Starring James Franco, Dave Franco, Seth Rogen, Alison brie, Are Graynor, Josh Hutcherso and Jacki Weaver. Written by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber. Based on the book The Disaster Artist by Greg Sestero and Tom Bissell. Budget $10 million. Running time 103 minutes.
The story behind the making of, what is considered to be, one of the worst film ever made The Room.
Set in 1998, the film follows young 19-year actor Greg Sestero (Dave Franco) who one day during acting classes meets the mysterious Johnny Wiseau (James Franco) - a strangely accented and mannered man of indeterminate age and ethnicity and together they set off for Hollywood to find fame and fortune. While Greg has some early luck, Johnny doesn't and after one too many knock backs decides that if Hollywood won't come to him, he'll come to it and sets off to write, direct, produce and star in his own film called The Room, the the help of his friend, Greg. The movie follows the making off the notoriously bad $6 million film, financed exclusively by Wiseau himself as he hires a full crew, buys all his equipment and sets off to make a star of himself, even going as far as to book a cinema to screen the finished film, not only at a preview but also so it becomes eligible for Oscar consideration.
The Room, is a film of staggering ineptitude, which once seen can never be forgotten. Nowadays Wiseau declares it was always his intention to make a comedy, which The Room most certainly is. Although it's highly debatable that it wasn't his first intention, indeed it seems far more believable that Wiseau was making what he thought to be a serious social drama. What he ended up with is a film so bad it transends the word bad and becomes something approaching a work of genius.
In complete contrast, The Disaster Artist is an extremely well made and extremely funny retelling of the story behind The Room. It's well written, well acted and very well directed, indeed every single thing that The Room isn't. Best of all, you don't need to have seen The Room to enjoy this. Likewise, James Franco is extremely generous in his portrayal of Wiseau, he never once makes him a spectacle of mockery and fun. He also avoids cheap gags and shows the frustration and pain of a creative person as he struggles to realise his dreams, regardless how bad that dream might be.
This was a very funny and enjoyable flick whose only downside is that it makes you want to watch The Room again.
8/10
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