Robot & Frank

Plot

In the near future, aging ex-convict Frank Weld lives alone with worsening dementia. His son Hunter, an attorney, buys a robot companion programmed for therapeutic care. Frank initially resists but warms up when he learns the robot cannot distinguish legal from criminal activities, and they commit a heist to steal an antique copy of Don Quixote from the local library, which is being renovated into a community center. Frank's daughter Madison returns from Turkmenistan and objects to the robot, but Frank keeps it.

They commit another heist, stealing jewels from Jake, the developer behind the library renovation. Police investigate Frank, who feigns illness to bring Hunter back. To cover his tracks, Frank must decide whether to wipe the robot's memory as his own deteriorates. At the library, Frank discovers Jennifer, the librarian, is his ex-wife.

The robot convinces Frank to wipe its memory, arguing it exists only to help him avoid jail. Frank moves into a care facility. During a family visit, he slips Hunter a note suggesting the jewels are hidden under the tomato plants in the robot's garden.

Production

Robot & Frank was the first feature film for both Ford and Schreier, friends and classmates at the New York University Tisch School of the Arts. After graduation, Schreier directed music videos and commercials. Around 2008, they began discussing a feature project, choosing Ford's senior thesis screenplay, which Schreier had helped produce. Ford had conceptualized the story in 2002.

The filmmakers wanted to explore technology's impact on daily life without a moral undercurrent, as Schreier said technology is not bad or good but changes how people relate. The futuristic devices were designed by Justin Ouellette of Tumblr. The robot was created by Alterian, Inc., known for Daft Punk's costume design, and designed to emulate Japanese caretaker robots, with a human actor inside. The film was shot in 20 days on a 2.5 million dollar budget in upstate New York, using the Rye Free Reading Room as the library.

Heat caused the actor inside the robot suit, Rachael Ma, to be replaced by Dana Morgan for two days. Ma initially provided Langella with the robot's lines, but this became impossible, so Langella's nephew, a production assistant, took over.

Reception

Robot & Frank received mostly positive reviews. Rotten Tomatoes reports an 87% score from 137 critics, with the consensus praising Langella's performance and the film as a smart meditation on aging. Metacritic gives a 67% score from 33 critics, indicating generally favorable reviews. The film was praised for its portrayal of care robots and taboo topics related to care.

Aino-Kaisa Koistinen discussed how the plot makes visible the powerlessness of old men in deciding their own care. Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times called it charming, playful, and sly, naming it one of 2012's best films. Peter Travers of Rolling Stone praised its deceptive simplicity and Langella's performance as a master class in acting. Noel Murray of The A.V. Club, while critical of its focus on story over challenging audiences, recommended it as sturdily crafted and well-acted. The film won the Alfred P. Sloan Prize at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, tying with Valley of Saints.