It appears to hit all the checklist points for an Oscar bait drama – a period piece set in the 1970s and based partially on a true story, it follows the troubled Frankie Murdoch (Berry), a woman suffering from mysterious blackouts and chunks of missing time. After a few disturbing encounters, she’s submitted to the care of Dr Oz (Stellan Skarsgard) who begins to dig into her problem, eventually revealed as multiple personality syndrome (better known these days as dissociative identity disorder), with her regular personality occasionally submerging and the violent, racist Alice taking over. The doc tries to help her take back control of her life, but it’s not an easy task.
Frankie, which was shot in 2008, has been sitting in release limbo for a while now, a sign that doesn’t exactly bode well. Nor does the fact that there are at least seven credited writers on the screenplay. Or that director Geoffrey Sax is better known for his UK TV work than outstanding films (on his cinematic CV to date? Alex Rider: Operation Stormbreaker and White Noise).
Still, the film is winning plaudits, and its producers clearly think it’s in with a shot, since it’ll arrive across the pond for a quick, awards-qualifying run in December before opening properly in February. There’s no word on a UK release date just yet. Watch the trailer below and let me know your thoughts. Could it push Berry to another Oscar? Or will it sink under the weight of mental health drama clichés?
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