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Eva Green, Ryan Phillippe, Sam Riley, Bernard Hill, James Faulkner ... see more see more... , Stephen Walters , Art Malik , Susannah York , Richard Coyle , Kika Markham

Director/screenwriter Gerald McMorrow makes his feature debut with this ambitious psychological sci-fi drama set between contemporary London and the dystopic Meanwhile City, where the separation betwe... read more read more...en church and state has been obliterated to make way for a religion-dominated society. As atheist vigilante Jonathan Preest (Ryan Phillippe) prepares to seek revenge against Meanwhile City's powerful leader, privileged artist Emilia (Eva Green) finds her cynicism and depression accelerated by the difficult relationship she shares with her mother. Meanwhile, sensitive Milo (Sam Riley) attempts to recover from a recent heartache, just as deeply religious Peter (Bernard Hill) arrives in London to search for his missing son, a haunted Gulf War veteran. As the narrative shifts between the real and imaginary worlds, McMorrow explores the complex relationships between fantasy, faith, and love. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Flixster Users

44% liked it

4,503 ratings

Critics

59% liked it

29 critics

R, 1 hr. 35 min.

Directed by: Gerald McMorrow

Release Date: October 16, 2008

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DVD Release Date: November 17, 2009

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Flixster Reviews (861)

  • SirPant
    November 23, 2011
    SirPant
    I feel a bit bad for giving this film such a low rating, especially as I thought it was a really clever and original idea. The visualisation of Jonathan Preest's alter-ego in his imagined (exaggerated) world of Meanwhile City is great stuff, touching on the mental issues returnin... read moreg solders have intertwined with religious guilt - possibly heightened by the resent 'War on terror' - I don't know. I had no real problem with the switching from fantasy to reality per se, it's just that many of the sub-plots were pretty pointless and did not amount to anything close to the payoff the build up hinted towards. The end is such an anticlimax you start to wonder why you even bothered, which is such a shame because I still believe the foundations of this film are some of the most ingenious I've seen for quite some time. It would have made one hell of a graphic novel but as far as the film, it's was far too ambitious and I'm sad to say, it fails. I love it and hate it in equal measure but I only hate it so much because I love it so much, that's why I'm right down the middle on this one.
  • LWOODS04
    January 19, 2011
    LWOODS04
    Cast: Ryan Phillippe, Eva Green, Sam Riley, Bernard Hill, Jay Fuller, Art Malik, Kika Markham, Gary Pillai, Susannah York

    Director: Gerald McMorrow

    Summary: In the futuristic Meanwhile City, a masked vigilante (Ryan Phillippe) seeks out his nemesis while in contemporary Lo... read morendon, an art student (Eva Green) attempts to kill herself, a heartbroken lover (Sam Riley) looks for someone new and a father (Bernard Hill) searches for his son. Writer-director Gerald McMorrow sci-fi drama follows these desperate individuals as their lives become intertwined by fate.

    My Thoughts: "Completely through me for a loop, and I felt so lost for the majority of the film. Then by the end comes the AHA moment and all makes since in that world. Very interesting movie. Eva Green is the star of the film though. Her acting was so tormented and beautifully done. I loved the look of the gothic dark city. It was depressingly beautiful. I can't say I loved the film, but it was and is worth the watch."
  • djdemersseman
    July 12, 2010
    djdemersseman
    It's not groundbreaking but it is interesting. I really liked the Meanwhile City sets and costumes. And the score wasn't too bad.
  • deano
    May 30, 2010
    deano
    This shuffles together a fantastical, comic-bookish vision of life in the strange world of Meanwhile City and runs it parallel to a story set in present-day London. This story made me confused and looked really strange.
    The fantasy action suffers from wobbly choreography, and th... read moree backstory traumas are, disappointingly, merely textbook plot devices - but it's well acted by all.
  • blacksheepboy
    April 20, 2010
    blacksheepboy
    Gerald McMorrow takes a bold shot in his directing debut, making an ambitious film with quite an original idea. However, the story starts so complex and hard to comprehend that, by the time it reaches one hour, it is already too confusing to make us care.
  • skactopus
    March 20, 2010
    skactopus
    Gerald McMorrow's drama thriller, Franklyn, is a bit of a mixed bag.

    There are multiple subplots to this picture. One is told in a film noir style with a futuristic metropolis as a setting, while the rest take place in contemporary London and told in a slow dramatic way

    ... read more. The thing with this is that all of these subplots feel apart from each other and it is like watching separate movies being told simultaneously. There is a sense that a connection is there, but it isn't possible to make. However, ever so slowly, the story unravels and things begin to make sense. This is then followed by an intriguing conclusion.

    The futuristic metropolis subplot can be deceiving. It is not an action extravaganza with high tech gadgets. Remember, it is one of multiple subplots, so it's not that this film is a full blown science fiction thriller.

    Eva Green is the star of the show. She has a chance to play a couple characters, each with a different personality, which allows her to show her versatility as an actress. Ryan Phillippe and Sam Riley are decent enough with their characters.

