a fashion designer. Hell need to travel to Paris to prepare a meal for the man, however, if hes to win the post. Nonetheless, neither of their performances I experience stay with you lot. By creating an account, you agree to the By Manohla Dargis. Lola flirts with strangers in bars, she refuses to commit, you just cant trust Lola, who is a chip off the block following in the platform-heel footsteps of her oversexed mother (Rosanna Arquette in a role so minor that it consists of only one scene). Upon her arrival, she bumps into Max, the handsome boss cocky (farm manager), who warns her to stay away from Hazel. Further than that, he offers an antithesis to the rape-revenge sub-genre, all too often adopted as of late by many horror movies. As we all know, Hollywood is a superficial industry and a cute face and existence likable on set up can keep a adult female working for a hell of a long fourth dimension. Dec. 8, 2016. Yes, the title implies its about them both, and in most ways the plot looks at them in equal measure. Ross examines how a woman can be seen outwardly, to the world and to others with whom shes romantically involved with afterwards, and the chaos it wreaks on a womans life in almost every way possible. Is Waratah Station a Real Sheep Ranch? Frank and Lola may not have the complexity of plot and sense of inevitable doom that marked much of the work of a noir master like Jim Thompson, but it offers the same sort of bleak character study that he specialized in. Yes, after a lot of trials and tribulations, Lola and Max end up together. IMDb rating: 6.0 /10 (3,663 votes) Frank & Lola is a 2016 noir love story written and directed by Matthew Ross in his directorial debut, and . "[20], At JoBlo.com, Chris Bumbray gave Frank & Lola and 8/10 rating, writing that Even if their relationship is toxic, for some strange reason you want them patch things up and live happily ever after. So does Lola finally manage to win the contract as well as his heart? Lola is many years younger than he is, so Frank is anxious. Frank & Lola opens in theaters across the U.S. and will be available on digital HD and On Demand onDecember 9. amzn_assoc_placement="adunit0";amzn_assoc_search_bar="true";amzn_assoc_tracking_id="filminquiry-20";amzn_assoc_ad_mode="manual";amzn_assoc_ad_type="smart";amzn_assoc_marketplace="amazon";amzn_assoc_region="US";amzn_assoc_title="Find on Amazon";amzn_assoc_linkid="011ce6f9d10a0629dba5e73cc9941d84";amzn_assoc_asins="B009L7QJ9O,B006NWFNX8,B001MLCX56,B01BHI4FPO"; Become a Member and support film journalism. Updated December 07, 2016 at 10:07 PM EST, ALL CROPS: FRANK & LOLA, from left: Michael Shannon, Imogen Poots, 2016. ph: Eric Koretz / © Paladin / Courtesy Everett Collection. Yes. Maybe not the most memorable, merely a decent way to spend an hour and a half. Their honeymoon is endangered, however, by Franks jealousy. Having seen him with Lola in the swimming pool earlier, she realizes that they like each other. 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