Dear Frankie (2004)

It is not deep, but it is fun to watch. It does have a bit more of an edge to it than other similar films.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

Dear Frankie is a sad yet life affirming little modern fairytale set on the evocative Scottish coastal region, in a small fishing village home to many trawlers and vessels which are always coming or going. This is the place that Lizzie (Emily Mortimer) has chosen to raise her young son Frankie (Jack Mcelhone). The one thing missing is a father, who has been missing ever since he was born. Filled with love and a need for Frankie to know at least who he was, she writes him letters as if she were his dad, telling him tales of life at sea and corresponding with him for some years. As he gets older she wishes he could have met him at some point, and comes up with a slightly strange plan. She meets a Stranger (Gerard Butler) in town, who is a sailor himself, and hires him to pose as Frankie's father, and spend some time with him. Butler agrees, but it's clear he hasn't spent much time around kids in his life, and the meeting is awkward at first. Soon they get on well enough, which pleases Lizzie and is good for Frankie. Still, the issue remains that the Stranger is not Frankie's real father and Lizzie knows this, torn between the cathartic interaction she sees for her son, and the facts that she knows to be true. Mortimer is sorrowful and harbours clear hurt and loneliness, the reaching out she does to Butler as much for herself as it is for Frankie. Butler starts off charming and be used by the proposition, until he realizes the gravity of the situation he is in and learns so,etching about himself that was dormant in his life until he met Lizzie and Frankie. The human relationships are explored tenderly and with patient reverence that ebbs and flows with the English Channel tides. Beautiful stuff.

Emotionally, one of my favorite movies. I absolutely fell in love with Gerard Butler and Emily Mortimer in this movie. I haven't read the positive review, but instead read the negatives. This movie is real, the acting is very human, not overplayed in any way. I appreciate the work to humanize the roles. As a parent, I understand the storyline of hiding the truth. The movie is not guessable (which I absolutely adore). This movie goes to where it wants to go, not to where you want it to go. It is not an easy film to watch, but it is a movie you should watch. I want very much to quote the hospital scene whenever I get a chance. It just isn't appropriate.

This story is about a son and his mother and his fake father. The son does not utter words because he is deaf. He keeps mailing with his father. Actually, the person who replies to his mail is not his father but his mother. She escapes from her husband because of his violence. The son, Frankie, loses his memory of childhood, therefore she plays a good father who is a sailor in the mails. One day, she replies to her son that his father gets the bay near the home. The mother comes up with employing a man who can pretend to be the father.After watching this film, to be frank, I like this so much. The reason why it became one of my obsessions is its heartwarming story. I cannot tell you the ending, though, I love the ending because when I watched the scene I could feel the affection between not only, of course, Frankie and his mother but also the son and the fake father. Their performances, especially the role of Frankie, are excellent. I was so moved that I want to recommend this film to my friends.

I came to this movie with low expectations. The plot felt contrived. I've never been happier to be wrong. I am absolutely stunned by the beauty of this movie. Every single actor carried his or her part with heartbreaking brilliance. Gerard Butler never seems to get the credit or award nominations he deserves. His nuanced stranger is easy to believe. He's a generous actor who never steals the scene but instead brings a stillness and grace that make the other actors shine. Not that he disappears. His beauty is impossible not to watch. His time with Frankie is fills your heart because you know Frankie's is filled. I didn't want the ending to be sad and if my imagination is right, it isn't. There was hope for a future that seemed implausible. I've always believed the best movies are the small ones that don't cost millions and don't require all the stunts and CGI. This will be added to the collection of movies I watch over and over.