Film Review: Funny ‘The Disaster Artist’ Takes Us Back to ‘The Room’

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CHICAGO – “The Room” is a post-millennial cult movie that plays the midnight and college movie circuit, entertaining audiences with its sheer badness. Its story is told in the “The Disaster Artist,” featuring James Franco as the director of “The Room,” and he also directed the film. Very meta.

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 3.5/5.0
Rating: 3.5/5.0

There is a shooting-fish-in-a-barrel quality to the story, because the “movie within the movie” is notably terrible and Tommy Wiseau, the creator and star of “The Room” that Franco portrays, is an easy to parody odd duck. Having said that, the movie is winsome and funny, and the sincerity of the performances go a long way towards making it work. There are amazing recreations of “The Room,” including a side-by-side comparison during the end credits, and the film is done with a passion toward its subject, in both making fun of and celebrating it… basically it’s a buddy picture about being in the picture.

We first meet Tommy Wiseau (James Franco) in an acting class, where his schtick is clearly outside the mainstream. A fellow classmate named Greg Sestero (Dave Franco, co-starring with his brother) is taken with the mysterious Tommy, and connects with him to become a better actor. The acting mates take it a step further… they move from Northern California to Hollywood to pursue their dreams of being in the movies.

Tommy’s past, his age and his source of income is vague, but Greg lives on his dime, even as he pursues a relationship with Amber (Alison Brie). As both acting careers stall in La La Land, Greg suggests that they make their own movie. Tommy responds by writing “The Room,” and foots the bill for the production of his vision. Cut to the hijinks and hilarity of filming a bad movie.

”The Disaster Artist” has a limited release, including Chicago, on December 1st, and will open nationwide December 8th. See local listings for theaters and show times. Featuring James Franco, Dave Franco, Seth Rogen, Zac Efron, Alison Brie, Ari Graynor and Jacki Weaver. Screenplay adapted by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber. Directed by Ruben James Franco. Rated “R”

StarContinue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “The Disaster Artist”

Disaster1
Greg (Dave Franco) and Tommy (James Franco) of ‘The Disaster Artist’
Photo credit: A24

StarContinue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “The Disaster Artist”

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