Film ReviewsThe Disaster Artist: Redefining Failure
Mar 8, 2018 Anchorage Press
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James Franco stars and directs The Disaster Artist, a film about the making of another film, The Room by Tommy Wiseau. Wiseau not only made a cult classic, he is a cult classic. Wiseau is an obscure and eccentric filmmaker and producer with more heart and cash than talent, and yet there is something about the original film that keeps audiences coming back for more. The Room has been playing regularly for over 14 years. The film is about the friendship between Johnny and Mark and the love triangle that forms when Mark and Lisa, Johnny’s fiancée hook up; but forget about the plot and narrative, that’s not what really matters. What matters is Wiseau’s unapologetic vision of what film making is all about. The Disaster Artist redefines the idea of failure in cinema, is a movie a failure because it is poorly done, like The Room, or is a movie a failure because not enough people see it? The fate of the The Disaster Artist is unknown, and although technically it is a better-made movie than The Room, it is quite possible that it will never be as successful as the cult original even if it is a fun movie to watch.
The Disaster Artist is an incredibly entertaining movie, and Franco delivers a rendition of Tommy Wiseau that is award worthy. The film is star-studded, there are actually too many to list, and Franco channels Wiseau’s persona to perfection. The film is a comedy with a bittersweet tinge of melancholy. The Disaster Artist is a successful film in spite of Franco’s tainted reputation. Franco, like many others who have abused their position and leveraged their fame to harass and abuse women, is being held accountable for these abuses. Even if the film has merit, it cannot escape its director’s wake of personal disaster. Franco has been accused by at least five women of sexuality exploitative behavior and even though the actor-director has continued to make the rounds at the various award shows, and he has felt the sting of the accusations. It is difficult to say how the accusations have impacted audience attendance to The Disaster Artist, if at all.
Bear Tooth
The Disaster Artist
R for language throughout and some sexuality/nudity
Sunday 3/11 at 10:30PM
Monday 3/12 at 8:00 PM
The Disaster Artist is an incredibly entertaining movie, and Franco delivers a rendition of Tommy Wiseau that is award worthy. The film is star-studded, there are actually too many to list, and Franco channels Wiseau’s persona to perfection. The film is a comedy with a bittersweet tinge of melancholy. The Disaster Artist is a successful film in spite of Franco’s tainted reputation. Franco, like many others who have abused their position and leveraged their fame to harass and abuse women, is being held accountable for these abuses. Even if the film has merit, it cannot escape its director’s wake of personal disaster. Franco has been accused by at least five women of sexuality exploitative behavior and even though the actor-director has continued to make the rounds at the various award shows, and he has felt the sting of the accusations. It is difficult to say how the accusations have impacted audience attendance to The Disaster Artist, if at all.
Bear Tooth
The Disaster Artist
R for language throughout and some sexuality/nudity
Sunday 3/11 at 10:30PM
Monday 3/12 at 8:00 PM