    In the early going Franklyn isn't an easy film to pick up, but with some patience it turns out better than it seems.
  • ythelastman89
    January 6, 2010
    ythelastman89
    An extremely complex and imaginative story that is well ahead of its time. While I can't give it five stars due to the fact that it has some technical issues, it is probably one of the best movies of 2009. The ideas of economic and social change as well as religion is completely ... read moreoriginal. In comparison to a similar looking film, Dark City, it goes far beyond a simple blend of sci-fi and noir and gives you a completely new way of thinking.
  • thefog1331
    December 8, 2009
    thefog1331
    The Meanwhile City stuff is just top notch and if the whole film had taken place there I would be raving it right now. Instead I'm scratching my head wondering what the hell I just watched. My only explanation is someone took a script about "parallel worlds" then they took anothe... read morer script about fate and imaginary friends, shuffled the two together, randomly pulled out pages and then proceeded to shoot it.
    A wasted effort indeed.
  • kiriyamakazou
    April 27, 2009
    kiriyamakazou
    Will certainly get better after a second watch due to expectations. Everything I had read and seen of this film, from articles and trailers, really played up the futuristic Sci-Fi aspects. This is only one of 4 plots in this film, the other three take place in contemporary London... read more. Imagine Dark City or Blade Runner edited together with a Mike Leigh film or two. It keeps you confused as to why these stories are being told together, which inevitably distracts from the film itself. By the end it all comes together and is rather satisfying. Phillipe gives a tremendous performance and can really knock out a great English accent. Riley has the least fun role, but adds his everyman charm to proceedings. It's a thoughtful film, if a little self indulgent. Expect a British drama as opposed to a Gothic action film.
  • gator681
    November 8, 2010
    gator681
    In Meanwhile City, all people are welcome as long as they have a faith, my personal favorite being the Seventh Day Manicurists. Jonathan Priest(Ryan Phillippe) is a renegade without any who has tracked a missing child to Duplex Wry which is headed by the Individual. But then he... read more finds out he is too late from Wormsnakes(Stephen Walters) who betrays him to the authorities.

    Meanwhile, in modern day London, Emilia(Eva Green) makes videos for her college classes that freak out everybody else, especially her mother(Susannah York), because emergency services are usually required. Into this troubled metropolis walk two strangers, Milo(Sam Riley) who is recovering from being jilted at the altar and Peter(Bernard Hill) who is hopefully moving towards his missing son.

    Okay, I know it is a cliche for any movie to point out that we are all connected but what separates the intelligent and challenging "Franklyn" is its unique approach that mixes in elements of the fantastic in its exploration of faith. While the split narrative works well(and the Meanwhile City segments look fabulous), I think the movie should have been longer to fully flesh out some of the plot strands and characters. And in the end, it does make sense while never taking the easy way out.

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Critic Reviews

Derek Elley
October 22, 2008
Derek Elley, Variety

A clever idea that could have worked as a novella, the urban-fantasy-cum-sci-fier Franklyn doesn't cut it by the bigscreen rulebook. Full Review

Louise Keller
November 7, 2009
Louise Keller, Urban Cinefile

Ultimately it doesn't quite work, but along the way it is easy to be somewhat sucked in, especially by Eva Green's suicidal artist and Sam Riley's emotionally shattered dreamer Full Review

Edward Porter
March 6, 2009
Edward Porter, Times [UK]

Franklyn is wonky and self-defeating: there are lots of gauche moments. Still, it's entertaining, and commendable for its strangeness. Full Review

Philip French
March 6, 2009
Philip French, Observer [UK]

Franklyn is puzzling in a way some may think tiresome and others intriguing. Gerald McMorrow, whose first feature this is, has talent, but just as he starts tying up the loose ends, the film unravels. Full Review

Allan Hunter
March 3, 2009
Allan Hunter, Daily Express

If ambition and flair were the only hallmarks of a five-star film then Franklyn would be top of the class. Full Review

Richard Edwards
March 3, 2009
Richard Edwards, SFX Magazine

Look past the odd shortcoming in the storytelling, and there's a brave movie here, one that's prepared to tackle some weighty issues about religion and obsession. Full Review

Joe Utichi
February 27, 2009
Joe Utichi, IGN Movies UK

Marks McMorrow as a director to watch, one unafraid of taking risks and going against the grain of the British film industry. It's not for everyone, but surrender to the limitless ambition and off-kil... Full Review

Kim Newman
February 27, 2009
Kim Newman, Empire Magazine

An admirably non-formulaic drama, which manages to reconcile the opposed British film traditions of contemporary, realistic, low-key character drama with eccentric, flamboyant, Gothic fantasy. It cert... Full Review

Nigel Floyd
February 27, 2009
Nigel Floyd, Time Out

'Franklyn' has conceptual boldness and visual imagination that set it apart from the pack. Full Review

Jon Fortgang
February 27, 2009
Jon Fortgang, Film4

McMorrow's ideas may be too damn bold and expansive for Franklyn to succeed on every level, but it's a striking debut from a writer-director unafraid to reach as high as he can. Full Review

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    • Jonathan Preest: Anywhere can feel like a prison, when you don't have any faith.
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  • His roles include Claudius in "Hamlet" and Franklyn Madson in "Dead Again"; in both movies, he co-starred with Kenneth Branagh.  Answer »
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