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The Room

Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2009 4:03 am
by Lord Mhoram
Everyone needs to see this movie. It's horrendous. It's outrageous. It makes no sense. It's hilarious. It's quite possibly genius.

It's The Room.

It's an independent film from 2003, directed, produced, written and starring one Tommy Wiseau, a man whose background is almost completely unknown, whose accent is ridiculous, and whose acting skills are incredibly bad.

He plays Johnny, a San Francisco banker engaged to Lisa, whom he treats "like a princess." She inexplicably decides she no longer loves him, and seduces his best friend Mark, creating a delicious love triangle, with several awful, excruciating sex scenes.

The film is completely, unconvincingly melodramatic. It has subplots -- involving, for instance, Johnny's ward, an 18-year old boy who is possibly sexually confused and at one point is involved in a drug deal -- that make no sense, have no bearing on the plot, and are never referred to again. For instance, Lisa's mother nonchalantly remarks at one point, "And besides, I'm dying. The test results are in. I definitely have breast cancer." No mention of it ever again.

It has been called the "Citizen Kane of bad movies." It's become this century's Rocky Horror Picture Show, with constant screenings, people memorizing every line, and objects (in this case, the ubiquitous spoons which appear in almost every other shot) thrown at the screen.

To get a good feel for how the film works, check out this clip. Taste the bad acting. Here is the trailer.

It's the worst movie I've ever seen. But it's somehow extremely compelling, because it's so hilarious and mysterious. Highly recommended.

Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2009 8:48 am
by lorin
Ok I'm hooked. Hope Netflix has it.

Here is the interview with Tommy.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRN9FpMkUbU&NR=1&feature=fvwp
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Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2009 2:03 pm
by Lord Mhoram
Hahah, excellent.

Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2009 2:22 pm
by Cail
I'll have to check it out.

Sounds like The Dark Backward.

Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2009 2:28 pm
by lorin
did you checkout the IMDB on this. the reviews are a triumph themselves. Apparently Tommy wrote a review of the film under the name Brickyard Jimmy and then his cameraman responds.

Pretty great stuff. It sounds like it could compete with Plan Nine from Outerspace for the Golden Turkey Award. (LOVED that film)
www.imdb.com/title/tt0368226/usercomments

We need a Turkey icon, btw.

Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2009 6:18 pm
by [Syl]
I'll have to check this one out.

Along those lines, try Randy and the Mob. At the twenty minute mark, I was having difficulty finishing this movie, but I just couldn't turn away. It's awfully ridiculous, thanks in no small part to the magical but monotone Tito, but ends up being rewarding and perhaps somewhat cathartic.

Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 2:25 pm
by Cagliostro
Entertainment Weekly has covered it twice, if I remember correctly. It sounds like a crap sandwich served with caviar. I don't think I'd rent it - I'd want to see it with the other fools for a good night out.