What's FRANKLYN about? I doubt the scriptwriter even knows for sure, because this is a muddled and uninteresting would-be science fiction film that attempts to lift itself out of a genre to become a movie of real merit. It's deliberately quirky and obtuse, and annoyed me in much the same way as the similarly unappealing V FOR VENDETTA: I take an instant dislike to films that think they're better than they are.

FRANKLYN tells the stories of four people who initially seem totally unconnected, although unsurprisingly it transpires that each story hooks up with the others in some way, shape or form. So far, so routine, so they decide to have one of the stories take place in a fantastic worldscape where everybody seems to have started up their own religion (probably the only interesting idea in the whole movie). In an attempt to keep viewers' attention, they also throw in some half-hearted fight scenes to keep things moving along.

Frankly, I was quite embarrassed to be watching this. Eva Green, an actress I like very much, plays an utterly embarrassing role as a whacked-out art student and has to do some painfully silly (and once again pretentious) stuff. I felt quite sorry for her. While the fantastic world stuff is more fun than the mundane London scenes, the movie lacks interest, hinging too much on a plot twist that turns out to be not very good at all. None of the cast really shines: I've never been a fan of Phillippe and his performance here doesn't change that, while Bernard Hill gets almost nothing to work with. As for the overrated Sam Riley, all of his dull scenes could have been cut without making a jot of difference.

Let's face it now: it takes substance to make a real movie, and a movie that's all style is never going to be successful. That's why FRANKLYN turns out to be a real bore.

This movie really is difficult. Not only to describe (it is far too complex for it's own good/commercial success),but also to watch and follow the plot. While there have been other movies who played with the time factor (and/or other stuff, which I won't say anything about here, so it won't spoil anything for you),not many refused to explain themselves to you.

In other words: While many other movies with the same or similar theme, show you the same scenes twice (or maybe even more often),this movie does not give you this luxury. You have to stay focused to get it. Of course the main plot and the big details will be easy to grab. But again, only if you let yourself into the movie. But this movie allows you to watch it a few times and catch nuances, small things, you might not have seen/understood, the previous time(s) you watched the movie. A complex, but rewarding viewing experience then

In The Tradition Of Movies Like Crash, Magnolia (A Brilliant Movie),Babel. Pulp Fiction We Follow 4 Different Stories As They Slowly Weave Together Becoming In The End One Story ... Ryan Phillippe Is A Detective Seeking Justice For A Dead 6 Year Old Girl ... Bernard Hill A Worried Father Looking For His Lost Son ... Sam Riley A Man Looking To Replace The Love He Has Lost ... Eva Green An Artist That Suffers Through Multiple Suicide Attempts For Her Art ... These 4 Lives Are Thrown Together In What Appears To Be A Perfect Religious Society ... Like The Movies This One Imitates This Is A Brilliant Story That Reminds Us That As Large As The World Is It Is Very Tiny In The Scope Of All Things ... We Are not Alone, We Live, Suffer, Laugh, Cry, Rejoice, Etc .. Together ... The Writing Is Excellent As Well As The Acting ... Special Credit To Gerald McMorrow's Direction, His Ability To Keep Such A Huge Story In Front Of The Camera From Beginning To End Was Amazing ... Also It Would Be Wrong To Not Mention Those Who Handled The Production Design, Art Direction, Set Decoration And Costume Design ... Original And Enticing This Is Not A Movie To Be Missed ... In A World Gone Mad Hope Survives