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Uncle Frank

Play trailer 2:36 Poster for Uncle Frank R 2020 1h 35m Drama LGBTQ+ Play Trailer Watchlist
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77% Tomatometer 121 Reviews 83% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
In 1973, teenaged Beth Bledsoe (Sophia Lillis) leaves her rural Southern hometown to study at New York University where her beloved Uncle Frank (Paul Bettany) is a revered literature professor. She soon discovers that Frank is gay, and living with his longtime partner Walid “Wally” Nadeem (Peter Macdissi) -- an arrangement that he has kept secret for years. After the sudden death of Frank's father -- Beth’s grandfather -- Frank is forced to reluctantly return home for the funeral with Beth in tow, and to finally face a long-buried trauma that he has spent his entire adult life running away from.
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Uncle Frank

Uncle Frank

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Critics Consensus

Uncle Frank finds writer-director Alan Ball still untangling the modern American family dynamic, aided by standout work from Paul Bettany and Sophia Lillis.

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Critics Reviews

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Mark Kermode Kermode & Mayo's Film Review I thought this is the best performance [Paul Bettany's] given since Gangster No. 1... secondly it's really funny. Dec 2, 2020 Full Review Richard Whittaker Austin Chronicle Uncle Frank revolves around Uncle Frank, and Bettany's career-great performance as a man who knows where the gaps are in his life, and how much his whole relationship with his family is about holding his breath. Dec 1, 2020 Full Review Kevin Maher Times (UK) Even Paul Bettany firing on all available cylinders can't quite save this mixed-bag melodrama from its flimsiness. Rated: 2/5 Nov 29, 2020 Full Review Michael Cuby them. Uncle Frank is sure to be one of Amazon’s future awards season players. Sep 28, 2022 Full Review Tom O'Brien Next Best Picture It's a film with too many instances where characters do completely out-of-character actions simply to advance the plot. Rated: 5/10 Jun 14, 2022 Full Review John Paul King Washington Blade Solid, compassionate, accessible film that pleases. May 20, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (137) audience reviews
Ridwoan R Very beautiful and heartwarming story. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/14/24 Full Review PridePosterStudios Beth “Mr Jiggerson? But he’s so…religious?” Frank: “HA” Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/24/24 Full Review Mark F Beautifully written, marvelously acted, and with wonderful cinematography, I can't say enough good things. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/02/23 Full Review Audience Member Heart-warming drama that put a smile on your face Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review isla s I expected this to be more of a carefree, funny road trip type of a film than the LGBT guy seeking family acceptance tale that it definitely is. I do appreciate the message and it has a good cast and everything but its certainly cheesy and a bit predictable perhaps...not entirely original and I'm not sure I'd personally categorise it primarily as a comedy. I'd say its more a drama. Its an ok film, yes but nothing amazing really. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Paul M What a wonderfully sweet and poignant exploration of Frank, a middle aged gay man as he navigates through a relationship with his lover of ten years and his facing the consequences of his disapproving father and his unsuspecting family. Woven into the story is Frank remembering his first love as a teenager and how his father's influence upon catching him with his teen love forever changed Frank's life. It's great to see gay characters who are just regular guys and not the over-the-top flamboyant characters Hollywood loves to push out onto movie audiences. This one is a gem. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/24/22 Full Review Read all reviews
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Uncle Frank

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Movie Info

Synopsis In 1973, teenaged Beth Bledsoe (Sophia Lillis) leaves her rural Southern hometown to study at New York University where her beloved Uncle Frank (Paul Bettany) is a revered literature professor. She soon discovers that Frank is gay, and living with his longtime partner Walid “Wally” Nadeem (Peter Macdissi) -- an arrangement that he has kept secret for years. After the sudden death of Frank's father -- Beth’s grandfather -- Frank is forced to reluctantly return home for the funeral with Beth in tow, and to finally face a long-buried trauma that he has spent his entire adult life running away from.
Director
Alan Ball
Producer
Alan Ball, Bill Block, Michael Costigan, Stephanie Meurer, Jay Van Hoy
Screenwriter
Alan Ball
Production Co
Miramax, Parts and Labor, Amazon Studios, Your Face Goes Here Entertainment
Rating
R (Drug Use|Some Sexual References|Language)
Genre
Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 25, 2020
Runtime
1h 35m
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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