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Robot & Frank

1 disc
Region 1 USA/CA (info)

An aging thief with a fading memory finds his love for larceny reinvigorated after receiving a companion robot from his concerned son in this tender sci-fi comedy-drama starring Academy Award nominee Frank Langella. Frank (Langella) is a former criminal living out his twilight years in quiet solitude. Though frequent trips to the local library keep him physically active and mentally stimulated, there's little question that his memory isn't what it used to be, and lately his grown children have begun to express concern over the fact that he lives alone. Bestowed a caretaker robot capable of offering engaging interaction and tending to basic household chores, Frank at first resents his android helper. But in time he lets his guard down and begins to actually enjoy the companionship of his new domestic partner. Later, when the future of the local library is threatened, Frank falls back into his old ways and discovers that his robot also doubles as a competent criminal sidekick.
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Credits

Frank Langella, Susan Tomaling, Susan Sarandon, James Marsden, Liv Tyler
Critic Reviews

"First-time director Jake Schreier has fun here....The film thankfully underplays that melodrama, reserving its most poignant moments for interactions between man and microchip."
Hollywood Reporter
3 stars out of 5 -- "[T]he film is light-fingered and charming....Langella is in virtually every scene, and he is a marvel of virile intelligence, wringing every bit of nuance and humor out of the best screen role he's had since FROST/NIXON."
Box Office
"Charming, playful and sly, it makes us believe that a serene automaton and a snappish human being can be best friends forever."
Los Angeles Times
"Langella brings the film a gruff magic..." -- Grade: B+
Entertainment Weekly
3 stars out of 4 -- "There's bracing humor here, and a dash of heartbreak....Langella, who's played everyone from Dracula to Nixon onscreen, is giving a master class in acting."
Rolling Stone