These and other everyday pieces of a life take on greater significance and heartbreaking meaning throughout the course of "The Father.". Frank gains the upper hand and beats Alan into submission, finally getting him to leave Las Vegas and Lola alone. Instead, the film just quietly jumps right into its characters lives in an extremely refreshing way. FRANK & LOLA is the Year's Most Truthfully Brutal Love Story | by Frank Calvillo | Cinapse Write Sign up Sign In 500 Apologies, but something went wrong on our end. While this may sound all too grim for a cinematic representation of romance, Frank & Lola is nothing if not incredibly realistic in the way it captures the exciting and oftentimes consuming state of being in love. Welcome to the Quantum Realm. He enjoys the late hours in bed when his busy schedule behind the stove in a bloody apron permits, but hes not a happy camper in work or play. But due to the lack of clientele, she is unable to get her ideas off the ground. Cracks begin to show after Lola suddenly cheats on Frank, which leads to Frank's evolving mistrust of Lola and a growing obsession with an imposing man from her past. Yes. However, Frank & Lola, for all its focus on the idea of revenge, feels like the perfect antithetical response to an industry bloated with rape-revenge fantasies in the guise of horror and thriller films. A Perfect Pairing is a humorous romantic comedy movie on Netflix. After a compelling opener with the characters, Ross takes us inside their beautiful and tragic world, where Lola runs from her former self and Frank comes to grip with the negative side of his fierce masculinity. The finale sees Frank confront this fact. Yet as the mystery unfolds, the relationship between Frank and Lola becomes more intricate. 1h 28m. But when he musters the courage and reveals his true identity to her the next morning, she is dismayed at his lies. Is Waratah Station a Real Sheep Ranch? Summary: Lola receives a phone call from Manni asking for her help to replace 100,000 Marks that he has misplaced on the subway. Do Dario and Rita talk through their issues? Whether he gets past it, or is eaten alive by it, is left to see. A couple of colorful side characters pop up throughout the course of Frank & Lola, including Justin Long, who is great as the latters rich boss, and Rosanna Arquette, who manages to outshine the two impeccable leads in her one scene as Lolas aging bombshell mother. Elsewhere, in Los Angeles, Audra finds out that Lola is in Australia to meet Hazel as their potential competition. Poots makes nearly as strong an impression, but unfortunately this is not her movie. He is representative of modern men, those who want to be empathetic to the plight of abused women. graduate with a concentration in pre-19th century literature from Memorial University of Newfoundland. As both screenwriter and director, Ross proves he's a filmmaker with not just something to say, but somewhere to take us. The mere presence of Michael Shannon in the lead role will be enough for many to check out Frank and Lola, but Matthew Rosss debut film has a goodly number of other things going for it as well. She tells him that contrary to what he may have believed, she is not interested in his money or social status, and his dishonesty has changed everything between them. Frank, a chef in Las Vegas, meets and falls in love with Lola, a mysterious young woman who is new to the city. He tracks Alan down using information he gathered online, and follows him to a local bistro. Dec. 8, 2016. Alan then shows Frank a sex tape with Lola and another woman, that shows Lola taking sexual orders from Alan. Romance, To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. A former film journalist, Ross made a number of acclaimed shorts including Lola and Inspired by Bret Easton Ellis, but makes a striking debut with this feature.[22] Additionally, The Film Stage named Frank & Lola as one of 15 best films of the festival,[23] and Ioncinema included Ross on its list "Top 10 New Voices" at Sundance 2016. [4] In February 2015, Arclight Films announced that it had acquired all international sales rights for the film. The alleged tension mounts with a series of ridiculous and totally implausible plot twists that end up back in Vegas where Alan arrives mysteriously, lusting for Lola. What Frank & Lola does best is provide an affirmation of the capacity of the human soul: to forgive anothers flaws, to overcome those flaws in oneself, to find a way to keep loving despite them, and most of all to endure even after experiencing the worst of human behaviour. A talented Las Vegas chef falls in love with an aspiring fashion designer but turns violently jealous when he realizes that she's hiding dark secrets. Rest assured, our passports are ready.