I haven’t been paying much attention to James Franco lately. Once I figured out that he desperately wanted people to pay attention to his every “art” project, no matter how prosaic or ridiculous, I just sort of gave up on him. What kills me is that he actually is a talented actor and I wish he would just channel all of his “art” into acting, but oh well. Too late now. #ForeverTainted. Anyway, Franco is still trying to make this whole “professional art critic” thing happen, so he sat down and wrote a review for Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave. It’s not that Franco isn’t allowed to have an opinion about movies, but this “review” is one of the craziest, stupidest, most asinine things I’ve ever read. You can read the whole thing here (there’s NSFW language, but that’s it). I’m going to break down some stuff below:
*Franco writes: “The book and the movie detail many of slavery’s horrors, as experienced by Northup; he just set them down as they happened to him, almost like a catalog in the spirit of De Sade: a catalog of horrors. Is this captivation by the horrible why the 19th-century book and the contemporary film are so attractive? … Yes, they are both beautifully rendered: the book in its great presentation of time and place, a true glimpse into the past, even if it is an ugly one; the film is shot beautifully in Louisiana (look for the house that also appears in Homefront starring Jason Statham).” James Franco is also in Homefront. He plays the bad guy/meth dealer. He’s giving a shout-out to his dumb Jason Statham shoot’em up film while reviewing 12 Years a Slave.
*Franco writes: “But damn, the thing about the film Twelve Years a Slave is that it is so beautiful. It was shot in Louisiana at the same time as This is the End and Django Unchained. All three productions were camped out in New Orleans, and every weekend Jaime Foxx would DJ a party so everyone could unwind from the hard shoots. Not that the This is the End gang needed to unwind like the others—they were having fun all the time, but they probably still went out…” OMG, he’s giving another shout-out to another one of his films. JESUS.
*Franco writes: “[Fassbender] has been in every McQueen film to date—did McQueen’s parents like the actor Steve McQueen? Just wondering…” Really, Franco?
*Franco misspells “The Counselor”. Seriously. Spell-check is not ART.
*Franco mischaracterizes the relationship between Fassbender’s character, Epps, and his slave Patsey as an “affair”. It’s not an affair. It’s rape. I’m surprised that The Artist Known As Franco didn’t whip out a “droit du seigneur” reference. It’s NOT an affair. It’s rape, Franco.
*And then half-way through the “review” James Franco goes off on McQueen and Fassbender’s last collaboration, Shame:
“[Fassbender] wasn’t such an addict in my opinion, though. I mean, what did he do? Watch p0rn and screw a handful of people a week? I could point to quite a few folks who do that. And that scene where he’s at his lowest point and wants to f–k and goes into a gay club, and it’s depicted like the seventh level of hell… I mean, it goes back to the horrible representations of gays in the 70s, where the gay club is meant to signify everything dark and depraved. Then the guy gets a minor blowjob, from, Oh no, a man! The horror!”
Oh, Franco… this makes me wonder if you actually understood Shame? And since when is any beej “minor”? Especially when a straight man is getting one from a gay man? Or is this how Franco justifies other stuff? I don’t know. But I do feel strongly that Franco just sexually harassed Michael Fassbender’s penis again.
Anyway, Franco did like 12 Years a Slave, if you care about his opinion. He has something of a bro-crush on Fassbender, I think.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
*jaw drop*
He actually lost me when he compared slavery to the sexual sadism of de Sade.
Franco is the male Kristen Stewart…
I don’t see it.
Franco may be insufferable as insufferable can be, but at least he can act.
I actually think that’s a little mean to Stewart.
Kristen Stewart isn’t a vindictive asshat when she doesn’t get the roles she wants. Mr. Franco seems as though he IS a vindictive asshat.
@T.fanty Thanks for the laugh!
So funny that he writes about all these really great films instead of actually being a part of it – and I don’t mean Homefront or This Is The End. Haha!
I wanted to write exactly the same thing! He’s such a pretentious idiot!
He lost me over and over and over.
This is the most jawdroppingly stupid review I have ever read.
