The Disaster Artist is a hilarious tribute to a terrible movie

This is James Franco at his best

As faux-documentaries about real films go, The Disaster Artist is a goofy, hilarious hit. James Franco's film about the making of Tommy Wiseau's movie The Room — a 2003 cult classic loved for its amusing awfulness — is a frothy, gossipy, deeply loving tribute to the mysterious director (who, like Franco, played the lead in his own film). Based on a book by Wiseau's artistic partner and collaborator, Greg Sestero (played by Franco's brother Dave), the comedy sketches out their bond, the movie's genesis, and the peculiar forms of celebrity Los Angeles makes possible.

The movie starts with Sestero and Wiseau meeting at an acting class; Sestero's timid and fearful presence onstage earns him a strong rebuke from none other than Melanie Griffith (the teacher). Wiseau — who turns out to have unlimited funds, provenance unknown — invites Sestero to go live with him to L.A. so they can become famous together.

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Lili Loofbourow

Lili Loofbourow is the culture critic at TheWeek.com. She's also a special correspondent for the Los Angeles Review of Books and an editor for Beyond Criticism, a Bloomsbury Academic series dedicated to formally experimental criticism. Her writing has appeared in a variety of venues including The Guardian, Salon, The New York Times Magazine, The New Republic, and Slate.