[17], The Film Stage's Ed Frankel: "Frank & Lola, a noirish erotic thriller from journalist-turned-director Matthew Ross, finds leads Michael Shannon and Imogen Poots in top form. The problem is that, despite being played by two charismatic and more-than-capable actors, the title characters never click in the way they need to. The triumph of getting past Lolas abuse is hers to reach. If Alice wins, she can ask anything she wants of Lola. In the end, Ross leaves us with an ambiguitywhich pervades the last shot dominated by a simple reflection in a mirror and he never leads us one way or another to any answers. As we do, we start unravelling the chest-thumping masculinity which drives Frank in how he responds to Lolas revelations of abuse. Stay up-to-date on all the latest Rotten Tomatoes news! Lola tells Frank that the wealthy woman who picked him up in the club was in reality Alan's wife Claire, and that Alan brings her men to sleep with in exchange for her allowing him to do whatever he wants. Yes, after a lot of trials and tribulations, Lola and Max end up together. Still, Lola is the centre of this films universe. He cooks for her and while they say the quickest way to a human beings heart is through his breadbasket, the same seems to apply to women too. Copyright Fandango. We want to hear what you have to say but need to verify your email. Sometimes, in the movie business, even a bomb has perks. His suspicions grow darker when Keith finds a position for Lola at a posh boutique. Frank confronts him with a knife he concealed in his sleeve about Lola's rape, which Alan denies. Together, Frank and Lola build an intense relationship that saves them from their mutual despair. This movie casts a troubling spell.[16], In Consequence of Sound, Michael Roffman wrote: Part drama, part psychosexual thriller, part revenge fantasy, Michael Shannon's latest platform balls up the dark mystery of Polanski, the vivid passion of De Palma, and the razor tension of Hitchcock for a savvy and meticulous 90 minsFrank & Lola is an electric modern noir that thrives from indelible characters and a palatable style. Pam Grier reflects on her most iconic roles, from Coffy to Jackie Brown. The movie is at its best when jealousy is welling up in Frank, and Lola is feeling a combination of shame and resentment at the notion that she's responsible for his anger. Lets find the answers to these questions as well as more about the touching ending of A Perfect Pairing. SPOILERS AHEAD. The brain tin can easily express thoughts and feelings, just sometimes it is difficult to explain its actions. Afterward, Lola and Max camp out for the night at a beautiful spot and she shares her ideas with him, while he gifts her an expensive wine he has gotten for her from the winery. Frank and Lola may not have the complexity of plot and sense of inevitable doom that marked much of the work of a noir master like Jim Thompson, but it offers the same sort of bleak character study that he specialized in. When up-and-coming chef Frank ( Michael Shannon) meets aspiring fashion designer Lola ( Imogen Poots ), they fall hard and fast for one another, until Lola's past becomes part of their. One night, she confesses shes been raped by an old French lover named Alan (Michael Nyqvist) she knew during her student days in Paris. Frustrated to the hilt, Lola quits the job and decides to start her own wine importing company. Frank is a talented and driven chef working in Las Vegas whose life is thrown into a tailspin after he meets and falls passionately in love with Lola, an aspiring fashion designer. He said, "An opportunity came up from producers and financiers who said that if I moved the film to downtown Las Vegas, they would finance it. This man raped Lola years ago. Continue with Recommended Cookies, Chris is a B.A.H. Except things arent as clear-cut Lola led him to believe. Yes. And for a split second, you almost allow yourself to think how nice it is to finally see this actor more often than not cast as menacing heavies and squinty creeps playing a romantic lead. He's an alluring and dangerous lead, perfectly paired with Poots, who more than holds her own to finally deliver on all the promise she's shown in films less worthy of her talents.[14], Indiewire's Rodrigo Perez reviewed the film, writing, There's a bewitching and intensely intoxicating quality to the opening act of Frank & Lola, a seductive, romantic noir turned psychosexual drama from assured first-time feature director Matthew RossRoss is a major talent worth watching. Frank realizes she's a girl in danger of causing him constant misery, especially when she rarely comes home at night on time, and sometimes not at all. The rest of the cast add significant supporting turns. But the job interview is a pretext to confront the would-be patron (played by Swedish actor Michael Nyqvist), the owner of the Las Vegas hotel where Frank would serve as head chef. Frank & Lola occasionally benefits from the weird energy shared between Shannon and Poots. He follows the man outside and beats him in a fit of rage. Speaking of the two leads, the pair has never found a better