Yep. He’s not a very good writer.
sure is, as my great grandmother would say “bless his lil heart”, then shake her head
I find Franco unbearably pretentious, and the thinly veiled refs to films he’s recently been in are pretty pathetic. Funnily enough, I thought his description (analysis?) of the gay club scene in “Shame” was quite close to the mark, in his recognition that it was supposed to represent the lowest sort of “depravity” but used out-dated tropes. {But then again, how do I know whether it was realistic or not?}
“Funnily enough, I thought his description (analysis?) of the gay club scene in “Shame” was quite close to the mark, in his recognition that it was supposed to represent the lowest sort of “depravity” but used out-dated tropes. “
I thought that was an interesting observation, too. Unfortunately, the rest of his review is a mess.
I always thought that scene where Brandon goes to get a blow job from a guy in a gay club, was very well done. I don’t think that it was meant to imply that gay sex=bad, but for Brandon, it was his lowest point. Because throughout the film, we never saw any indication that he was gay or bisexual. He was always with women. But now he’s down, and he needs his fix. Wherever he can get it. And getting a blowjob in a gay club IS getting that fix. And if I remember right (it’s been a few years since I saw this film), he immediately had a threesome with a blonde and an asian woman.
But that’s how I saw it.
I thought the whole review came off as completely self serving–for Franco. Why on earth would he mention TWO of his films, if he wasn’t trying to shill for them? Idiot.
I think this is a very interesting discussion where I can see both sides. I think while you can argue that it migh make sense for the film and this character to have a bj by a man being the lowpoint (I haven’t seen the movie, so I only go from the description) at the same time, if you don’t see the movie in isolation but in the context of the general discourse about homosexuality it is a bit problematic. Basically, if homophobia didn’t exist this wouldn’t be a problem at all but because it does it is kind of problematic while at the same time it also makes sense for this specific film?
I saw Shame as a whole and didn’t only focus on the Brandon character, Sissy is part of the addiction lot as well, in fact they are complementary. Both has severe intimacy/attachment issues in their own ways, Brandon compulsively seeks out sex with strangers, when he tries the whole intimacy stuff with Marianne well it’s an epic fail. Sissy deals with it in the complete opposite way by attaching herself strongly to a guy, regardless of how they met or how long they’ve know each other, example with Brandon’s married boss. When Sissy feels abandoned, she harms herself, when Brandon feels empty he seeks for sexual encounter, and the cycle goes on. Sissy and Brandon struggle to deal with the scars of their past (which is not specified but I guess opened to interpretations with the message Sissy left on Brandon’s phone) in their own ways. Brandon crying when Sissy sings shows that he cares for his sister, the talent and beauty she has, but at the same time he realizes how messed up both are, due to that obscure past.
Indeed. I can’ts stand James Franco but that part about Shame was spot-on (haven’t yet seen 12 years a slave). I honestly don’t understand what the big fuss was about Shame, if it wasn’t for the fact that OMG! an actor went full-frontal (notice that Carey Mulligan went full-frontal as well and I don’t remember anybody talking about it or saying it was brave), the movie wouldn’t have made such an “impact” in the media. I agree with Franco (can’t believe I’m writing this) that Shame was actually quite prudish when it came to sex, judging Fassbender’s character from the get go for what really? watching porn and having sex with a lot of people.
The problem was that it was all he did in his personal life, and also it was interfering with his actual life. If he was soooo sexual, and he was enjoying it, fine, lethim be. The problem was that his addiction caused him problems in his job, his personal relationships, his person. Growth, his family, etc. He was not a happy person.
If I smoked or drank and it caused me problems, I have to treat ot as an addiction to get over it. The minor or major quantity or quality will affect my health, but the issue is still there.
^THIS. Exactly what Virg said.
The people who view that scene as being indicative of homosexuality as the “lowest low” are really missing the mark IMO. The scene was meant to illustrate that Brandon was a sex addict who constantly needed to get his next fix and his next thrill, to the point where sex was not actually about connecting with someone he loved or was attracted to, but simply about satiating a primal urge.
Also, for the record, anyone familiar with McQueen’s work (see “Bear”) knows that sexuality plays a very prominent role in most of his films.
After people saw Bear, many actually assumed McQueen (who plays protagonist in the short) was gay.
Its pretty sad that Franco who fancies himself an member of the academia couldn’t get this. His review is very elementary almost as if its written by a teenager. MQueen who has real art degrees (courtesy of talent and actual work as opposed to star struck college admins) and prestigious art prizes must be laughing at Franco.
