Brief thoughts on The Disaster Artist.

Few movies are as singularly bizarre as The Room, the brainchild of enigmatic filmmaker Tommy Wiseau, that premiered in one LA theater in 2003. Originally conceived to emulate a Tennessee Williams melodrama, those intentions backfired when the film left audiences rolling with unintended laughter. The film soon gained intense cult status, being hailed as the "Citizen Kane of bad movies", and intentional or not, has become a singular masterpiece utterly shattering the line between good art and bad art. The making of this movie sounds like a great movie in its own right, which certainly proves to be the case for The Disaster Artist from director and star James Franco, becoming one of the year's sweetest and funniest movies.

When approaching The Disaster Artist, the greatest hurdle of all is in the portrayal of Wiseau himself. When it comes to tackling The Room or Wiseau, who everyone is well aware is a very distinct and peculiar personality, it's very easy for material like this to become a surface-level parody. Anyone can go "Oh, hai Mark", but it's incredibly difficult to really capture the soul of Wiseau, and what makes him tick as an individual.

And for that kind of commitment, it's hard to think of an actor more qualified to fill Wiseau's shoes than Franco. Disregarding the actual script, it's a choice that makes perfect sense, given that Franco has set lofty and often disparate ambitions for himself, and is so intensely focused and passionate with his work. The pure transformation into the man alone is commendable, Franco's accent and body language perhaps the most seamless and natural emulation of Wiseau's unique mannerisms that I've seen. He's such a larger than life character, utterly unafraid and unashamed to put himself directly in the spotlight to express himself, that the film mines for glorious moments of laughter.

But it's a performance that's better than mere laughs, as what's most important is how they nail the complex humanity and soul that makes Wiseau tick. Particularly for finding the more sinister and mysterious qualities underneath. Despite writing his character Johnny as an all-American hero, Wiseau himself is more often likened to a villain, an image not helped by the fact that he is famously secret abut his origins and personal life, including how he secures a bottomless pit of money to spend as he pleases. Because of this, there's always this unnerving aura surrounding him, especially when coupled with his very meticulous and demanding work ethic, that pushes the boundaries from method to at times cruel and uncaring. Not to mention the continual strain on his friendship with Greg Sestero, as the latter's girlfriend Amber soon causes a rift between the friends in Tommy's eyes, creating a jealousy that begins to parallel The Room in many ways.

But despite it all, what keeps the film afloat is that aforementioned sweetness and soul, and while Wiseau's pushiness is certainly an issue, at least that attitude comes from a place of unbridled passion. It's an artistry and vision that's utterly infectious to witness, and it isn't at all hard to see why someone like Sestero (played by James Franco's real-life brother Dave) would gravitate so closely to him. Casting these two brothers as best friends is a move that pays off, as every line of dialogue and every  moment of intimate interaction feels genuine, and it's thanks to that believable sense of close-knit kinship that the movie succeeds where it needs to.

Fans of The Room will surely get a kick out of Franco's recreation of iconic scenes, brought to life through a meticulous sense of detail, but even for non-fans, this is an ultimately, oddly inspiring film of triumph against all odds. Few can ever claim to be as singularly successful as Wiseau managed to become, making his way to fame on his own terms, and rolling with the punches when it wasn't how he intended. No doubt it's thanks to that spirit that the film has resonated so strongly with audiences since its release, and The Disaster Artist is a terrific showcase for such an inimitable man and legacy. "It's real good, hah..."


****1/2 / *****