Set in the near future, Frank a retired cat burglar lives alone out of town and starting to lose his memory. He is visited by his son who is worried that he cannot look after himself anymore and delivers an ultimatum of having a robot butler to help look after him or be put into a home. Grudgingly he takes the former option and an unlikely friendship develops.
Review
At first Frank is against having the robot and resents the new regime of healthy food and moderate exercise forced upon him but as the new routine settles in the robot actively encourages Frank to take on a project to improve his cognitive memory and function. This allows Frank to take advantage of the situation to return back to his cat burglar days by teaching Robot to pick locks or is Robot taking advantage of Frank in improving Frank's health, Robot is allowing Frank to go back to his old ways.
Set in a leafy town in the near future. Frank visits the library weekly and he has an eye for the red head librarian. We see the change in the times through the library by the old books being replaced by a new media experience. Not all the books will be replaced and to win the affection of the librarian, Frank sets in a plan to steal one of these precious books for her with the help of Robot. This only whets Frank's appetite for his old ways.
Soon after Frank is invited to a party with the Librarian and it is here he wants to present the book to her but at this function a rather rich yuppie annoys Frank immensely with his references to him of being old and being of the 'printed' age. This aggravates Frank and to get revenge he sets his goal of stealing the yuppie wife's diamonds with the perfect robbery. Will they get away with it or will the long arm of the law catch up with them.
This is a rather splendid light little comedy drama and shot in an indie film style. Frank Langella gives a pitch perfect performance of a person slowly sinking into Alzheimer's. Giving his character moments of clarity through the moments of clouded memory. A really touching performance. Liv Tyler plays the hippy chick daughter to a tee and is initially anti robots but soon sees their worth. Whilst James Marsden gives a good performance as the loyal son who is frustrated with his father. The use of Peter Sarsgaard voice for Robot gives real life to it and you can see why a friendship would develop.
There are some great light comedic moments in this film too and it is not over sentimental allowing Frank to be dignified throughout the film.
Do they get away with it? Now that would be telling.
8.5/10
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