Review: The Disaster Artist

Tommy Wiseau's The Room has grown over the last 13 years or so to become the modern day Rocky Horror Picture Show. If you have never been to a late night screening of the film with an interactive audience, then you may not fully appreciate the tender care with which James Franco brings the film's origin story to life.

That is because to experience The Room is to see a film that rivals any bad film you have ever seen. This is both on a technical level but especially in the way Wiseau seems to understand human relationships. The only reaction is laughter to the way in which the script drops life changing information only to forget about it in favor of emotional outbursts from Wiseau.

Based on Greg Sestero's book of the same name, The Disaster Artist follows the events that lead up to and the making of The Room. James Franco wrote, directed and stars in the film, playing Tommy Wiseau. Franco's approach is to balance the loving mockery with a sincere portrait of creative drive and passion. Dave Franco plays Greg Sestero who meets Tommy at the beginning of the film in a drama class. Their friendship becomes the main focus of the film. They become fast friends, move out to Hollywood and eventually Tommy writes a screenplay. In a great scene, we see Greg's initial reaction to the nonsensical story. However, Tommy is mysteriously wealthy and is able to give Greg a real chance to be in a "real-Hollywood movie."

The Disaster Artist quickly becomes the funniest film of the year once Tommy begins making The Room. This is when knowledge of the original film may be key as Franco and a band of comedians recreate many of the oddest scenes. These are treasured moments for fans of Wiseau's film. Franco's performance as Tommy is comedic gold. His delivery of every line is spot on and tweaked just enough to maximize the humor. There is a hilarious running joke regarding Tommy's accent and where he is from.

Where The Disaster Artist surprises is in the way its able to retroactively inject so much humanity and inspiration into what is regarded by some as the worst movie ever made. I am not sure I will be able to watch The Room again without feeling a certain affection for Wiseau and Sestero and the film they made. Kudos to Franco for that.

4.5/5