Ok, so I couldn’t wait to see ‘The Room’ tonight at The Belcourt right? This bad film to end all bad films is supposed to be a riot, with Midnight audiences across the Country and Europe erupting in peals of laughter at its shoddy writing, one-dimensional acting, multiple plot strands that go nowhere and just all around awfulness.
I was all set, planning to be at the Screening promptly at Midnight with my Coke and Junior Mints, ready to be entertained along with what I hoped was a sold out crowd.
But earlier today it hit me: should I go? Is it right? I mean, the Director of ‘The Room’, this guy, this person, this man – Tommy Wiseau – has poured his heart out – years of his life, and, apparently, 6 Million Dollars into this thing.
So I had to ask myself, is it right to laugh at others dreams?
Now, I’ve never had a problem laughing while watching the terrible films of Ed Wood. I mean, they’re just god-awful.
Have you seen one?
No?
Well, trust me they’re awful. Just god-awful.
But on reflecting for this post I realise that while I’ve laughed at the films of Ed Wood, I’ve never laughed at Ed Wood. Why not? Well, look at the clip above that I used the other day here on the site to illustrate this post:
Who’s the Best Impersonator of Orson Welles?
Sure that’s a romanticised Ed, (who wouldn’t want Johnny Depp to play them?), but it captures something I’ve always felt while watching such terrible, terrible, terrible movies as ‘Plan 9 from Outer Space’ and ‘Bride of the Monster’: Ed Wood tried his best. He was trying to do something and god-damn-it he tried his best. He may have been an alcoholic, porno-book-writing, no talent dreamer – but he tried his best.
He tried to make something.
Something real.
He was an artist.
A bad artist to be sure – but an artist none the less – so much different than certain hacks I shall not name who know they’re pumping out junk and just don’t care. Ed Wood Cared, (I’m putting that on a T-Shirt) – and after watching the trailer for ‘The Room’ I think Tommy Wiseau cares as well. Maybe not the kind of caring that would make you run a spell checker on your trailer so you’d realise that Tennessee is misspelled, but caring none the less: Tommy’s tried to do something.
So there’s no question that I’m going to go – to go and see ‘The Room’ tonight at Midnight at The Belcourt – but I won’t just be laughing – I’ll be cheering too – cheering for Tommy Wiseau, that dumb crazy basterd, who sunk years of his life and millions of dollars into what appears to be a two-hour Actor’s Studio Train Wreck of Epic Proportions.
I hope you’ll join me. Let’s celebrate art, and artists, together.*
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‘The Room’ is screening tonight and Saturday at Midnight at The Belcourt
Click here to see if ‘The Room’ is playing in your area
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* “Let’s celebrate art, and artists, together.” = wow, that sounds like the worst pick-up line ever…speaking of bad pick-up lines I must recount on this blog someday the story what happened when I picked up a girl one late night in Berkeley and took her to the ‘Ed Wood penned’ excruciating happening that is ‘Orgy of the Dead‘ – we saw it on the Big Screen!, (to get an idea of the film click on the image below – a warning though – the link is NSFW):
To get people to look at and consider your creation, for whatever reason, is rewarding. I'm sure the creators of movies would rather their work be scene – in demand for whatever reason – than to sit on a shelf collecting dust.
Looking at the 'The Room''s screening schedule it's clear the film is being seen – am very curious to see the audience reaction – and wonder if Wiseau will make another picture.
Yes, it's absolutely okay to laugh at bad movies. People like Ed Wood and (perhaps, we'll see) Tommy Wiseau and such who are bad but PASSIONATE get their reward in an alternative way — everlasting notoriety. Look at what high regard Ed Wood is held in by film lovers everywhere now.
Yes – the passion – that's what we need right now – PASSION – yes, we shall see.
I can't help but feel like lead role for “The Room” was originally written for Phil Hartman's “Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer”.
I can't help but feel like lead role for “The Room” was originally written for Phil Hartman's “Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer”.
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