Yeah I completely agree. For someone who fancies himself an intellectual, he has very poor writing skills.
…and I don’t hate Franco as much as most people around here, but this review was really terrible to the point of being almost unreadable.
I agree, OTK, they’re missing the mark.
I liked what James Franco said about gay clubs and about the media depicting them as damned infernos.
Sounds like a good time to me! (Not sure if I’m being facetious or dead honest.)
The associations are troublesome, but I don’t think that’s what the film was trying to get at. Brandon started the movie doing things he enjoyed with people he found attractive in an unhealthy way. There were sex workers, but there were also women he flirted with and spoke to, even if for short periods of time. After trying and failing to establish a more lasting human connection, he retreats even further into his separation of sex and intimacy – which involved the gay club, but also more sex workers.
I actually thought that his low point, in an odd way, was when he briefly thought about trying to eyeflirt with the woman on the train and then stopped himself, because it seemed like a sign that he’d permanently given up trying to seek human connection.
This review was so confusing, I don’t even get what Franco is writing about half the time.
I read that piece 4 days ago. It was his attempt at showing his skills in sarcasm. Granted, not funny but an attempt, in which he failed quite flat.
That said, he seriously needs an editor. His so called PhD he “earned” speak for itself.
Zing!!
Sounds like it was written by a not-too-smart 15-yr-old.
Currently James is only enrolled in a PhD program, Wiki doesn’t yet show him with the degree being completed. Hopefully the program will see his writing has a LONG way to go before being doctoral material.
God, he looks like a used cigarette filter.
LMAO! He looks sick in that first photo.
Haaaaaaaahahaahaaa!
Lmao, I choked on my smoothie
@ mk: I wish I could thumbs this up!
HA!
I tried to read his review, I really did but the brain cells in my body rejected it.
I can’t help giggling every time there’s a reference to Fassdong harassment. Teehee.
SHUT UP. *drop mic
Reminds me of the old saying about better to be silent and thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.
I used to like him, was a fangirl really. This was before he published that awful banal book of his. He is a terrible writer and this review just proves it further. Still think he is a good actor but he cannot write and looks like a fool in his attempts to come of as an intellectual.
I never was a fangirl, but at the beginning (around the time when he was in Spiderman and a little after) I thought, he sounded interesting, handsome, a good actor and an interest in art and culture sounded pretty good to me. But then I realized what a pretentious twat he is.
Yee gads, thank you for saying this! How he landed a publisher like Graywolf is beyond me. His work is beyond dreadful.
So half of the content of his review is talking about his own movies, and actors hanging out in New Orleans. Genius. So glad he took the time to gather his thoughts and gift them unto the world.
he looks like an unwashed ass in these photos.
He is such a f*cking idiot. I read the entire review–towards the end he starts veering off like a Fassy fangirl, and talks about the whipping scene, saying that basically Steve McQueen put it in there (since the scene was apparently not about Solomon, but more about Epps, his wife, and Patsy–why that even matters…??)
because ” If this is, in fact, a movie about Epps the slave owner as much as Northup the slave, what does that mean for the audience? We get to watch an incredible actor behave like a monster and we like it, we love it, because he is so charming, and handsome. We like watching humans get beaten, and if such beatings are framed in the right way, in this case, in an important film about American history, then we will lap up all that brutality and want more. I know I did. I watched it two nights in a row. I love this film. I’m beguiled by it.”
WHAT?
I just can’t believe he’s over 30 and he wrote this review. This sounds like some crap that my 14 year old sister would write. Why is he so obsessed with sounding hip and cool? Hasn’t he been to college–is THIS what passes as good writing? Because my college writing teacher would’ve ripped this to shreds.
And I finally saw 12YAS, and my God. I don’t know when I can watch it again–especially Michael’s scenes. Chiwetel was amazing–I loved how it almost seemed like he was deteriorating at the end, especially after Patsy gets whipped. He almost lost it. But Michael–good God. He was so skeevy. By his second scene (first one w/Patsy), I would just wince because he was so gross. Ugh, I felt so bad for Patsy. To know that this was a real woman, who had to endure all that pain, at both ends is just horrifying. Lupita was great. The only thing I was worried about in the film was Brad Pitt. Because everyone else in the film has a different accent, while he just sounds like Brad Pitt. But it wasn’t as bad in the film, as it was in the trailer. I thought I’d be more distracted, but I wasn’t.
