The Disaster Artist
Starring: James Franco, Dave Franco, Seth Rogen, Alison Brie
Directed by: James Franco
Rated: R
Ha ha ha, what a story Mark! A real Hollywood movie about an All-American guy? This is no Mickey Mouse production.
What am I talking about? Well, these profound quotes come directly from the film that inspired The Disaster Artist and before I review the movie, it has to be discussed.
The Room is a terrible movie that’s been a cult phenomenon for 15 years. Director, writer, producer, and star Tommy Wiseau has baffled and entertained audiences for years through his confusing dialogue (“Keep your stupid comments in your pocket”,) nonsensical plot, and mysterious past. (No one really knows where Wiseau is from or how he became so wealthy.) Although his film is widely regarded as the "Best Worst Movie Ever Made", Wiseau wanted The Room to be a prestigious drama. So what went wrong? That's where The Disaster Artist comes in to play.
The Disaster Artist is a meta-film showcasing what went on behind-the-scenes while making The Room. The film follows the friendship of the very eccentric Tommy Wiseau (James Franco) and aspiring actor Greg Sestero (Dave Franco) as they move to Los Angeles and attempt to make it into the film industry. Their attempts to become big stars prove unsuccessful eventually leading them to make the cult film.
In some ways The Disaster Artist feels like it exists in a parallel universe to La La Land. Both films hold tightly to the concept of being dreamers against all odds in L.A. And both value the creativity of the artistic process. However, while La La Land was an ode of kaleidoscopic beauty dedicated to those achieving their dreams, The Disaster Artist paints a much more gritty realization: what if our lifelong dream is terrible?
James Franco (who also directed the film) gives a career-best performance as Tommy Wiseau. Franco completely becomes Wiseau adopting his accent, mannerisms, and eccentricities. Instead of mocking Tommy or playing him as a one-note caricature, he gives a deeply layered and funny performance of an enigmatic individual. Franco doesn't give Tommy the sparkling Hollywood treatment though. Wiseau has a dark side and he's not afraid to show it. He can go from kind to unsettling at a moment's notice. The question of Tommy's past only adds to the mystery of his behavior. At the end of the movie, there is a recreation of The Room by the cast of The Disaster Artist.This recreation is paired next to scenes of The Room. It's hilarious and quite impressive to see Franco's spot-on performance.
Dave Franco plays Greg Sestero. He showcases Greg's arrival in LA as an optimistic dreamer that slowly changes to a jaded cynic as he works on The Room. The scenes between Greg and Tommy are particularly interesting. This is a friendship that isn't healthy, but is fascinating. One particular confrontation scene between Greg and Tommy stands out as one of the film's best moments. Tommy is essentially obsessed with Greg. He becomes jealous and irrational with him, but somehow the two actually work well together. Greg is the only one who can really understand Tommy. Their Hollywood dreams keep them linked. It's important to note that this movie would not exist without Greg Sestero and his book The Disaster Artist. If you are interested in The Room or filmmaking in general, I highly recommend reading it. It's a fascinating look at an actor trying to make it in Hollywood ultimately leading to The Room.
Speaking of Greg Sestero's book, the supporting characters played by Seth Rogen, Ari Graynor, Alison Brie, and Paul Sheer could have been explored a bit more. Obviously, the main focus here is the Tommy/Greg dynamic on the set of The Room. However, there are several moments from the book that were omitted in the movie that would have given the audience a bit more information about specific events and the supporting cast.
What is the measure of success in the artistic process? In the filmmaking world, many would say it's critical acclaim. The Disaster Artist challenges that notion. When Tommy Wiseau set out to make The Room he believed he was making a masterpiece. Even though the film didn't turn out that way at all, it was a work of passion and creativity that people have enjoyed for 15 years. That is Tommy Wiseau and Greg Sestero's victory.
Who would have thought that the worst movie ever made could have inspired one of the best movies of 2017? The Disaster Artist is a must-see for anyone interested in the filmmaking process.
My Rating: 9/10