Comments on: Friday Film Review: Dear Frankie

By: Jayne

Jayne — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:24:03 +0000

I’ve been a GB fan since I saw him in this and I have to agree – he needs to step up his film choices! I’m not sure I even want to see his new one about bad citizens or something?

No, I have no desire to see the "Citizen" movie either. He seems to do a lot of voices for movies and other choices make me wonder if it's just to pay the mortgage.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:22:51 +0000

I’m so glad you reviewed this! I saw it years ago, and bought it immediately after returning it to Netflix. Its the perfect example of a hopeful ending, and also that huge sex scenes are not always necessary (their kiss was plenty hot!). It felt like a perfect romance novel.

I’ve been a GB fan since I saw him in this and I have to agree – he needs to step up his film choices! I’m not sure I even want to see his new one about bad citizens or something?

By: Jayne

Jayne — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 12:02:28 +0000

@Melanie G.:

Poor girl had to do 20 takes of that famous kisssing scene with Gerry!

Darn that director for making her do that! What a hardship...Poor girl.

By: Kaetrin

Kaetrin — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 02:17:16 +0000

I’m a mad keen GB fan so you won’t get an argument from me re the grade for this movie!

I do think that Gerry has the ability to convey an idea with his expression only and it was put to great use in this film.

Without any guilt, I confess that also loved The Ugly Truth - I’m a sucker for a rom-com. Add GB = WIN!! (I’m also happy to watch him read the phone book….!!)

By: Melanie G.

Melanie G. — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:41:30 +0000

I can top everyone. Dear Frankie is one of my favorite movies of ALL TIME. Not only that, but I have been to Greenock where the film was made and stood on that hill overlooking the Clyde. I have even had tea in the hotel in Glasgow where she first meets the Stranger (played by Gerard Butler.) My trip to Scotland was not complete without the Dear Frankie pilgrimage, complete with gathering a stone from the beach the Stranger goes to with Frankie.

I was at Sundance, and ran into Emily Mortimer who was there for the premiere of her film Transiberian (where she plays a villain, interestingly enough.) I had to go up to her and tell her how much I love Dear Frankie. She was quite touched, as it’s one of her favorite films, too, but it had such a small release. Poor girl had to do 20 takes of that famous kisssing scene with Gerry!

Obsessed much? Who me?

Rent this film, gals! It’s a must watch. One of Gerard Butler’s all time best roles.

By: Sandy James

Sandy James — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:11:50 +0000

@Sherry

I’m not particularly interested in GB, but he was a good silent, brooding presence in this one.

He does that brooding very well, doesn’t he? Though I have to admit I would have to assume room temperature to not be interested in him. ;-) In the urban fantasy series I’m working on, I actually wrote in a Scot as the hero just in case the story ever becomes a movie. Then I can demand Gerard get the part. :-)

By: Sherry Thomas

Sherry Thomas — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:42:39 +0000

I love this movie. I’m not particularly interested in GB, but he was a good silent, brooding presence in this one.

By: CourtneyLee

CourtneyLee — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:32:47 +0000

I loved this movie. After Phantom of the Opera, I glommed GB films and I’m so glad he did this movie. I, too, got emotional over it when all I was prepared for was yummy Scottish eye candy.

I like Emily Mortimer, too, and wish she was in more American movies. She did an action movie with Samual L Jackson and Robert Carlisle called Formula 51 in which she plays a contract killer beholden to a drug lord because of gambling debt. Fun movie, if a little B-list.

By: theo

theo — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:10:10 +0000

I made a screensaver with a lot of GB’s kisses. The Dear Frankie one is the last one. The music is Josh Groban’s When You Say You Love Me.

If anyone’s interested, let me know, I’ll pass along the download link…

I saw him in Mrs. Brown and that’s all it took. *sigh*

By: Susanna Kearsley

Susanna Kearsley — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:57:04 +0000

Just remembered there’s a nice little interview clip on YouTube as well, with Gerard Butler and Emily Mortimer discussing their roles. (Why, oh why, don’t they ever let Gerard Butler speak with his own accent in American films?) In case the link doesn’t work, here’s the URL:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je9dE8V2RhY

By: Donna Kowalczyk

Donna Kowalczyk — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:51:50 +0000

I’ve been on a Gerard Butler kick since I saw him play Dracula, so I’m looking forward to this one, thanks. :-) Though, to be honest, I loved him in The Ugly Truth as well…LOL

By: Suzanne

Suzanne — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:45:24 +0000

This is the movie that made me a Gerard Butler fan!!!! Some may think it is too slow paced, but that is what I love about it…not some Hollywood, pack as much crap into it as possible kind of movie. Just sweet and touching and the kiss…one of the best kisses ever!

By: Susanna Kearsley

Susanna Kearsley — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:42:59 +0000

@Jayne: You’re very welcome. As I said, your choices have been scarily in line with my own favourites for a while now…:-)

By: Mara

Mara — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:06:17 +0000

This is a lovely movie. I didn’t like the mother at first for what she was doing, but when she finally confessed her reason for doing it, it so resonated with me, I was totally on her side ever after. Her deeper reason for lying to her son will just break your heart. Smart, moving screenplay. Very worth renting or buying.

By: Jayne

Jayne — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:45:33 +0000

@Susanna Kearsley: Thanks for emailing me and nudging me into going ahead and scheduling my review of it.

By: Karenmc

Karenmc — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:29:20 +0000

I have it in my Netflix queue. Sounds like I need to move it to the top.

By: vanessa jaye

vanessa jaye — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:15:01 +0000

I’ve never seen nor heard of this movie, but I’m going to check if HMV has it on my way home today. It sounds just wonderful. Thanks for the review.

By: theo

theo — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:08:25 +0000

I saw this movie when it was released and it immediately moved up to place as one of my all time fav five movies. I have enjoyed Friday Film Review and this was a perfect choice.

By: Kathryn Smith

Kathryn Smith — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:48:43 +0000

This is one of my all time fave movies. I even own it. The entire cast was amazing. I love the non Hollywood ending because it leaves you hopeful, and confident of what the future holds for Frankie and his mom.

By: Jayne

Jayne — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:18:29 +0000

Tina and Sula, it does have that slightly heartbreaking edge to it but, honestly, that’s why I like it so much. Auerbach doesn’t try and force a “kittens and rainbows” HEA. Maybe something will happen in the future and maybe not. But those days captured in the film are magical.

I also liked the soundtrack a lot. The opening theme sets the stage for the whole tone of the film.