Uncle Frank

2020 Directed by Alan Ball

No one comes home without baggage.

In 1973, when Frank Bledsoe and his 18-year-old niece Beth take a road trip from Manhattan to Creekville, South Carolina for the family patriarch's funeral, they're unexpectedly joined by Frank's lover Walid.

Paul Bettany Sophia Lillis Peter Macdissi Steve Zahn Judy Greer Margo Martindale Stephen Root Lois Smith Jane McNeill Caity Brewer Hannah Black Michael Banks Repeta Burgess Jenkins Colton Ryan Britt Rentschler Christopher Speed Cole Doman Voltaire Colin Council

Alternative Titles

Untitled Alan Ball Film, Mi tio Frank, Tio Frank

drama

95 mins More details at IMDb TMDb Report this film

Popular reviews

Review by 🎃🔥Mr. Like🔥🎃 ★★★★½ 20

Rotten Tomatoes: 78%
Metacritic Metascore: 58
IMDb: 7.3
92/100
Release Date: 25 November 2020
Distributor: Amazon Studios
Budget: N/A
Worldwide Gross: N/A
Viewing Platform: Amazon Prime
Total Film Awards: TBD
2020 Ranked
Hulu Ranked
Beth: "He was the kind of person I wanted to be: smart, funny and considerate."
SYNOPSIS: In 1973, when Frank Bledsoe and his 18-year-old niece Beth take a road trip from Manhattan to Creekville, South Carolina, for the family patriarch's funeral, they're unexpectedly joined by Frank's lover, Walid.
This film hit me, and it hit me hard. It’s impact definitely stays with you and doesn’t wash over you anytime soon after. To say that Paul Bettany is incredible in this film is an understatement. To say…
Review by allain ★★★★ 6

It’s always the yeehaw gay storyline that usually cuts deep and this film is no exception. Uncle Frank is a drama about a literature professor who, along with his teenage niece and unexpectedly, his lover, went back to his hometown for his father’s funeral, facing his untold past and dark secrets in the process. Homosexuality is considered to be a taboo back then and a sin in most religions, that getting disowned or even killed is a common occurrence, and while our society is slowly becoming progressive towards the LGBT community, the stigma still remains to this day.
The film ties itself up by building the lead characters first before tackling the sensitive issues of same-sex attraction, suppressed sexuality, and…
Review by Allison M. 🌱 ★★★★ 3

“My hairdresser is gay.”
Anyone who is lukewarm or cold with this movie probably doesn't know the reality of what being gay was like in the South in 1973. Uncle Frank, written & directed by Alan Ball, is personal, lively, and has such great characters, making it one of my favorites of the year. After Ball's feature directorial debut (Nothing Is Private, which I liked) crashed and burned, I am happy that we eventually got to see another feature directed by him. He, of course, also wrote the on-point American Beauty. A writer of that caliber just doesn't go away that easily.
Uncle Frank succeeds in that it feels like an effortless yet perfect execution of the writing, directing, costumes, and…
Review by George Clark ★★★½ 4

2020 Releases Ranked-HERE
Uncle Frank was a great surprise for me. Set in 1973, Frank Bledsoe and his 18-year-old niece Beth take a road trip from Manhattan to Creekville, South Carolina for a family funeral, when they're unexpectedly joined by Frank's lover Walid.
I won't lie to you all, I actually really enjoyed this. Paul Bettany, who plays Frank, gives a fantastic performance unlike anything he's done before and his chemistry alongside both Sophia Lillis and Peter Macdissi (who were both great as well) was brilliant to watch. The story on the other hand? Well.. that's was great as well! I found myself hooked on the relationships between Frank, Walid and Beth and how they interacted amongst each other and…
Review by Giada ★★★★½ 1

yes, this movie features the line “in what way is a blow job like poetry” but this movie also made me cry.
Review by Cam ★★★½ 8

"I got two words for you…"
Steve Zahn
This dude’s been stealing movies for over 25 years!
"He’s the best friend I’ll ever have."

