The Disaster Artist
Rating – 3.5/4
*Spoilers*
There are no stupid comments in your pocket for this one. But there'll be plenty of laughs and dramatic moments to get you to say, “Oh hai, this is great movie!” Based on Greg Sestero’s book of the same name, anyone can live the madness and hectic production that the cast and crew of the cult classic The Room experienced. You thought The Island of Dr. Moreau or Apocalypse Now were troubled? Oh boy, you don’t know this story.
The Disaster Artist tells the story of Greg Sestero (Dave Franco) and follows his beginnings from a struggling actor to accidental star, and details his friendship with the mysterious man Tommy Wiseau (James Franco). After moving to Los Angeles and struggling to find work, they decide to make their own movie to prove to the world that they are something. That movie is The Room.
My first praise goes to James Franco’s performance as Tommy Wiseau. He nails his eccentricities perfectly, from a man who displays overconfidence and arrogance, and also someone who is secretly vulnerable and doubts himself. And the film doesn’t sugarcoat his behavior during the production of The Room either. He abuses his cast and crew by forcing them to work long hours in poor conditions. He resents Greg for having greater success in acting. In this performance, James Franco comes off as someone that everyone hates because of his erratic behavior, but then there are moments of pity and you see a man who just wants to make it in the world and this is what he thinks it’ll take. The real Wiseau is a man of mystery, and this film answers nothing…which is a good thing, meaning the rumors will continue to circulate.
But when I watched the film, I realized that this isn’t about Wiseau, but rather about Greg. Tommy Wiseau might have the fan following, but Greg is the character who needs to be studied. In the beginning, he starts off as a nineteen-year-old acting student struggling with confidence until he befriends Tommy. But as they move forward with their careers, it becomes apparent that they have VERY DIFFERENT paths. Greg is a man among millions looking to become the next Marlon Brando or James Dean and he realizes that success comes from being himself. Tommy, on the other hand, thinks he IS Brando and tries to emulate other actors. The lesson is, “Be yourself, don’t copy others because you are you.”
Greg’s story also teaches us that success doesn’t come easy and there are many people out there vying for the same spot and that the entertainment industry can be an ugly and competitive place. Besides Tommy’s behavior, Greg finds it difficult to get an acting job (luckily, the real Greg Sestero had more success), and he has to push himself to get what he wants. Tommy, unfortunately, believes everything will fall into his lap and money and fame will just come to him. It’s a lesson for any aspiring actor or actress that nothing is easy and overnight success doesn’t exist.
In addition, I have read The Disaster Artist book and while not everything played out the way it did in the film, all of it was based on true events and it’s very funny to know that this ACTUALLY happened, no matter how ridiculous or cheesy parts may have been. The only negatives I have about this film is that some things felt a bit rushed and there was little development for the other people involved from the actors who played Denny, Lisa, and Claudette, to the crew like Sandy Schklair and Raphael Smadja. It would’ve been nice to have at least seen some more of what made The Room so notorious. With an ensemble supporting cast that includes Josh Hutcherson, Seth Rogen, Zac Efron, Alison Brie, Ari Graynor, and Jackie Weaver, I felt like their potential was wasted. However, as this is a story between Greg and Tommy, it’s a minor problem that can be overlooked because the actors play their parts so well.
As a filmmaker myself, this film becomes much more relatable and personal. As you may have heard, success isn’t easy and the film business can be an ugly place. But Tommy and Greg ultimately left a mark on the industry that will stand the test of time, even if it wasn’t in the way they intended. The Disaster Artist is funny, heartwarming, cringe-inducing, and an all-around good film about what people do to achieve success. I’d also recommend reading the book as well. And for both versions, you won’t be torn apart.