Franklyn (DVD)

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"Franklyn," a new Image Entertainment release, is among the denser films I´ve seen in recent memory. It jumps from reality to fantasy and back regularly, leaving a complex plot and subpar screenplay to hold and anchor it amidst some average acting and mediocre plot elements. The film simply tries to be too much, and in spreading itself entirely too thin, winds up not covering enough area to stand alone independently.

I didn´t know whether or not to interpret "Franklyn" as a graphic novel, science fiction endeavor, suspense and thriller roller coaster or dark adventure film. There are moments where you can convincingly argue it is all these and perhaps more, which means it´s spread too thin to do any particular genre justice. The main characters are young enough to look like they´re starring in a longer "Dawson´s Creek," "One Tree Hill" or "90210" episode, but thankfully they´re not as over-privileged or fabricated.

The other major issue is its pace. "Franklyn" takes far too long to get going, and builds to a climax near the end that doesn´t live up to all its foundational anticipation. Sure, there are a few fights, explosions and gunshots mixed in, but in no way can they compensate for what´s basically a super slow moving film. If the characters were deeper, acting performances stronger and screenplay richer, perhaps the pace wouldn´t be that big a deal. It´s not the case, unfortunately, generating another area where "Franklyn" falls short. The plot can´t really be explained thoroughly unless you watch the film from start to finish, and at just over 90 minutes you might have the time to invest. That´s fine if you´re up for it, but don´t expect this to parallel something like "Lolita" or "Memento" on any level.

As the film begins, we meet Jonathan Preest (Ryan Phillippe), who makes his living in a futuristic looking but not so friendly place called Meanwhile City. Jonathan seems like a nice enough guy with just one single task: to kill The Individual, who´s responsible for stopping him from saving a young girl in his past. Jonathan´s failure to save her has haunted him ever since, and even living in a religious place like Meanwhile City (everyone has to declare a religion, and it doesn´t really matter what that is, just so long as everybody has one) can´t help him get through this dark period (he doesn´t believe in any God, higher power or heavenly body). Hell bent on fulfilling his mission, he doesn´t want to be deterred or messed with, evidenced through the way he treats Wormsnakes (Stephen Walters), a transient who turns him in to the police. Thanks to some nifty moves, Jonathan gets away unscathed and resumes his quest.

Next, we´re taken to a modern day London psychiatrist´s office. A talented young artist named Emilia Bryant (Eva Green) is seated next to her mother, clearly fitting the rebellious daughter mold. Emilia smokes like a chimney, periodically attempts to commit suicide, draws with incredible ease and frazzles her mother with little difficulty. She wants to find her father, but is regularly told not to by her mother, and in response acts out in extremes, all of which jeopardize her shaky college education. Emilia´s that character with something under her skin that angers and fuels her. She´s the most complex in the film, and unfortunately doesn´t get the attention she deserved from writer and director Gerald McMorrow. Her passion for art sustains her daily life, and opens her world to others in a certain regard she wouldn´t event know about without this skill set.

Milo (Sam Riley) is the nice who finishes last. Recently left alone by his bride to be on their wedding day, Milo thinks back to another girl he knew during his youth. Sally was beautiful, elegant and passionate. He sees her in passing, and when proclaiming his excitement to his mother, is told she´s been dead for many years. His disbelief piles onto his existing anguish, and not even his close friends can provide enough wine to shake his obvious frustrations. Milo continues to "see" Sally around London, and becomes obsessed with telling her how he truly feels. No one can seem to get through to him, and his mental state becomes less steady as "Franklyn" progresses. You want to grab Milo by the shoulders and shake some sense into him, but he´s so genuine and humble it probably wouldn´t do much good.