VOD Recommendation: An Offbeat Indie Dramedy with Heart Now on Demand
Posted 02.15.13 by BrentJS
"That thing's gonna murder me in my sleep."
Take a trip into the near future and follow along with an ailing ex-con who finds companionship and purpose in a most unusual place.
The Flick: Robot & Frank
The Skinny: Music video and commercial director Jake Schreier made the leap to feature films with this 2012 indie written by neophyte screenwriter Christopher D. Ford. The movie debuted at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, where it took home the Alfred P. Sloan Prize.
The Players: Frank Langella stars as Frank, a retired cat burglar who is becoming something of a burden to his family as his memory deteriorates. Rather than put him in a home, Frank's son (James Marsden) buys his father a robot companion (voiced by Peter Sarsgaard) programmed to structure a daily routine filled with activities designed to improve his memory. Initially resistant to the idea, Frank takes to the robot after realizing that it can help him steal an antique book that he hopes will help him win the affections of the local librarian (Susan Sarandon). Liv Tyler and Jeremy Sisto also star.