James Franco Has A Great And Powerful Smile
If James Franco reads his reviews, he should avoid David Edelstein's critique of Oz The Great and Powerful at Vulture.com. "Franco is unconvincing generally, tamping down the passion, ironicizing everything out," wrote Edelstein. "It’s possible Franco’s modern-sounding stammers and shrugs opposite actors playing it straight are meant in the spirit of Bob Hope’s hipster cowards — or those of Woody Allen, who cited Hope among his inspirations for Sleeper and Love and Death. But Franco doesn’t have the comebacks. He’s playing a noncommittal character in a noncommittal way, so that you want to scream, “This isn’t a performance-art project! You’re carrying a movie!”
Ouch, though I'm with Edelstein on this one. It's weird to see Franco giving such a modern performance in a movie that functions as a prequel to the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz, and is supposed to be taking place in the early 1900s. I guess that tornado didn't just transport Franco from Kansas to Oz, it messed with the time-space continuum, too.
Well, while we wait to see if the weekend box-office results will vindicate Franco's performance, I've noticed something about Franco that is fully committed: his smile. Watching him promoting Oz over the last few weeks and the films he brought to Sundance in January, Kink, which he produced, and Interior. Leather Bar, which he co-directed, I've discovered that Franco does for beaming what Futurama's Hypnotoad does for staring. He's all in — teeth, gums and crinkled eyes — and the effect kind of mesmerizing in a man-he's-really-going-for-it way. Check out these photos:
So, bad reviews be damned. Keep smiling James....I...await...your final...orders.
[Vulture]
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Comments
it's because he's always high.
The movie was just OK for me. I thought Rachel Weisz won the acting award hands-down. She was expressive, she was powerful and put the other two actresses to shame. Franco's performance was uneven, to put it mildly. There were times I thought I was watching a first year acting student. He had the face expressions but he just. can't. act. The 3D glasses are annoying and I wish directors would STOP with the 3D; work on the storyline and actors....not the technology.
One last comment. James needs to see a dentist for teeth whitening.
I agree with you on all points, Sally-N-Chicago.
Totes agreed. How is he the only person in Hollywood without access to white strips?
His skin, too--does the man never go outside? Even in the color parts of the movie he appears to be in black and white.
I don't know, so far my only complaints about the move are,
A: I havent seen it yet
B: the guy doesn't look like the Oz from the original, even remotely, only resemblance being that they're both male.
C: I haven't seen it yet
Seems like the complaints about his stammer were misplaced too. First of all, how do you hang a date on a stammer? Did they just not do it back then??? As the original OZ might never have said, "Recollect if you will!" There were many moments in the first film, (right after he was exposed from behind the curtain is a prime example) When he was somewhat unsure of himself and ashamed of his flim-flammery when he stammered with a little "eh" or an "oh" This is the very reason I don't read reviews, only synopses... I prefer to go into a film with a clear unprejudiced mind and either enjoy the film or not, for it's own merits, or lack thereof. I may compare it to it's predecessor once I've left and thinnk about it as living up to (or not) the original film, but if you've read the stories, even the graphic novels, the movie definitely falls short of those too...
"Be someone you can like, because no matter what you do or how far you travel, you can't get away from yourself..."
James Franco has a beautiful smile. The kind that makes you smile back.. Not everyone is into White Strips. He is obviously very comfortable with himself and that is extremely sexy. Ignore the bad reviews James, you were fantastic in "Oz".
Ignore the pompous ass behind the word processor he is only a minor functionary, the great and powerful movie critiic Has spoken!!! LOL they should give out awards for the critic with the biggest ego and largest amount of pomposity... THAT would be an awards show!!!