Virg, I agree with you EXCEPT when you insult teenage writers. Both my teenagers (especially my 15 year old daughter) write WAY better than this. His writing would be better if he wouldn’t try to cover a million topics in one shot (dude pick a thesis and stick with it). God, not only is he all over the place but doesn’t develop his thoughts well.
*digs around for red pencil/pen to honestly critique his writing. Cuz DAYUM he needs it*
Unfortunately, James does not demonstrate the writing skills that his MFA degree or his PhD program should have honed/be honing very well. Although I do believe his MFA was in poetry but still…. It makes poets look incompetent and stupid.
Note to self: Find out what university awarded his MFA degree and which university accepted him into their PhD program and promptly avoid both institutions of higher learning like the plague.
ETA: His MFA *is* in poetry (from the low-res program at Warren Wilson) and according to Wiki, he is in a PhD program but has not yet earned the degree. I have duly noted both institutions names and will NOT consider them in any fashion to continue my education. Also, UCLA allowed him to take over 5x (62 vs the normal 16 credit hours per semester) the normal credit load while he was still acting. Really calls into question their ethics as well.
Conculsion: Not well educated (but we kinda figured that out on our own but now we have some proof).
To be fair, I was talking about my little sister (who’s 14) who doesn’t like to read or write.
I remember a few years back there were several pics that were taken during his classes showing him dead asleep. I’ve witnessed professors dismissing students for this kind of behavior, or counting it as an absence which would drop their grade. I also recall my professors being incredibly lenient with athletes, and I think it’s not much of a secret that universities make many exceptions for “exceptional” students (due to athletics or money) . I doubt very highly Franco had to go through the same application process I had to for graduate school or for a PhD program (and many PhD programs are very competitive with few seats…i cant believe Franco would be so Talented to earn one of those spots over his peers) When he brags about this “education” he has, I can’t help but think he bought his way in. No school is going to turn away a large chunk of money in exchange for letting a high profile celeb phone it in.
Virg, I’ll bet you your lil sister STILL can write a better review than this. Or at least have the sense to have someone proof it before it’s PUBLISHED.
Amazing how someone manages to be so pretentious while producing such sub par – average writing and art.
I’ve found that pretension tends to accompany a lack of talent (pretense, after all, is about faking something that isn’t there). The most talented people I’ve encountered were actually some of the humblest, at least when it came to their art or intelligence -their accomplishments spoke for themselves!
This. If you have to explain to someone that your work is genius…..
Fair enough point. Maybe pompous would have been a better choice. I’ve known plenty of people who like to talk art and philosophy etc. and could come off as kind of up themselves, but at the end of the day they could back it up with very good writing and interesting ideas. Franco just seems like he’s SO enamored of his own (not very good) work.
What Faye said. +1,000,000
@Simmie – Pompous is an excellent description of him! And yes, he seems very much in love with himself and all of his work. I guess someone has to be :).
Excellent remark, Faye! It seems like there IS some kind of mathematical expression for the pretension to talent ratio going on with the grandiloquent Mr. James Franco.
Pretension:Talent?
@Sloane Wyatt – inverse ratio
Faye – Thank you!
I don’t exactly know what he is trying to say but I do know I NEVER listen to critics when it comes to films. I make up my own mind and read reviews only after I’ve seen a movie. I can’t tell you how many times I want to write a critic and tell them why I think they were wrong or right, but of course I never do! So yes, this just enforces what I already think about critics and films.
I do read reviews and then promptly form my own opinion.
However, I do prefer reviews THAT MAKE SENSE. Call me crazy but that’s just a small area that I am a tad fussy about.
(Since I usually disagree with reviews that isn’t usually a point of contention as I expect it).
I didn’t understand this non sequitur ” There was also a night when the whites were told by local bar owners not to go out because it was the night of the Bayou Classic football game, when Gramble played Southern and the French Quarter was filled with African Americans”. What was the point he was trying to make or was it just more word vomit?
