To Be Frank

In 2019, I reviewed the excellent rockumentary Rise: The Story of Augustines. What made that piece of filmmaking so impressive was the authenticity, which was due, in large part, to the fact it was made by a fellow musician - Todd Howe of The Boxer Rebellion. As a genre, rockumentaries vary in quality and purpose. From the clout-driven features of young stars barely into their careers (Lewis Capaldi, Yungblud, etc.) to the talking-head-laden movies about bygone stars, there’s always an audience, but the execution can often feel egotistic, like a tacked-on extra to sell more records.

To Be Frank, a rockumentary 10 years in the making, comes from a far more wholesome and, indeed, authentic place.

Best known as the drummer from the band Fun Lovin’ Criminals, Frank Benbini has a far-reaching place in musical history. Whether in his other bands like Uncle Frank or Radio Riddler, or working with artist legends like UB40, Frank is always on top form as a charismatic, charming, and effin’ talented musician.

We get his first-hand guidance through his journey, from humble beginnings in working-class Leicester to the dizzying heights of festival headlining and beyond. Made in strong collaboration with the movie’s director, Steve Baker, it becomes clear this has been a passion project and labour of love through tumultuous times, such as COVID, Huey leaving the band, and Frank’s musical idols passing away.

Whilst the film brilliantly captures Frank’s career in a mostly chronological way, its power comes from deftly exposing the hardships of life on the road and living a life dedicated to music. We see the impact this has on Frank’s mental health, his family, and his struggle with anxiety.

The edit for this film looked to be a gigantic task, given the long-spanning curation and the unprecedented interruptions it endured but the result is still sharp, poignant and affecting.

To Be Frank balances the audience’s appetite for insight brilliantly, offering them a non-stop cocktail of in-person footage, sofa interviews, live performances, music videos, and a banging soundtrack that just won’t quit. The appearances of numerous musical legends help elevate the piece beyond just an ego-trip, instead revealing the robust community of artists who often suffer in silence for their art and creativity. Pathos is dropped in brilliantly to balance the odyssey, eschewing a frenetic exposé of rock and roll antics for something far more human and revealing.

A warts-and-all road trip through the highs and lows of the music industry, To Be Frank stands as a powerful example of the dire need for real people in the creative world.