Gerald McMorrow
Franklyn

Disappointment.

This is what I felt after watching this "Franklyn," released in 2008 and the first film by young Gerald McMorrow. I was intrigued by the trailer and the various opinions I heard around that described it as an excellent film. It is also true that every person judges a film subjectively, but this Franklyn did not appeal to me... At least in part.

Set in contemporary London and a futuristic location called Meanwhile City, four people will find themselves facing their fate. Jonathan Preest is an atheist vigilante in a world where it seems impossible not to have a religion of one's own (this happens in Meanwhile City). This man is looking for the leader of a cult who is called "The Individual". Peter (an excellent Bernard Hill) is engaged in the attempt to track down his son who has been missing for a long time. Emilia, on the other hand, is a student who uses suicide "filming it live" to realize her works, and Milo is a guy trying to find his first and childish love.

The film is characterized by a slow pace, at times very slow. The events will unfold little by little and will be served without any emotion or suspense. Slowly but inevitably, we will learn about the various implications of the events that, not connected to each other, will only add further heaviness to an already very slow film. There will be no reason for excitement in this film. If the basic idea of a religious story developed in a futuristic city could have been original, everything will unfold into something inconclusive and confused. The slow pace is enviable compared to Van Sant's Elephant, with the substantial difference that that remains a great film, while this Franklyn is banal and devoid of any moment of interest. The whole affair will be dragged on for a long time to finally reach the final scene where all the protagonists will find themselves united: do not expect changes. What should be the most thrilling scene will instead be devoid of tension due to its length, making it an unnecessary appendage and not very inclined to be watched after the countless yawns that have already manifested...

What I find commendable is the cinematography: gray, dark, and depressing but refined in the smallest detail, a worthy note in a banal and unconvincing film. This cinematography will be broken at times by sudden bursts of color, like the red mane of Milo's first flame...

A film, therefore, with a slow pace, with a story carried forward in a useless and boring way. If you add the not great performance of the actors, you will understand the reason for my rating. The only positive note, as already mentioned, is that sad and dreamlike atmosphere that you breathe throughout the film.