Reviews for James Franco's The Disaster Artist are in and they're overwhelmingly positive. Based on the best-selling book by Greg Sestero, the movie explores the making of Tommy Wiseau’s cult-classic disaster piece, The Room.
In just a few days, the film has already garnered a 94 percent positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes. James Franco's performance, in particular, was praised, with critics calling it "his most iconic role."
That said, not everyone was convinced with Franco's telling of Wiseau’s story. The Observer, the Telegraph, and The New Yorker accused the film of being "sniggering" and not delving into the story with enough depth.
Browse a selection of critics reviews, and in case you missed it, the trailer for the film below.
It's the perfect film about failure
John Nugent , Empire MagazineSincere and sporadically funny, The Disaster Artist is an endearing tribute to failing in Hollywood.
Taylor Antrim, VogueThe Disaster Artist, which Franco directed and stars in, has to be one of the best and sweetest and funniest films about failure I've ever seen.
Bilge Ebiri, Village VoiceA sense of gnawing inadequacy is a universal feeling, and The Disaster Artist certainly mines the notion that there's a little bit of the outsider in everybody - which is exactly the kind of magnanimity you'd expect.
James Franco is great as Tommy Wiseau
Dana Stevens, SlateEven more impressively, Franco makes Wiseau, maybe the most unpleasant character he's ever played, someone you genuinely root for in his demented quest for greatness.
Michael Rechtshaffen, The Hollywood ReporterFranco, who’s absolutely hysterical as the brooding, deluded Wiseau, leads a parade of familiar faces [...] delivering a winning, Ed Wood-esque blend of comedy and pathos that could very well earn its own cult status
Brian Truitt, USA TodayDirector James Franco's enjoyable ode to the creative process - any creative process, really. It's also one of Franco's strongest roles as an actor, capturing every little quirk and quality of a definite eccentric.
Peter Travers, Rolling StoneFranco hits a new career peak by making sure his film is as heartfelt as it is hilarious.
David Edelstein, VultureThe Disaster Artist is primarily a pedestal for the ultimate James Franco performance — it’s his Lincoln.
Peter Debruge, VarietyJust as Johnny Depp gave his career-best performance as Z-movie auteur Ed Wood, Franco achieves what could become his most iconic role.
Overall it's a great watch
David Sims, The AtlanticFans of The Room will find much to love here, but even if you've never heard of it, The Disaster Artist should delight.
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington PostThis sweet, affectionate (and unapologetically slight) comedy is an all-too-rare homage to harmless, hilarious incompetence, at a time when there is plenty of the more hurtful kind to go around.
Manohla Dargis, New York TimesMr. Franco recreates the production of "The Room" - and the escalating behind-the-scenes nuttiness - with an assured, energetic touch ...
It's mean-spirited and doesn't go deep enough
Tim Robey, Daily Telegraph (UK)It's The Room with a view from people with talent, sniggering with a veneer of generosity to save face.
Richard Brody, New YorkerThe comedy, for all its scenes of giddy wonder, never gets past Tommy's mask of mystery; avoiding speculation and investigation, it stays on the surface of his public and private shtick, leaving little more than a trail of amusing anecdotes.
Mark Kermode, Observer (UK)James Franco hits all the right wrong notes in this hugely entertaining, true-life tale of Tommy Wiseau's 2003 "disasterpiece" film The Room.
Justin Chang, Los Angeles TimesSpelling out a joke may be the quickest way to kill it, but the obvious, expository nature of the mockery in "The Disaster Artist" doesn't make it any less funny or illuminating.
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