Frank Film Club with Maisie Williams

For two of us, this film was deeply inspiring. For one of us, this film was simply not it. Nyad is a 2023 American biographical sports drama about swimmer Diana Nyad’s attempts to swim from Cuba to Florida, starring Annette Bening and Jodie Foster. In this episode we address the controversy of the athlete’s cheating and conclude that people need to GET A LIFE. We give serious props to the filmmakers who are legends in the world of sports documentary. But despite their credentials, we question some of their filmmaking choices. Is it too cheesy? Letterboxd hate it, Rotten Tomatoes love it. We’re the same - it’s a hung jury. Keep up to date with us on Instagram, TikTok, Letterboxd and YouTube: @frankfilmclubA full transcript of this episode can be found here.

We visited you lovely lot in Everyman Bristol to watch the sweatiest film of recent years- Challengers (2024)- and record a live podcast with you all. We discuss love triangles, obsession, competition, painfully obvious branding in films, CGI tennis balls in your face, the power of Zendaya’s onscreen presence and the thrilling score. We have a group discussion with our gorgeous audience on who is “the bad guy” and if there was actually any love at all in this “love triangle” film?Starring Zendaya, Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist, Challengers is the high-stakes love triangle tennis drama from Luca Guadagnino.Thanks to the Everyman cinema for hosting us.

Never have we done such a 180 whilst recording an episode. Directed by Todd Haynes, we agreed May December is a gripping and technically brilliant film. By the end of the episode, we question whether we should like it so much. The film is inspired by real scandalous events and based off of real victimized people, so does Hollywood really have the right to tell this story? We discuss the DRAMA Todd Haynes brings - the music, those zooms and the sensationalized American-ness of it all. And we get Maisie's perspective on preparing to play real life characters. This episode has been a journey, we hope you enjoy <3May December (2023) stars Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore and Charles Melton.Keep up to date with us on Instagram, TikTok, Letterboxd and YouTube: @frankfilmclubA full transcript of this episode can be found here.

We buckled ourselves down for a film about shattered masculinity (one of Han's favourite genres) and came away wholly impressed, but conflicted. Why didn't it make most of us cry? What was missing? How can one family have so much tragedy? How did we find ourselves scrutinising male actors' bodies? The double standards! Plus, we discuss the lack of awards recognition and whether actually, that kind of makes sense? There are a lot of questions, but one thing that is UNquestionable, is that this is Zac Efron's career best. Written and directed by Sean Durkin. Starring Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson, Lily James and Stanley Simons.Keep up to date with us on Instagram, TikTok, Letterboxd and YouTube: @frankfilmclubA full transcript of this episode can be found here.

On Wednesdays, we wear pink drop episodes.This week we delve into the MGU (the Mean Girls Universe), and discuss the recent Mean Girls musical adaptation alongside the original. Who else knew Tina Fey’s screenplay is based off a single chapter in a self-help book? We discuss the phenomenal impact of the original film and our first-time viewing experiences. For us, we agree it was the first time we saw girls being truly hilarious on screen. But we question the relatability of the film and the fact that it’s aged terribly. (That cafeteria scene?!?) Tune in to find out what we think the musical DID get right.Mean Girls (2024) stars Reneé Rapp as Regina George and Angourie Rice as lady Heron and was directed by Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr.Keep up to date with us on Instagram, TikTok, Letterboxd and YouTube: @frankfilmclubA full transcript of this episode can be found here.

This week on film club we're discussing this beautiful, perfectly executed and unexpected ghost story from Andrew Haigh. Lead actor Andrew Scott is perfection, Paul Mescal is sublime. Yes, the internet frenzy is deserved. From depicting grief and loneliness, to homophobia in the 80s, we pull out the scenes that impacted us most. We analyse what made the screenplay so unpredictable and original. We also need a hug. All Of Us Strangers was written and directed by Andrew Haigh and stars Andrew Scott, Claire Foy, Paul Mescal and Jamie Bell. The screenplay is based on 'Strangers' by Taichi Yamada.A full transcript of this episode can be found here.Keep up to date with us on Instagram, TikTok, Letterboxd and YouTube: @frankfilmclub

For this week's episode we're not going to beat around the bush; we really loved Sofia Coppola's Priscilla (2023) and if you listen you’ll find out why. The film follows the perspective of Elvis’s teen wife, a rare autobiographical film that actually gives the time of day to a woman of that generation. Not only is this film completely non-judgemental, but Coppola somehow has a way of making us relate to a woman we have nothing in common with. Would we have been more satisfied ending with an explosion of emotions? Not all of us agree. From that soundtrack, to that age gap, to the Presley family response... we have a lot to unpack. Join us, and then listen to some Dolly Parton.A full transcript of this episode can be found here. Keep up to date with us on Instagram, TikTok, Letterboxd and YouTube: @frankfilmclub

This week our film was chosen by YOU lovely listeners. We asked for an iconic 90s or 00s film and you really delivered. The cult classic Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a film that genuinely keeps on giving, from the gut-wrenching emotional turmoil, to the visual language that was truly ahead of its time. We discuss the sour backstory of the making of this film; whether pushing actors too far and bad working conditions can ever be justified by the great art it resulted in. We’re divided. We look at the unexpected but extraordinary performances from an eccentric Kate Winslet and a heartbreaking Jim Carrey. Oh, and we ask ourselves, would we ever go through the procedure Clementine does?Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a 2004 American science fiction romantic drama film directed by Michel Gondry based on Charlie Kaufman's screenplay. Starring Kate Winslet, Jim Carrey, Kirsten Dunst, Elijah Wood and Mark Ruffalo.A full transcript of this episode can be found here.Keep up to date with us on Instagram, TikTok, Letterboxd and YouTube: @frankfilmclub

An episode Maisie was dreading… until she actually watched the film. And, well, we couldn't dislike it if we tried. Turns out acting royalty and Harry Potter's production team will always work wonders. This week we discuss everything about the undeniably fun, not too sickly, if a little unmemorable, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory unofficial prequel. We try to imagine other actors in the role of young Wonka, and we look back at our fav Wonka's from the past…A full transcript of this episode can be found here. Keep up to date with us on Instagram, TikTok, Letterboxd and YouTube: @frankfilmclub