Review- The Disaster Artist

I'm not exaggerating when I say that I have been looking forward to the Disaster Artist for longer and more feverishly than any franchise film in recent years. It's the story (based on the book of the same name) behind the making of the greatest bad movie ever made: The Room. Behind this film is one enigmatic writer, producer, director and star known as Tommy Wiseau. No one knows how old he is, where he came from or where he got the six million dollars that he used to fund the film. Regardless, thanks to the recounting of Wiseau's close friend and The Room co-star Greg Sestero, we get a glimpse into the past these two share and what went into the making of a film unlike literally anything else. Knowing what happened behind the scenes due to the book, I was delighted to see most of it appear on screen and intact but for those who have no idea what created this monstrosity (judging by the reactions of those around me) you will be equal parts in fits of laughter and utterly shocked.

When it comes to performances, there is a lot to like in this film. A lot of that comes from the impressiveness of the ensemble cast. Many cameo as themselves including Bryan Cranston and Judd Apatow and they play well into their public persona, making for entertaining moments. As with Spider-Man Homecoming, there's also an embarrassment of riches in American comedic actors. There's Alison Brie, Paul Scheer, Seth Rogen, Jason Mantzoukas and Hannibal Buress just to name the ones you'll recognise. They all add their little flair to the film and it's all the stronger for their presences. Getting to what is probably the lead character role, Dave Franco plays wannabe star Greg Sestero and while I never quite believed him as Sestero, he does fit the character. If you aren't as familiar with the actor as I am (four viewings of The Room will do that), you'll be very satisfied. The true star of the film however is clearly the other Franco, James, as the infamous Tommy Wiseau. Hollywood rarely gives out Oscars for comedic performances but if they don't make an exception for Franco, I will riot. The performance is not only eerily accurate to the real life Wiseau but captures layers that many will have never considered inside the man. As certain moments seem to go for comedy, that hurt look that Franco pulls off so well here brings us into the world of possibly an actual maniac. If you have any idea of who Tommy Wiseau is, you know how impressive that is.

Tonally, if the film was comedy alone or emotional biopic alone, it would work very well but due to a seemingly effortless blending of the two, the film is able to soar. From the very opening minutes of the film, I was in absolute hysterics and that stayed so right up until the end. Obviously, there is a lot of laughing at the odd decisions and mannerisms of Wiseau but it was never excessively cruel and you could feel an element of respect for the man. A lot of that respect slips over into the emotional side of the film where we see a friendship and dream slowly crumble, pushing us to empathise with a man who is completely unknowable. I've been gushing about the film so far so it's only fair I bring up my biggest problem here; flat directing. Not every film has to be glossy and beautiful, mixing style with purpose but Franco is a much better actor than he is a director. I loved the film but artistically, it's fairly unspectacular.

I really did love this film but I wished I could have loved it a little more. The story, humour and charm kept me in, even as the lack of interesting technical elements attempted to drag it down. That said, it's still an amazing time that felt damn near handcrafted for me. For fans of The Room, it's a must see and even for those unfamiliar, it's a strong recommendation. Even with my problems, it's a damn strong film and I can very easily give the film a