Uncle Frank

This is a film of love, partners, family and mostly self. A beautifully shot, thoughtful take on the challenges of traditional 70's thinking and the challenges of a gay life within a family.

A superbly acted film, tense and moving, warmed with love. It's not an easy watch, and shouldn't be. In saying that it has fun and warmth. Recommended.

Uncle Frank is more drama than comedy, so don't expect to laugh all the time. But for a drama it's a well written one, one that keeps you entertained and interested in the story for the entire duration. And that's mostly due to the excellent performances from all actors. The acting was very convincing and is the best thing about Uncle Frank. As for the story, it's not new but certainly not bad. I don't think a lot of people will dislike this movie, maybe homophobes, but other than that normal thinking people with an open mind will enjoy it.

You wanna know what it's like growing up, in the closet with a homophobic, religious father when gay wasn't widely spoken of? Watch this.

Mercifully, my own father wasn't the same as this one, but he still kicked me out for being "different" than him. Twice. And thankfully, I didn't experience all what this Uncle did, but the setting was the same.

Uncle Frank is thoroughly admired by his niece and all-but shunned by everyone else in his family. He's okay with this being hundreds of miles away from them and living his own wonderful life in New York City. When tragedy strikes his family, he's forced to face more than he can handle.

Lucky for him, and I mean INCREDIBLY lucky for him, he has support from his closest loved ones. Still, the burden is more than most can bear. And I do empathize, tremendously.

It's definitely a tear-jerker, and maybe because I lived a lot of this. Maybe, also, because of the stakes, the story unravelling here. Helps we had all-around great and realistic performances, cinematography and direction. I can see a multiple of Oscar Noms for this. Well, IF there are Oscars for 2020.

Highly recommended and I hope the world's becoming more progressive. Hopefully, not too many more have to deal with this.

***

Final thoughts: Didn't think I had too many more tears in me, but they started towards the end (no spoiler) with the flowers to the mother...that definitely did it.

The guy who did the role of Wally nailed it. The film does get very poignant with Frank's past. It is a bit comedic at times. The scene where the aunt gets only 500 $, her facial expression is epic n a big lol. It is much better than Moonlight.

I usually don't review much but sometimes it saddens me to see such low grades on a beautifully made, heartwarmingly movie. Sophia Lillis and Paul Bettany are 2 of the best.

There is a scene, you'll probably know when you'll see it, that completely engaged my empathy and emotions, made everything before and after it inconsequential, that's how powerful it was and I hope no one ever has to go through that, although i know a lot of people still do.

Wonderful movie, go see it and grow.