The Room Makes a Return in the Disaster Artist
“The Room,” widely regarded as the worst film of all time, has recently been remade, or explored rather, in “The Disaster Artist.”James Franco’s new film, a dramatization of the “The Room’s production tackles the friendship between the director of the original film, Tommy Wiseau, and the actor who plays Mark, Greg Sestero.
A film based on a film and the real events that preceded it, “The Disaster Artist” reveals the story behind the making of “The Room,” a movie directed, produced, and starring Tommy Wiseau. Central to ‘The Room’s” bare-bones plot is Tommy Wiseau (who plays Johnny) and his “future wife,” Lisa. A manipulative and eventually unfriendly character, Lisa starts cheating on Johnny with his best friend Mark. Torn between the stability that Tommy provides as a somewhat mysterious banker and her own longings, Lisa grows to resent Tommy, a struggle that culminates in an explosive ending.
Starring the relationship between Tommy Wiseau and Greg Sestero, James Franco’s movie takes us through the mysterious origins of the original film. With lots of ambition and not much talent to justify it, Tommy, after not being picked up by an acting agency in Los Angeles, decides to make his own film. Greg Sestero, played by Dave Franco, helps Tommy by playing Mark in “The Room.” “The Disaster Artist” follows the foibles of these two actors and pokes fun at the nonsensical writing of the original film with shot-for-shot recreations of “The Room’s” most iconic moments and behind-the-scenes recreations of its production.
I do not think “The Room” is a good film. On the other hand, “The Disaster Artist” is an excellent, empowering movie made even better by watching the film it explores. “The Room” is a movie I don’t recommend watching, but a film I recommend experiencing. Tommy Wiseau’s wild creation is a hilarious ode to the cliches of early 2000s era romantic dramas and is very deserving of its cult status. Tommy Wiseau’s directing almost has more character than he does, and his history is well explained in ”The Disaster Artist.” Each movie enhances the another, and as such I have a hard time not recommending both films.
