Review of The Disaster Artist (2017) by Felix M — 12 Dec 2017

**Slight disclaimer: My "reviews," are really just gut reactions that I can remember and jot down. Forgive the sloppy styling, grammatical errors and general upheaval of my writing. While I do try and write something cohesive and obeying film review etiquette, mostly, I say fuck that. What I love about theater going, is the surge of emotions I experience, especially during a particularly bad or a truly great film. I try (and likely fail) to translate that feeling into my writing but hey, I warned you. You can stop now and I'll never know.

The Disaster Artist.

Watched 12/11/2017.

I fondly remember the day I first discovered the best, worst movie ever made. It was a warm July afternoon in 2010. My best friend and I were house sitting for an old teacher, we watched the trailer for the hundredth time, and I took a chance, a shot in the dark, thinking there has gotta be some way for us to see this. I hesitantly called the local Blockbuster, asking if they had a copy of the legendary flick, knowing full well that if it wasn't Transformers or a retired WWE wrestler in the starring role, it likely wouldn't be on the shelf..but hey why the hell not? I made the call. "Hey, do you guys have a copy of The Room?" The clerk on the phone paused for a brief moment and then with gusto exclaimed "Tommy Wiseau!" My heart swelled, the movie was within grasp, a mere 4 minute drive away. He then deeply exhaled and regrettably told me Blockbuster did not carry a single copy of the elusive, cult classic, yet, the clerk himself had a copy. He told me to meet him at the store after they closed and if I gave him a ride home, he would loan it to me..."what a fucking deal," I thought.

10pm rolled around, my day filled with fantasies of watching it, finally seeing the film I had heard about but never thought I'd actually see. My friend and I ecstatic, left the house to begin the fateful quest. The clerk was outside, smoking a cigarette, "are you Troy," I asked from the rolled down window. He exhaled his drag,"Are you The Room, guys?" The bond was forged and the rest is history.

Little did I know that for the next 7 years, I would watch The Room, 40 or 50 times. I showed it to everyone I could, I regularly drove two hours to the art house theaters to catch a midnight screening, I was obsessed. As the years passed the initial shock died out a bit, I came to learn every joke, botched line, every frame of this movie. The love was there but the passion dimmed a bit.

But just last night, that passion was relit and I have director and star of the film The Disaster Artist, James Franco to thank.

His film, tells the unbelievably bizarre, story of how director Tommy Wiseau, would come to make the most famous, terrible movie of all time. Based on the autobiographical book by actual friend to Wiseau and co-star of The Room, Greg Sestero. Franco, brings this absolutely insane true story to the big screen and it floored me.

That's it for synopsis, loyal reader (all 3 of you) know my style.

What I absolutely love about this film is that it gave me the sensation of experiencing a movie I had watched for nearly a decade, seemingly for the very first time. How rarely that sensation occurs, is beyond me. Like being reintroduced to your oldest friend. It breathed new life and told new stories in a familiar environment but in such an unconventional fashion.

I am not sure I ever laughed so much at any film I've ever seen. I suppose it's because it felt like watching old friends. The suspense and build up to the very first scene had me hooked. Franco is Tommy Wiseau and I loved every single second of it. While you may think I am being incredibly biased (which I am) I have to honestly admit I didn't think this would be very good. It's not that I doubted the skill of Franco and cast, it's just I was worried about the film being exploitative or a form of bullying. Boy, I was dead wrong. While the film doesn't always portray Wiseau as the nice guy, and at times extremely unlikable, it paints an honest picture of determination and drive. If you want to make it in the film industry, if you want your golden opportunity, you have to stand up and seize it.

This movie was my Rocky Balboa. It's message is uplifting and inspirational. By any means necessary, take your talents (whether they are genuine or not) and make your vision come to life. It doesn't matter if you are a long time lover of The Room or have never even heard about it, this film will speak to you in some way.

Dave Franco, Seth Rogen, Ari Graynor, the entire supporting cast make this film seem so genuine. They are all putting their faith into this "director," all of their dreams and aspirations are in his hands and when the film is falling apart, seeing their dreams fall with it, is devastating. It gave me a new perspective of the movie and cast members I've been laughing at for years. These performers all wanted to make it so badly and for years I thought "who wanted to be in this piece of shit?" I mean it's a brilliantly funny, ironically cheesy, stupendous, and unfathomable piece of-, wait I love this movie. For all of its faults it has entertained me for decades, it's because of those faults, it is the film it is today, and people still talk about it like it just came out last weekend.

Franco and crew handled this story with a lot of love and care and dedication and it shows.

Go see this as soon as you can.