Well-versed in both mainstream and auteur cinema, James Franco is one of the most versatile and interesting actors of his generation. Let’s follow his career, focusing on the best results.
Born in California in 1978 James Franco he is one of the most versatile personalities of his generation. Winner of two Golden Globes for Best Actor and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2013, during his career he has had the opportunity to collaborate with great authors on the international stage (such as Robert Altman, Ridley Scott or the Coen brothers) and play unforgettable roles in some very successful works (such as the trilogy Spiderman directed by Sam Raimi).
James Franco has always given himself to projects of various calibers, not sparing himself, moving from comedies to high-voltage thrillers, working both in auteur cinema and in more commercial and mainstream ones. All of them are films that manage to highlight a multifaceted talent and often deserve to be returned to the mind and eye of the public. Therefore, we decided to restore James Franco best moviesrecommending some of the works (offered in strict chronological order) that we believe are among the most successful and iconic in his filmography.
1. Spiderman 2 (2004)
The Spider-Man Trilogy, director Sam Raimi over the years has become a real object of worship. From a cinematic point of view, this is a linguistic revolution. Not just an appetizer for something that will soon undermine the logic of the entertainment market (comic book phenomenon), but an opportunity to explore new frontiers of cinema and try to build another imaginary that can excite viewers from all over the world. James Franco has been on the project since the first movie, but we took the liberty of mentioning him in Chapter 2, not only because we think it’s the most complete, ambitious, and successful title in the trilogy, but also because it’s the character in this segment that he interpreted (i.e. Harry Osborn, son of the fearsome goblin/Norman Osborn) takes on a decidedly more complex and layered outline and nuance. Spiderman 2 is a kaleidoscopic action movie in which the visual talent of the director seems to be the real protagonist. Enhanced also by an anthology villain (it’s impossible to forget Doctor Octopus, played by Alfred Molina), the film was a huge success at the box office worldwide, finishing the year with over 700 million grosses (second only to Shrek 2 AND Harry Potter and the prisoner of Azkaban). The film’s total budget is around $200 million. At the time, it was the most expensive amount for a film ever received, second only to production. Titanic James Cameron.
James Franco: “I am tireless because I am always afraid that every work is the last”
2. Milk (2008)
The multifaceted and inquisitive soul of James Franco, capable of alternating big blockbuster projects with more sophisticated and art-house films, comes into its own in 2008. The actor is actually written by the director Gus Van Sant to participate in what will become one of the most beloved by the public among directors. Milk tells the true story of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected to political office in the United States. From the first steps in his career, driven by youthful passion, right up to his tragic and untimely death: Van Sant’s biopic is a coherent and highly intense work, capable of not only bringing an extraordinary and unique parable to the stage, but also touching the strings of emotionally right. Sean Penn he succumbs in every way and signs one of his best roles (awarded an Oscar for best actor), but James Franco absolutely does not go unnoticed. Indeed, he manages to stand up to the sacred monster of acting, and the moments in which both of them are on screen are certainly among the most successful in the film. In reality, Franco plays Scott Smith, Milk’s partner and employee. The role would earn him an award at the 2009 Independent Spirit Awards for Best Supporting Actor.
3. Eat Pray Love (2010)
Perhaps unexpectedly for everyone, starting with the famous TV director Ryan Murphy to the main character Julia Roberts and film critics around the world, Eat Pray Love this is one of the American comedies that has most captured the imagination of recent years, managing to win the eyes and hearts of an international audience. Based on the autobiographical book by Elizabeth Gilbert. Eat, Pray, Love – A woman seeks happiness, the film is a journey around the world, from Rome to Bali, during which there will be an opportunity to explore exotic places, taste delicious food, find time for reflection and, finally, meet true love (?). The film revolves around the smile and charisma of Julia Roberts, but James Franco does a very good job as a supporting actor, managing not to feel the slightest pressure of being compared to another top-notch actor who Javier Bardem.
4. 127 hours (2010)
Although the film was less fortunate than probably expected, 127 hours to this day, it remains one of the most comprehensive and cumbersome tests of Franco’s career. In fact, the actor faces a difficult task – to carry almost all the work on his shoulders. One of Danny Boyle is an adaptation of a true story. James Franco plays Aron Ralston, an American climber who spent 127 hours on a hike trapped under a rock in 2003 and was forced to amputate his arm to save his life. Before choosing an actor, the directors considered other names, including Cillian Murphy and Ryan Gosling. To prepare for the role, Franco carefully reviewed a report made by the real Ralston during the days of the accident a few months before filming, and admitted that he was very disturbed by what he saw. 127 hours it was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture but most notably Best Actor. However, he failed to win a single statuette. In the same year, the edition won King’s speech (both Best Picture and Best Actor, Colin Firth). However, Franco had the honor of holding the ceremony in the company of Anne Hathaway.
5. Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)
Widely acclaimed by critics as well as the general public, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes – the first chapter of the reboot saga, dedicated to the famous fantasy franchise based on the novel planet of the apes Pierre Boulle, who gave the name to the first chapter in 1968, which became the great classic of cinema. The film follows a scientist (actually James Franco) in search of a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. Tried on some monkeys, the drug does not work. Actually the chimpanzee Caesar (Andy Serkis) begins to develop an extraordinary intellect and will cultivate friendship with those who have studied and admitted all this. Stunning special effects (Oscar-nominated) and impressive motion capture from Andy Serkis’ performance risk eclipsing Franco’s performance. However, we well know how difficult it is to play without the presence of a character to interact (in this case, a monkey), and in any case, the film once again demonstrates how an actor is able to live the entire film chain, from more independent and auteur films to major studio blockbusters such as this one. . The saga continued with two other games: Revolution of the Apes – Planet of the Apes 2014 and War – Planet of the Apes 2017.
6. Spring Breakers (2013)
what from Harmony Korin it was an instant cult hit. Presented at the Venice Film Festival, it became the most talked about title of this release. On the one hand, this is an aesthetically sophisticated, hypnotic and lysergic film, and on the other hand, it is a clearly provocative film that is able to shake the collective imagination, trying to demystify the soap and water icon of some of the teen stars who until then were the face of the Disney house. (Selena Gomez above all). James Franco plays a criminal who takes four students under his protection during the holidays. It will be a path of destruction, not learning, on which every brake will be loosened in the name of experience on the border of legality and morality. Blessed among women? Not really. However, what is certain is that the hooligan mood, as criminal as it is extremely irresistible, fits perfectly with Franco’s body, which, according to a significant part of international critics, remains his best performance to date.
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7 Disaster Artist (2017)
It’s one of James Franco’s most personal works, so much so that it’s a movie he’s filming and filming at the same time. In fact, the actor has a solid directing career behind him (especially independent cinema), but disaster artist probably remains one of the best results in this sense. So we decided to include him in the group. The film tells the true story of Tommy Wiseau (played by James Franco), who in 2003 signed his debut film titled Room. Sbertucciato, to say the least, audiences and critics have called this film one of the worst feature films ever made. This reputation, however, helped give the project a mythical aura that soon made it a cult following. Rumor has it that James Franco never went out of character throughout the production. And to think that the real Tommy Wiseau originally wanted Johnny Depp to play his character on set. It was only after many persuasive meetings that Franco succeeded in getting him to change his mind. He was right, in fact the role won him a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical.