Age of The Nerd
The first reactions from ‘The Disaster Artist‘ have arrived. The film about the making one of the worst movies of all time recently got a new trailer, and it looks absolutely amazing. Based on the true story about the making of what some consider to be the worst movie ever made, ‘The Room‘, James Franco Writes, Directs, Produces and Stars as Tommy Wiseau.
Over the past few months, the film has screened a few times, most recently at TIFF ’17. The reactions overall seem to praise the film for successfully telling the story on the making of ‘The Room’. In Addition to James Franco, the stellar cast includes Dave Franco, Alison Brie, Seth Rogen, Judd Apatow, Kristen Bell, Kate Upton, Zac Efron, Lizzy Caplan, Bryan Cranston, Adam Scott, Sharon Stone, Zach Braff, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Hannibal Buress.
At the time of ‘The Room‘s release, the film was critically panned, but earned a cult following in the subsequent years. And frankly, the idea that ‘The Disaster Artist’ is already being considered a frontrunner for best picture is endlessly fascinating to me. While I’m still not entirely sold on Franco’s interpretation of Wiseau, the first reactions from the screenings have me optimistic that I’ll be wrong.
Here are some of the highlights, starting with what THR said about Franco’s Performance:
Franco, who’s absolutely hysterical as the brooding, deluded Wiseau, leads a parade of familiar faces, including his brother Dave, Seth Rogen, Alison Brie, Josh Hutcherson, Melanie Griffith and Sharon Stone, delivering a winning, Ed Wood-esque blend of comedy and pathos that could very well earn its own cult status when Warner Bros. locks in an as-yet-undetermined release date.
Here’s Variety’s take:
Whether or not audiences have previously seen The Room, there’s satisfaction simply in witnessing such actors parody the process that went into making it. And for those who do know the movie, there are no shortage of before-the-fact nods to ingredients that would later filter into the project: as when Wiseau and Sestero play an awkward game of football (as they later would in The Room), or a couple of melodramatic moments staged on the roof of Wiseau’s apartment building (a venue he would inexplicably approximate via lousy greenscreen on a soundstage for the film).
And here’s The AV Club‘s spin, saying that they disliked the film more then others, although this was apparently a “work in progress” cut:
It’s one tribute-act re-enactment after another, a succession of pointless star and comedian cameos and truly godawful wigs, the entire lazy enterprise summed up by the awful, teddy-bear-fur beard that Dave Franco wears through most of the movie. If The Room is an ersatz likeness of a movie, then what does that make an ersatz likeness of The Room?
In addition to all of the written reviews, many attendees took to twitter to express their first reactions after seeing the film. Here are a few:
James Franco’s THE DISASTER ARTIST is the funniest film of the year, but it only works because it has heart. Industry audiences will LOVE it
— Jeff Sneider (@TheInSneider) September 12, 2017
I am deeply in love with #TheDisasterArtist. James Franco is perfect as Tommy. My face hurts from smiling.
— Rebecca Ford (@Beccamford) September 12, 2017
THE DISASTER ARTIST is … great #TIFF17
— Alissa Wilkinson (@alissamarie) September 12, 2017
THE DISASTER ARTIST is the most fun you’ll have at the movies this year. Promise. Go see it w/ a group of friends! #TIFF17 pic.twitter.com/Au0dcCruF0
— Jason Guerrasio (@JasonGuerrasio) September 12, 2017
Have never seen an entire audience stand during a Q&A before. Wiseau was pushing for Johnny Depp to play him… pic.twitter.com/lirUSbwqek
— Jeff Sneider (@TheInSneider) September 12, 2017
James Franco’s THE DISASTER ARTIST is the funniest film of the year, but it only works because it has heart. Industry audiences will LOVE it
— Jeff Sneider (@TheInSneider) September 12, 2017
THE DISASTER ARTIST is a riot. Somehow a movie about the making of a terrible movie is the best movie James Franco has ever directed #TIFF17
— Sam Adams (@SamuelAAdams) September 12, 2017
sweet mother of mercy THE DISASTER ARTIST is a gift. #tiff17
— david ehrlich (@davidehrlich) September 12, 2017
‘The Disaster Artist’ is set to be distributed by A24 and does not have a release date, although it is expected to arrive this winter just in time for awards season. Make sure the check back in as we learn more!