Cinematic Time Capsule - 2020 Ranked
Review by lola ★★★★ 1

why is the dad from diary of a wimpy kid EVERYWHERE
Review by Jizzmonkey ★★★

Southern Christians appear concerned of the gayness in their midst. A good film, but not exactly groundbreaking.
Review by Leighton Trent ★★★★ 3

"I have two words for you... No. Problem."

I know we've had Happiest Season, The Prom, The Half of It, Ammonite (have yet to watch) and the remake of The Boys in the Band (also have yet to watch) all this year, but I feel like this should be the 🏳️‍🌈 bearer for The LGBTQ Film of 2020.
Does it have its problems?
Yes.
Does Alan Ball force it a bit and it not all quite gel?
Sure.
Does it turn into a buddy road movie instead of a character study like it seems it was intended to be?
Yeah...

But does it have wonderful characters and terrific performances to match them?
Yes.
Does it have an emotional story arc…
Review by davidehrlich ★★ 6

Played by “Sharp Objects” breakout Sophia Lillis, Beth has always looked up to her uncle Frank (Paul Bettany). He couldn’t be more different from the rest of their ultra-conservative South Carolina family, or from any of the adults Beth knows in the small town where she’s lived all her life. And it’s not just because he lives in New York, or actually looks his niece in the eyes when he speaks to her, and listens to what she has to say — like, you know, girls should be heard and not just seen. Frank wears aftershave. He reads books. He tells Beth that she gets to choose who she is — that she doesn’t just have to be cowed into…
Review by Joshua Andrew Arispe ★★★ 4

Alan Ball is just one of two screenwriters this year who’s had a decline of quality in writing, with the other being Sorkin (coincidentally, they also direct their own scripts).
Uncle Frank honestly deserves to be at lower score, because it is plagued with so much unoriginality that stories like these don’t deserve. But Paul Bettany fuels the movie with the full emotion it needs, giving it some resonance. I’m honestly happy to see him star in more leading roles too.
Review by john ★★★½ 2

they always say yeehaw but they never ask hawyee :(

Recent reviews

Review by Rapha ★★★½

comecei a assistir n sabia que era um filme de gay
nada incrivellll mas adorei filme bem tocante e bonito
Review by Morgan ★★★★½

I think I unhinged my jaw during the will reading scene
Review by Chegg ★★★★½

Such a beautiful film, made my heart feel warm
Review by sophabulous ★★★½

who’s gonna tell Wanda
Review by joefrombrooklyn ★★★

Good natured and sweet. It's great to see Paul Bettany play the lead and Sophia Lillis keeps delighting with each new role. But, while likable, the predictable beats and plot turns play like a well done, old-school TV movie. Alan Ball is a long way from his audacious Six Feet Under days. That show was daring and progressive for its time. Uncle Frank would have been milquetoast even back then.
Review by otis ★★★★★

this film was so good bettany's acting was just amazing, also made me cry numerous times
Review by emilyw267 ★★★★

I don’t remember this episode of wandavision but it’s my favorite one yet
Review by sarah ★★★★½

i rlly rlly liked this movie i cried a lot too but the only thing i didn’t like was the ending felt a little rushed
Review by mimi moses ★★★½

As someone who wholeheartedly subscribes to a good ol lgbtq+ southern, coming-out movie of sorts, I gotta hand it to Paul Bettany, his performance was stunning. With that said, watch this movie for Peter Macdissi’s radiant smile; it will breathe life into your veins.
Review by fazazzle ★★★★½

A Film That Feels Like a Not-So Distant Memory
Through the dreamy rack focus shots and 70s color scheme, Uncle Frank explores the societal and interpersonal issues of the 70s while staying grounded in the present. Although overt at some points, it does not detract from the storyline or the feeling that we are a part of Beth’s memories.
Also, needed more Bullet content.
Review by pilar ★★★½

El póster me pareció horrible porque me hizo acordar a the green book pero la película me gustó mucho.
Lloré.
Review by Stream Queen ★★★★

I love the premise, I love the time period, I love the acting & I love the South meets New York back drop but it’s just the same story we’ve seen time and time again with yet another hetero cis gender white male cast as the tortured gay protagonist.