The Rental Review

The Rental

Dir: Dave Franco

Starring: Alison Brie, Dan Stevens, Sheila Vand, Jeremy Allen White, and Toby Huss

How many different ways can you start a horror movie? How about this one? A group of young people traveling to a remote location to commit some innocent bad behavior; after some drugs and meaningless sex, a masked killer shows up to ruin the good times. This has happened in countless horror films, “Evil Dead”, “Friday the 13^th”, “Cabin in the Woods” are just a few that have done this device successfully. 

Actor, now director, Dave Franco takes his swing into the horror realm with “The Rental”. Gone are the teens and inserted are a group of mature young people in committed relationships, though they still partake in the occasional party drug and innocuous sexual outing. The result offers an unusual spin on the far too common genre setup that, here, is more adult drama than an actual horror film. 

Charlie (Dan Stevens) and Michelle (Alison Brie) are taking a much-needed trip with Josh (Jeremy Allen White) and Mina (Sheila Vand) to a secluded rental property that sits atop a bluff near the ocean. The group quickly finds comfort in the large house, using the hot tub and going on daily hikes. But there is tension between the couples, especially between Charlie and Mina who work closely with one another. Things get worse when a small camera is found in a showerhead, and a menacing figure looms just outside of view.

Dave Franco, who co-wrote the script with Joe Swanberg, spend great attention on the group dynamics early in the film. We are introduced to the individual couples, then learn about their intertwined relationships, their impulses and irritations, and finally how they cope with stressful situations. It’s a good setup that gets you connected to the individuals and helps establish a group dynamic that becomes compromised the moment danger arrives, which it does in numerous forms more than just a masked killer. 

The problem comes when the film tries to shift gears and turn from an adult relationship drama and into a straightforward horror film. So much time is spent setting up the group and a specific situation they are all raveled up in, that when the horror finally makes an appearance, the pieces established for the story, the ones that have played the main role, are abandoned for an easy compromise. 

Still, there are moments when Mr. Franco displays that he understands how a horror film is supposed to work. Keeping his monster just beyond sight most of the film and using the setup of spy cameras to initiate the intensity that will ultimately destroy the group. When the genre characteristics intrude into the relationship conflicts, the film has a heightened sense of unease. Unfortunately, many of these moments are played just to remind you that there is a mysterious figure looming close instead of introducing a sense of chaos into the storyline.  

Dave Franco shows promise with his directorial debut. “The Rental” may harbor more drama than horror in the end, but even with a familiar story structure, the actors are given time to make the characters convincing. And once the stalking killer arrives, the time spent in the isolated rental home assists in creating tension, it just happens too late to really make the impact it was trying for.

Monte’s Rating

2.50 out of 5.00

The Disaster Artist Review

The Disaster Artist

Dir: James Franco

Starring: James Franco, Dave Franco, Seth Rogen, Ari Graynor, Alison Brie, Jacki Weaver, Paul Scheer, Josh Hutcherson, and Zac Efron

There are some movies that you can watch and others that you need to experience. The 2003 independent film “The Room” is one of those films that you need to experience. Though, when I first watched this movie back in 2009 on a 35mm film print, it hadn’t yet grown to the enormous popularity that it is now. Don’t be mistaken, “The Room” isn’t an experience because it’s some kind of cinematic masterpiece but rather because it’s a disaster, one of the oddest movies you are bound to ever see.  Late night film programmers across the country took hold of “The Room” and have since pushed to movie to true cult classic status, selling out midnight screeners and making director and lead actor Tommy Wiseau into some kind of legend.

“The Room” is a drama about a banker named Johnny (Tommy Wiseau) who’s fiancé Lisa  leaves him for his best friend Greg. It’s a simple premise, one you might find differently portrayed on late night cable television or on the Lifetime Network, made all the more bizarre because of an atrocious narrative, terrible dialogue, and awful performances. It’s “so bad it’s good” charm caught the eye of Hollywood stars James Franco and Seth Rogen who acquired the rights to the book “The Disaster Artist: My Life Inside The Room, the Greatest Bad Movie Ever Made”. 

“The Disaster Artist” follows Greg Sestero (Dave Franco) on his voyage towards a career as a working actor. After some failed attempts and a few discouraging words from acting coaches in San Francisco, Greg meets an enigmatic actor named Tommy (James Franco) who provides an opportunity in Los Angeles. The two friends don’t find much success but, instead of giving up, the friends decide to make their own movie. 

 “The Disaster Artist”, written and directed by James Franco, has lots of heart and a slew of laughs. The writer/director, known for raunchy comedies and indie dramas, takes on the formidable role of Tommy Wiseau. The demanding, jealous, and completely odd characteristics of Wiseau are emulated with near perfection from James Franco, this includes the peculiar accent that makes many of Wiseau’s lines memorable. Dave Franco plays Greg Sestero with compassion, constantly encouraging and supporting his foolhardy friend even when it’s obvious that things aren’t going the right way. The film is ultimately about friendship and the Franco brothers work great in making this aspect real, offering moments that are quietly touching but also intensely intimate

Smartly so, Mr. Franco understands that this story is more than a comedy. In fact, much of the laughs offered throughout the film is situational; the film never undermines itself by taking cheap shots at Mr. Wiseau or “The Room”. Instead, there is a strong emphasis of admiration that is shown throughout the film by the filmmakers. While the movie didn’t come out as intended, regardless of what Mr. Wiseau may imply, there is a positive spirit that is undeniable. These are artists trying to pave their own path, utilizing filmmaking to make their dreams come true.

When the comedy does take over, once Tommy and Greg begin making “The Room”, the laughs are consistent; this may be the part where prior knowledge of the original film may be most important. Still, James Franco and a familiar group of comedians bring many of the most memorable scenes from “The Room” to life. The timing, tone, and texture of the original film are impressively recreated. James Franco provides enough exaggeration to the character to amplify the comedy of the scenarios. 

What makes “The Disaster Artist” such of unique and heartfelt film is how it treats and portrays the ambition of the characters, their journey displays a friendship grounded with mutual motivation and respect for one another. That’s admirable regardless of how bad the final product they created is. 

Monte’s Rating

4.25 out of 5.00