"Uncle Frank" is a well-crafted social drama with solid performances from the cast, with enough witty comedy to make the audience smile, while at the same time expressing themes of tolerance and understanding . Director Alan Ball turned this slightly autobiographical tale into one that empathizes with the audience, showing the usual confusion of family boundaries. The story itself has no particularly novel content. Marriage, coming out of the closet, and growing up are all common plots, and some are solemn and witty elements that audiences think so-called "road movies" should have. But it all came together into a brilliant piece that was off-the-beaten-path and achieved a retro feel on a budget, and photographer Khalid Mohtaseb captured the imagery attractively.
The performance is actually the biggest selling point of the film. Sophia Lillis has a natural sun-friendly feel, and in a film like this, she's very appealing to audiences. Paul Bettany's performance is very good. He gave Frank, a high-IQ character, an ego and rationality, covering up the churning of his inner world, and his inner world was revealed in a tragedy. Peter Markdis' performance is very eye-catching, which makes the role of Wally lively and three-dimensional. Behind his relaxed and lively appearance and love of teaching nature is his earnest expectation that Frank can truly be himself
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