When Tommy Wiseau first started working on his ‘hit indie film’ “The Room”, his co-workers knew that they were part of something special. Okay, special probably isn’t the right word, but Wiseau would end up creating something that would last and endure. “The Room” was so bad that it would ascend to cult status, sparking worldwide appreciation from would-be cynics who can’t help but enjoy how earnest and misguided Wiseau’s attempt at filmmaking was. Now, James Franco is starring in the Hollywood adaptation, “The Disaster Artist”, and beginning to garner critical acclaim as a result. Franco decided to weigh in on “The Room” in order to try and bring fans in who might not otherwise be interested in seeing his adaptation.
While ‘The Room’ is certainly a cult hit, it still hasn’t been seen by everyone. “The Disaster Artist” has an A-List cast and it has gotten plenty of critical and commercial buzz, but there is a concern that viewers might shy away from watching the film due to not having seen the original, “The Room”. Franco wanted to quickly shove aside that thought process when he gave an interview with The Wrap. When probed on if it were necessary to see “The Room” before “The Disaster Artist” Franco shook his head and said, “No, they don’t have to see The Room. This is a movie about friendship, so everyone can understand it.” Franco’s interview was short and sweet and focused on getting people out to the theaters.
For those not quite sure what “The Disaster Artist” is about, they should know it is not simply an adaptation or a ‘making of’ version of “The Room”. Instead, the film is a true story of friendship in the face of adversity and a celebration of those willing to fight for the dreams they wish to make a reality. Franco plays Tommy Wiseau, the mysterious star/actor/writer/director of “The Room”, and he is joined by brother Dave Franco who plays Greg Sestero. Sestero co-starred in “The Room” and he is also one of Wiseau’s closest friends in real life. Greg and Tommy met up in an acting class and immediately became close friends despite the gulf of mystery that Wiseau holds in front of him like a cloak.
Right now “The Disaster Artist” is facing a limited release but critical reception has been so strong that it will soon surely be expanded to a full, national release.