There were so many tangents/non-sequiturs — how did you sort out only the one? :-/
Too true. Grammar is the splendid writer’s friend.
Very true. It’s just that his other tangents were so blatantly self-serving while that one just seemed to come from out of nowhere. Did ANYONE proof read that “review” before it was posted?
WOW! This idiot has a degree ? His writing is so infantile. Why do these publications keep giving him a voice?
Franco is an OK actor but he needs to shut his mouth & stick to his day job. I haven’t seen the movie but if I wanted an opinion about it before going to see it, I’ll be more confused because I dont understand half of what he’s saying. I cant believe a grown man wrote this, my 5 year old cousin can do a better job.
Perhaps he’s just advertising himself. “Fassy, a blowjob from a man? Not a problem, come any time” ;P
Franco was on Charlie Rose the other night (what the f***, Charles?) talking about… why, ART, of course! I could only get through the preview. He is so far up his own a**, it’s not even possible.
FRANCO WAS ON CHARLIE F878ING ROSE?! WTF? I bet Charlie was trying to conceal his laughter.
I’m so angry right now. I always hated this douchebag, but now I feel disgusted at myself for ever watching his movies. Gross. Pathetic. Disgusting. I can’t understand how anyone can watch 12 Years a Slave, and see that scene between Epps and Patsey and think that it is anything but rape. It’s one of the most horrendous, most painful scenes I’ve ever seen in my life. And Michael Fassbender’s character in Shame is not an addict?! Either Franco understood nothing of the movie or he and these friends of his are ill and need to seek some help pronto. Or both.
I’m pretty angry too, especially since I saw Epps as a pedophile. I have no idea how old Patsey was, but I got the feeling that the rapes started when she was really young, given that in her free time, she made dolls and played with them. And the scene when the slave men came back and Epps was carrying around the young slave girl, and Patsey was in worse condition than usual, oh yeah, I thought that Epps’s wife was behind, but more so with Epps, if he was grappling with what he wanted to do with that little girl and took it out on Patsey, because, of course, everything he did or wanted to do was because of Patsey.
So in other words, have a seat Franco, and to all of the critics who characterized Patsey as Epps’ mistress. I know that rape victim doesn’t roll off the tongue, but that was what she was, like those women who were held captive by that Ariel Castro piece of $h*t, or Elizabeth Smart and Jaycee Dugard.
She’s 23. And that scene where he was carrying around the little girl creeped me out too. Actually every time I saw Michael onscreen I cringed. His charactor was so skeevy and gross. I just spent the last half of the movie feeling so bad for Patsy. She was a real woman. Who had to endure the rape and otherwise obsession with her. Like when he can’t find her on that Sunday–he shakes everyone down on that plantation, screaming in their faces.
Michael was fantastic, but God.
I hear you, Kiki. Though I can’t bring myself to watch ’12 Years a Slave’ because of the violence, my gut reaction when I saw this story’s headline was “Are you kidding me? James Franco is mansplaining rape and sex addiction to me?”
pwal, that is some blunt real talk. Thank you.
Franco’s a reasonably smart guy. Unfortunately, his own estimation of his intelligence is a lot higher than “reasonably smart.”
I think it’s interesting that James Franco is so quick to point out homophobia but glosses over the brutality and violence of slavery (which are borne of racism) that this film depicts and likens them to fetish culture. This is so OFFENSIVE on so many levels that my brain has shut down. I CAN’T with this guy. And I love the fact that he has the balls to publicly state that he earned all of his degrees on his own merit whereas if he were an unknown writing in that manner he would have received Cs during his undergrad and would not have gotten into any sort of post-graduate program.
Cs?! That seems generous, how about F’s?! Idk where you went to school but one botched test or one crap paper was enough to get you a fat D in many of my undergrad classes. I think it’s disgusting that anyone allowed this man to pass a class. His writing is sophomoric at best.
Renee, Franco got a professor fired for giving him a ‘D’! – http://www.eonline.com/news/343612/james-franco-sued-by-ex-nyu-professor-compared-to-clint-eastwood-s-chair
the movie was awful. lead character was nothing more than a plot device, and it was social commentary written with a crayon. no character development of Solomon, couldnt tell if his humanity remained in tact or was broken by the end, nothing physically changed after being a slave for 12 years except for a little grey hair, but he had all his teeth, same weight, soft hands. Fassbender was the only good thing about that movie besides the sound track and the sound mixing.
