TheRetroCritic

Few films have captured the hearts and minds of audiences quite as much as Tommy Wiseau's The Room . To some it's the worst movie ever made, to others it's one of the best but the reasons for both points of view are basically the same. With James Franco's The Disaster Artist  (based on Greg Sestero's book) currently in theatres with its slight peek behind the scenes of what is often seen as one of the best worst movies ever made, it's worth going back and revisiting the real deal. Since its modest release back in 2003, The Room has gained a cult following and is currently playing in many cinemas all over the US, the UK and beyond as fans arm themselves with plastic spoons and quote every line enthusiastically, having a good time throughout celebrating the film, making an event of it. While there are some comedic elements to the film, it isn't exactly the black comedy Wiseau has described it as so don't expect an intentional laugh riot. In fact, like

I talk a bit about James Franco's The Disaster Artist .

Loosely based on Greg Sestero's accounts on the making of The Room , The Disaster Artist follows Greg (Dave Franco) as he meets strange yet brave actor Tommy Wiseau (James Franco) before they travel to Los Angeles to pursue their dream of becoming big Hollywood stars. From the trailers, it wasn't clear what this movie would be: a typical comedy celebrating the beautiful awfulness of The Room or a semi-serious biography of Wiseau. James Franco, who also directs the film, attempts both and the first half of the film, which focuses on Greg and Tommy's odd, if surprisingly sweet friendship, is actually pretty effective. James Franco makes a terrific Tommy Wiseau, nailing his unique mannerisms and accent to a tee while keeping the character's mystery intact as we never find out his age, origins or the source of his apparent wealth in a recurring joke. Dave Franco's Greg Sestero is a naive, wide-eyed dreamer who sees Tommy's lack of fear when performing as inspi