Will a disastrous Oscars ruin James Franco's career?

Some wonder if the young actor can recover from his epic Oscar-hosting fail

James Franco at the Oscar-nominee luncheon; Had the actor showed this much enthusiasm during the show perhaps his career wouldn't be in question.
(Image credit: Corbis)

Was he stoned? Or just apathetic? Did he think he was too cool to even be there? Critics and Oscar viewers puzzled over such questions after James Franco's dismal, listless attempt to co-host the Academy Awards (with Anne Hathaway) on Sunday night. Some commentators say Franco "ruined" the Oscars. Will this public disaster derail his career?

This could be the end: Franco had declared he'd do his best at the Oscars, but if that was his best, there's "no way" his career can fully recover, says Annie Lubin at New York Press. He's beginning to seem like one of those people who's "interested in doing a mediocre job at everything." Still, "we've seen more unlikely comebacks after worse falls." He's got five movies set to come out this year — "let's hope at least one of them is decent."

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up