The whole time I was reading the review, my face looked like Chiwetel’s does in the stupid doctored header photo. BTW Franco doesn’t even mention his name once in the ‘review.’ Shut up, Franco.
“Franco writes: “[Fassbender] has been in every McQueen film to date—did McQueen’s parents like the actor Steve McQueen? Just wondering…” ”
Franco, don’t be jealous! I no longer have the Fassyfever, let it go! hahahaha
It sounds like Franco is jealous of the fassy. I don’t blame him for being jealous of the fassdong. He is a better actor than him and he probably takes all the good roles he wanted and he’s better looking than him and gets all the chicks.
You know, this fool used to be my shame-shag, but I don’t even think I want him for that anymore. What an insufferable ass.
Has anyone seen this yet? I think I might be seeing this today, and I’m kind of really excited.
I have not and really really really want to see this.
I saw it–it was amazing. Everyone was good in the movie. The only quibble I have is that Brad’s in the film–even though I know that he had to be, to get the film made. It’s not that I don’t think he can act–but he sounds like Brad Pitt, in a film where almost every main/supporting character had a different accent i.e. Chiwetel’s British, Lupita’s Kenyan, Michael’s Irish/German–their accent work was so amazing, and then you got Brad who sounds like freaking Brad Pitt. That doesn’t work. But in the context of the film, it wasn’t quite as distracting as it was in the trailer.
But I don’t know when I’ll be able to sit down and watch this movie again (at least not the whipping scene w/Patsy)—I’m someone who is able to watch Schindler’s List with no problems whatsoever, didn’t cringe or look away, but I could barely watch what happened to Patsy. Lupita was so great–I was shaking. I really felt her character.
I JUST saw it, and I need to talk about it.Michael Fassbender was fucking phenomenal. ACTING, MAN. *ACTING*. As sick as his character was, there were moments that really made me remember and further take into account his comment in that interview about him being in a sick and twisted love with Patsey. It was more in the more subtle mannerisms and things he said such as in that first *cringe* scene with the two and just before he beat her towards the end. Speaking of which,I actually flinched and had to cover my eyes during that scene which I wasn’t really expecting.
As for Pitt, I’ve always been kind of impartial to him(and I’m still bitter about WWZ). He was an okay character though it seemed more like Pitt portraying a variation of himself and voicing his own thoughts on how slavery was bad instead of an actual character. I don’t know…he wasn’t a big role in this movie, which is why I don’t get why I’ve been hearing Oscar buzz about him instead of Chiwetel or Fassbender.
The girl from Pariah was in this, and I was kind of disappointed with her acting because she did so good in that movie. I also liked seeing Solomon interacting with the other two slaves–the cynical Doomsday prophet sorta one and the other one who was really interested in seeing his master, going to him like a faithful dog. I felt like both were true to life.(As for Afre Woodard’s character marrying her master–were they allowed to do that back then? I guess so, if it’s in the book…) And I thought the way they showed the whippings and brutality as a common fact of life back then was a nice touch. In most slave movies I think, you seem them flinch at the whippings or make a big deal out of them looking on in terror, but in this movie, it was just a part of their life–an uncomfortable and horrible life, but life.
Oh gosh, that’s all I can get out after a first-time viewing for now.
Oh, and on a shallow note Benedict Cumberbatch was damn fine in this movie–I also need more of that Southern accent.
Could we just get Tobey Maguire’s daughter in here to side-eye James Franco? If so, that will stand for my editorial.
Good idea!
Seconded.
We can have little Ruby Maguire side eyeing him from the left and Zahara Jolie-Pitt side eyeing him from the right. He needs it from both sides.
I’m not even surprised. His star is waning so he has to resort to reviews that actually mean nothing in the big scheme of things. Oh to be an aging Hollywood actor with only two years left on his career.
I eagerly await it. He’s not THAT talented–and the douchiness is overpowering what talent he does have (ACTING not all this writer crap that he’s trying to force on us). People don’t like super arrogant people–especially when that person’s not even remotely as talented as they think they are.
Yes, his star IS waning. Just like his hair.
I’m feeling the schadenfreude today.
