The Disaster Artist

James and Dave Franco in The Disaster Artist

James Franco's The Disaster Artist is a fitting and pleasant vehicle for his talents. The story of maudit auteur Tommy Wiseau and the making of his cult film, The Room, The Disaster Artist is a low-key satire that is gentle and affectionate. Franco gets to engage in a full on spoof of the tortured artist while subtly celebrating Wiseau's aspirations. Franco's performance art tendencies get to be indulged here in his over the top portrayal of Wiseau, but his directorial ambitions are more of a modest nature; a pleasant shift after Franco's tortured adaptations of Faulkner and Cormac McCarthy. Franco seems to be more of an actor's director than inspired auteur and when he has talents like his brother Dave, sister in law Alison Brie and Seth Rogan on hand, the end result is a pleasing and slight diversion. (7/11/18)