"...with Michael Fassbender as Frank Sidebottom"

[dr_christian_troy]

http://www.comedy.co.uk/news/story/00000911/michael_fassbender_in_frank_sidebottom_film/

I guess it's not completely unusual casting. I was thoroughly impressed by him in A Dangerous Method, and in any event to have a film featuring a portrayal of Frank can only be a good thing, I assume. Jon Ronson has clarified that the film is to be a fictional account, and that Frank is one of a number of characters featured, but all in all it sounds rather interesting indeed.

[Mini]

He's a great actor, and Jon Ronson & Peter Straughan are great writers, so this should be good.

[KLG-7A]

I thought Michael Fassbender was an American action film star or something, so I assumed this title was a joke.

I've learned something about Michael Fassbender and how out of touch with pop culture I am, I suppose.

[PaulTMA]

I liked the bit when Jon Ronson said the film isn't about Frank Sidebottom.

[non capisco]

Fassbender is a phenomenal actor but can he do a Timperley accent? Magneto turned Irish about halfway through 'X-Men: First Class'.

[Glebe]

ComingSoon.net - First Look at Michael Fassbender as Frank Sidebottom.



FAAAN-TASTIC!! Apparently Maggie's brother Jake is also set to appear.

[Jemble Fred]

At first I was dismayed at how wrong they got Frank's head – but then I realised it suits the film perfectly, in the same way that no actor playing the central part in a biopic can exactly resemble the subject, that papier-maché head is an actor head portraying the sadly missed real Frank. This is definitely a film to anticipate with fervour.

[olliebean]

At first I was dismayed at how wrong they got Frank's head – but then I realised it suits the film perfectly, in the same way that no actor playing the central part in a biopic can exactly resemble the subject, that papier-maché head is an actor head portraying the sadly missed real Frank.

Fair enough, but even allowing for that I still think they've got it wrong. That head is like a blank version of Frank; it is to Frank what this:



is to the rest of us. I've no doubt Michael Fassbender has the chops to bring it to life, but it would have been nice to see a bit of personality on the face, as Frank's had loads. All else being equal, I don't think he'd have been nearly such a loved character with that head.

[Tiny Poster]

[checkoutgirl]

Michael Fessbender as Frank Sidebottom, what next ? Robert DeNiro as Ted Chippington ? Harrison Ford as Charlie Chuck ? Christopher Plummer as Mike Reid ? Leonardo Dicaprio as Jimmy Tarbuck ? What's going on ?

[Crabwalk]

It's the lack of glint in the miscast mask's eyes isn't it? Sends him into the uncanny valley when compared to Frank's real face. Is Robert Zemeckis directing?

[madhair60]

I wonder if he looks so markedly different in order to distinguish him from included archive footage of the real Frank.

[Jemble Fred]

As it's clearly an offbeat film, who knows what they're up to? Perhaps they're animating the mask so it can take on all manner of expressions. That could be interesting.

[madhair60]

I still need to watch the rest of the Fantastic Shed Show.

[Tiny Poster]

It's the lack of glint in the miscast mask's eyes isn't it? Sends him into the uncanny valley when compared to Frank's real face. Is Robert Zemeckis directing?

That, and the eyes aren't round. I can accept the lips being a bit off, but man.

Some friends suggested it could be a copyright thing, but Sievey lived and died with fuck all to his name.

[Blumf]

Michael Fessbender as Frank Sidebottom, what next ? Robert DeNiro as Ted Chippington ? Harrison Ford as Charlie Chuck ? Christopher Plummer as Mike Reid ? Leonardo Dicaprio as Jimmy Tarbuck ? What's going on ?

Joe Pesci as Count Arthur Strong.
Denzel Washington as John Shuttleworth

[Icehaven]

I was really surprised when I saw the casting, but fair doos. Also really like the idea of the mask being wrong because it's supposed to be someone playing him, even if that isn't the actual reason, it made me laugh.

[Steve Lampkins]

Maybe in the film it's just an early version?


Am I the only one who originally read the title as "...with Michael Fassbender as Frank Spencer"?

[checkoutgirl]

Joe Pesci as Count Arthur Strong.
Denzel Washington as John Shuttleworth

Sean Penn as Bernie Clifton.

Phillip Seymour Hoffman as The Chuckle Brothers.

[KLG-7B]

Maybe it's like clowns not being allowed to use the same makeup style as other clowns.

[Glebe]

Al Pacino as Little Frank... William H. Macy as John Shuttleworth.

[Tiny Poster]

These hilarious suggestions began and ended with the Woody Bop Muddy tag.

[copyingdogs]

It says on the BBC that the film is also inspired by Captain Beefheart and Daniel Johnston. I wonder what kind of a role they may play in all of this. I'm really excited about this actually, it looks like it could turn out to be a genuinely brilliant thing.

[Jemble Fred]

It says on the BBC that the film is also inspired by Captain Beefheart and Daniel Johnston. I wonder what kind of a role they may play in all of this.

Surely not any specific role – all it means is that it's about outsider musicians. It's a way of underlining that it's not an actual Sidebottom biopic, but a stew of different oddities from the world of fringe music.

[copyingdogs]

Surely not any specific role – all it means is that it's about outsider musicians. It's a way of underlining that it's not an actual Sidebottom biopic, but a stew of different oddities from the world of fringe music.

Yeah, you're probably right. It should make for an interesting film anyway.

[Mark Steels Stockbroker]

Fassbender was in Fish Tank.

[Glebe]

Fassbender was in Fish Tank.

Must've been a big fish tank - arf!

[Captain Crunch]

Does anyone know how they got on with that statue project?  Is it still being unvieled on the 1st April?

[Funky Mango]

I thought Michael Fassbender was a Formula 1 driver.

Oops.

[dfurnell]

Does anyone know how they got on with that statue project?  Is it still being unvieled on the 1st April?

Well who would have thought planning applications to Trafford Borough Council would ever be fit to be linked on a comedy board. But they are. However the Frank Sidebottom Statue Planning Application has been successful. I heard though that there could be some delay to them hitting the 1st April launch date. Really it being on time and turning out exactly as it was all planned wouldn't be very Sidebottomesque would it?