When you hear the term “so bad it’s good”, everyone has their own go to film. Perhaps it’s Plan 9 from Outer Space or Birdemic: Shock and Terror. For many including myself, however, we first and foremost think to The Room—a film so bafflingly, wonderfully bad one may believe it was done so on purpose. Yet it’s not, despite what its director otherwise claims, and perhaps even more mystifying than The Room itself is the man behind its creation. The Disaster Artist, based on the biographical book of the same name, details the odd relationship between Greg Sestero (Dave Franco) and Tommy Wiseau (James Franco) and the events that led to their creation of The Room.
James Franco is perfect as Tommy and portrays the eccentric man down to a T. James captures Tommy’s deranged, egotistical irrationality while also emphasizing what makes him so strangely charming. Everything about Tommy Wiseau should make him a despicable character, yet I can’t help but like and pity the guy. Such compassion allows the audience to relate with nice, sensible Greg and understand why he puts up with Wiseau’s crap. It’s Greg and Tommy’s one-of-a-kind relationship where the story’s heart resides. It’s a nice treat to have the Franco brothers work together in the spotlight and creates an added sense of endearment between Greg and Tommy’s relationship,
James Franco is perfect as Tommy and portrays the eccentric man down to a T. James captures Tommy’s deranged, egotistical irrationality while also emphasizing what makes him so strangely charming. Everything about Tommy Wiseau should make him a despicable character, yet I can’t help but like and pity the guy. Such compassion allows the audience to relate with nice, sensible Greg and understand why he puts up with Wiseau’s crap. It’s Greg and Tommy’s one-of-a-kind relationship where the story’s heart resides. It’s a nice treat to have the Franco brothers work together in the spotlight and creates an added sense of endearment between Greg and Tommy’s relationship,
The Disaster Artist captures the “magic” that occurred during The Room's production, and it is an absolute delight to watch. Whether it’s dealing with comedy or drama, everything that occurs behind the scenes is pure, engaging entertainment. The film has an all-around great cast; from its big supporting roles like Seth Rogen to its minor ones like Charlyne Yi, nearly every character leaves an impression. The comedy, as expected from a film about Tommy Wiseau, practically writes itself. There’s a rich scene where Tommy gives Greg an inspirational speech while clumsily tossing around a football. The scene ends with Tommy awkwardly going to punt the football much to Greg’s confusion; “What..what are we doing?” The film’s climax involves the characters going straight Mystery Science Theater 3000 during The Room’s premiere—picking out its flaws before bursting into laughter over the film’s horrible hilarity. While I’m certain Hollywood liberties were taken for the climax, the finale, nonetheless, makes for a satisfying conclusion that sums up The Room’s impact. It’s worth noting The Disaster Artist is far more effective if you’ve seen The Room and/or know about Tommy Wiseau. Without such knowledge going in, I fear the film may come across as more bizarre than charming and funny. Yet with such previous knowledge, The Disaster Artist is a delightful treat that pays homage to one of the best-worst films and the people who made it.