showcase which shows both of them at their best. For one thing, Nobody knows how to eat anymoreall they want is gluten-free salads. Then theres the problem of Lola herself, an enigmatic slut with a past so dark and promiscuous that Frank is understandably suspicious. We wont be able to verify your ticket today, but its great to know for the future. We dont know how they met or how long theyve been together, we just know that Frank is wild about this woman whose sparkling saucer eyes and flirtatious, playing-with-fire smile are masking secrets he wants to knowor thinks he wants to know until he actually knows them. Together, Frank and Lola build an intense relationship that saves them from their mutual despair. Crime, Drama, Mystery, Romance, Thriller. The specifics of their courtship are mostly elided. The first scene is cast in blue and black shadows, as if explaining the mood before a word is spoken. 45 were here. It isnt heavily sexual, despite them dating, but information technology all the same has all the intimacy that is expected with ii characters or people having sex. Running time: 88 mins. While the character of Lola in particular calls to mind the women of Alfred Hitchcocks mysteries, or someone Raymond Chandler would writeopposite Philip Marlowe, its the visuals which ground us in a world of modern noir. Frank & Lola (2016) Crime, Drama, Mystery, Romance, Thriller [ USA:Unrated, 1 h 28 min] Michael Shannon, Imogen Poots, Michael Nyqvist, Justin Long. There is something so explosive about these two people who are drawn to each other but know far better than to be in this relationship due to their own damaged selves. When Frank discovers a one-night stand Lola had in a hotel with an unknown man from out of town, he storms out feeling angry and betrayed. [9][10] The film was released in a limited release and through video on demand on December 9, 2016. Above all, Frank & Lolais a raw and honest look at the consequences of sexual assault on a woman. A Perfect Pairing Ending: Do Lola and Max End Up Together? Shannon, who plays Frank, a classically trained chef, isnt exactly a bad guy. Information technology is cooking, then with Lola entering his life at that place is this alter. Claire offered her a $400,000 check if Lola were to get an abortion and leave Paris, which she reluctantly agreed to, and moved to Las Vegas, where she then met Frank. Impressed that Frank is a "fan", he invites him back to his place for a drink. So does Lola finally manage to win the contract as well as his heart? He lovingly confesses his feelings for her and they kiss passionately. Frank & Lola occasionally benefits from the weird energy shared between Michael Shannon and Imogen Poots. The caveman side of masculinity comes between Frank and his better interests. This is obviously a modestly-budgeted film, but production designer Gerald Sullivan and cinematographer Eric Koretz have collaborated to give it a glossily seedy look, while editors Rebecca Rodriguez and Jennifer Lilly maintain a deliberate pace without sacrificing tension and Danny Bensi and Saunder Jurriaans have confected a properly unsettling score. This one will likely find an appreciative audience and makes for a promising debut for writer/director Ross.[21], Ross and Frank & Lola were also included on a number of "Best of Sundance" roundups. Yes, the title implies its about them both, and in most ways the plot looks at them in equal measure. After the dinner, Frank and Amy. As Matthew Ross new film Frank & Lola opens, Michael Shannon is in bed with Imogen Poots. His dark side flashes a bit more often, but before Lola ever comes clean, we realize there is unhappiness in her past. A young daughter, a higher pupil at the time, named Lola meets this . Ale doesn't pick up, of course, give he's shacked up with Lola and asleep. Cracks begin to show after Lola suddenly cheats on Frank, which leads to Frank's evolving mistrust of Lola and a growing obsession with an imposing man . 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Where the somewhat fragmented aspects of the plot would normally make things frustrating, here they make things all the more interesting in the way they symbolize the unpredictability and fragile state of Frank and Lolas relationship. Frank goes to Paris, ostensibly to look into a potentially lucrative chef job set up by Lola's mother (Rosanna Arquette, overdoing the shallow self-regard and sexual voraciousness; when she tells Frank, "I can't wait to taste your food," I expected her to add a cartoon-y meow). Frank & Lola is a 2016 American neo-noir erotic thriller film written and directed by Matthew Ross in his directorial debut, and starring Michael Shannon, Imogen Poots, Michael Nyqvist, Justin Long, Emmanuelle Devos and Rosanna Arquette. His suspicions grow darker when Keith finds a position for Lola at a posh boutique. This 10-digit number is your confirmation number. 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