LOL at both comments!
My favorite thing Franco has done was try to throw shade at the Spiderman reboot. Wittle baby was upset they didn’t want him anywhere near it AND that it did better and had better reviews from fans and critics alike. And the movie ‘This Is The End’ was only hilarious when Danny McBride was in the scenes. When Danny is missing the movie suffers in comedy.
Gosh, is it only me who thinks he looks SUPER RIPPED in that one photo? Like he just smoked a couple big fat bong hits in the limo before hitting the red carpet? WOW
I think he always looks completely blazed. I liked him at first during the 127 hours era but then he kept talking and supposedly went to college, then talked some more and finally I felt all ‘Ehhh… nevermind, my bad.’ but I read a couple of his “reviews” on HuffPo before and now this and I am convinced that he must have done nothing in his college classes. Wasn’t there a brief time at Yale? Or NYU? Or some such ridiculous place you can’t actually attend unless your daddy is the 1% or you can claim six national titles, multiple paid internships, perfect grades, and a perfect SAT score before your junior year? He’s just too far off the deep. I don’t like him now. Pseudo-intellectualism all the way. I wish he and KStew would go to stoner island and talk about the first three words of ‘On The Road’ for the rest of their lives. Facepalm. So much.
Girl, he took WAY too many credits at once at UCLA (if Wiki is correct) as an undergrad. Then was enrolled at THREE graduate programs with only the MFA to show for it, plus the current PhD program.
So yay, if he wants to think he earned crap, I’ll let him talk. But clearly he got strings pulled due to his name, from his undergrad on, and his writing shows enormous gaps and much room for growth. Sorry James, the proof is in the puddin’.
Terrible writer. Completely self-absorbed. And getting more unattractive by the minute.
A) Solomon Northrup didn’t actually write the account of his time as a slave- he recounted it to a white abolitionist.
B) Of course this drivel was published on Vice. Of course.
James Franco: your insipidness is showing.
He’s a tool…just act dude.
I’m an English major and I’m currently taking a class on sentence construction, editing and grammar. Occasionally we have assignments where we are given horribly written articles and are supposed to edit them. This whole thing thing would be a prime candidate. But the crown jewel in the grammatical shit-pile is this: “Is this captivation by the horrible why the 19th-century book and the contemporary film are so attractive? ”
I mean…. WOW. That has to be one of the worst sentences I’ve ever seen. I could devote paragraphs to why that sentence is bad. It just boggles the mind.
Yeah, that exact sentence stood out as laughably bad. I kept re-reading it and hoping that it would start to make some sense until my eyes surely glazed and I finally gave up. It’s like, really dude?!
It’s also very disappointing the way Franco glosses lightheartedly over the horrors of slavery in his ‘review,’ including the horrendous rapes (in addition to beatings and other atrocities) that were a common occurrence among black women.
Oh Wendy, do bring this to class!!! I’d love to see what even ONE round table would do to this!!
Need to borrow a red pen/pencil? I’m fairly certain you’ll need more than one for this ‘review’. 😉
Content and pretension aside, dude is a terrible writer.
My own discomfort with the movie involved the glamorizing of brutality. Franco’s got a really good point to make here.
“The glamorizing of brutality”?
Really? In what way and how was this brutality glamorized?
What a juvenile review, both in the style of writing and in the way he tries to fact-drop all of history to prove he knows something. Instead he just proves he doesn’t understand anything about his subject–or writing. If he’s got so many degrees, why does he still write like he’s in an AP class?
Wow, Franco is not a good writer at all. What a train wreck of an article.
Wow, Franco is not a good writer at all. What a train wreck of an article.
I’m glad he has a platform to be a critic. Not because he’s taking work from other, qualified & skilled writers, because that sucks, but because we are able to see what a pretentious twit he is. Other actors are smart enough not to let us see this, but Franco’s too busy sucking his own dick to understand that he’s hurting his cause, not helping. I would feel sorry for him that he’s surrounded by people who lie and tell him his stuff is so great, but I don’t really believe he’s in it for art’s sake. A suggestion if I’m wrong, use a fuckin pseudonym, and then people will be able to assess his “art” on merit alone, and he can see how other people truly respond to the work. But as has been made clear, getting there on merit alone is not a priority for him.