Five to Watch - Movies with Great James Franco Performances

Since James Franco won a Golden Globe yesterday, for his performance in “The Disaster Artist”, it was time to put him in the spotlight here. I went through a list of his movies and choose, what I think, are his best performances.

127 Hours
It’s still beyond me how he didn’t win an Academy Award for this performance. Franco portray real life rock climber Aron Ralston, who got stuck with his arm between a rock and had to cut off his own arm to survive. It’s an adrenaline rush and a perfect one man show by Franco.

Pineapple Express
Bromance, pod and James Franco: the perfect combination for a Golden Globe nominated performance. James Franco’s hilarious performance as stoner Saul Silver is proof of his versatility as an actor.

The Disaster Artist
Tommy Wiseau is quite the character and when James Franco had to portray him, it could easily go wrong. It could have been a cartoonish impersonation of Wiseau, but Franco became Wiseau. I wasn’t looking at and actor pretending to be Wiseau, I saw Tommy Wiseau. And that’s the proof of a great performance.

Spring Breakers
Probably his weirdest role so far. As Alien he is both badass and ridiculous. James Franco is what made this movie as good as it was.

Milk
No more typecasting for James Franco. As Harvey Milk’s lover and campaign manager Scott Smith, Franco took home an Independent Spirit Award. It was the beginning of a new era in Franco’s career.

Top 5 Thursday: Movies with a Number in the Title

There are a lot of great movies that have a number in the title (not counting sequels like “Back to the Future Part II”). I made a list and started ranking them. It wasn’t easy, because there are many good films that I love and are on my all-time favorites list. Here is my top 5.

5. 21 Grams

This is the movie that introduced met to Naomi Watts, my favorite actress, and Alejandro González Iñárritu, one of my favorite directors. It’s a story filled with characters that grab you and you start caring about. Such a fantastic film.

 

 

4. (500) Days of Summer

This movie I fell in love with after the first watch. It first looks like yet another boy meets girl story, but it’s anything but that. It’s a very unconventional romantic comedy, with great cinematography and acting.

 

 

3. 127 Hours

James Franco at his best. One of the best films of the last decade and definitely one of the best make performances ever. I love this movie, one huge adrenaline rush.

 

 

2. 50/ 50

It seems impossible, but it’s a movie about cancer that is brought with a lot of humor and wit. And exactly that is what makes this movie so great.

 

 

1. Seven

One of the best movies ever made, a film that still terrifies me every time and captivates me. “Seven” is a sublime and brilliant thriller.

 

 

They Almost Made the Top 5: 12 Years a Slave, 101 Dalmatians, The 40 Year Old Virgin, 28 Days Later, District 9, The Sixth Sense, Twelve Monkeys, 10 Things I Hate About You, Apollo 13, The Fifth Element

Top 5 Thursday: Movies About Survival

It’s always fascinating to see how far some people go to survive. I decided to make a list of survival movies, some based on true events, some fictional.

5. The Descent

This is one of the creepiest movies I’ve seen over the last ten years. Just the fact alone that you’re stuck in a cave gives me the chills.

 

 

4. Cast Away

The ultimate survival movie, being alone on a deserted island. Tom Hanks is brilliant in this movie, it’s just him and a volleyball. Only Hanks can make you cry over a volleyball.

 

 

3. The Hunger Games-series

I’m not picking just one movie here, because they are all amazing. Okay, the second is my favorite. How horrible would it be to fight for life and death, so other people are entertained? Thanks God we have Katniss Everdeen, right.

 

 

2. Into the Wild

This survival movie is slightly different, because Chris McCandless choose this life of survival. With that being said, “Into the Wild” is one of the most amazing stories I’ve ever heard.

 

 

1. 127 Hours

This is, without a doubt, my favorite survival story. Like “Into the Wild” it’s based on a real life story. James Franco portrays Aron Ralston brilliantly, his best performance so far.

 

 

They Almost Made the Top 5: Life of Pi, The Road, Rescue Dawn, I Am Legend, Zombieland

Top 5 Thursday: Cringe-worthy Movie Scene

We all know them, those scenes in movies that you just can’t watch. Because the repulse you, give you the chills or are just simply disgusting. Especially because you sometimes didn’t see it coming and are unexpected. Here is my list of cringe-worthy movie scenes. Don’t be afraid, I’m not sharing pictures.

5. Syriana

Torture is never fun to watch, but some films don’t make you watch the gruesome parts. Not “Syriana”. We got to squirm along with George Clooney as his CIA analyst gets his fingernail painstakingly removed with large pliers. Such a small body part to cause such agony.

 

 

4. American Histoy X

I’d never heard of ‘curbing’ until I saw “American History X”. When Edward Norton’s hate ideologue Derek Vineyard forces a black car thief to get down on the ground and place his open mouth on the sidewalk curb, teeth gratting, I got sick to my stomach. When Derek stomped on the back of the thief’s head, splittin his head like a melon, I whipped my own head around as if struck. I simply can’t watch this scene.

 

 

3. 127 Hours

The story of adventure junkie Aron Ralston was well publicized long before James Franco brought the tale to the big screen, but familiarity did little to quell the effect of the film’s gory amputation scene. And even if you were one of the steel-stomached moviegoers who didn’t pass out, bury you head in the shoulder of the person next to you, or lose your lunch during the scene, it’s likely that the image of the protagonist cutting away his own arm with the aid of a dull pocket knife will pop into you head the next time you’re deciding whether or not you want to tour some visually stunning canyons.

 

 

2. Misery

Nobody brings the crazy like Kathy Bates. When author Paul Sheldon veers off the road during a nasty snowstorm, his number one fan promises to nurse him back to health. That is, until she slams a sledgehammer into his ankles to make sure he doesn’t wander from her adoring gaze.

 

 

1. Requiem for a Dream

Darren Aronofsky’s drug-spiral odyssey is one cringe-worthy moment after another, but never more so than when Harry shoots heroin into the cavernous black hole of infection that is forming on his arm.

 

 

They Almost Made the Top 5: Black Swan, There’s Something About Mary, Reservoir Dogs

Top 5 Thursday: Movies from 2010

Let’s see what movies 2010 brought us. It’s seems not that long ago, but it’s already 4 years ago! Time flies. A big list of films, only a few I can pick. Here are my favourites of 2012.

5. Black Swan

A thriller that is getting close to horror, because it’s really freaking scary. And Natalie Portman is so good in this movie. “Black Swan” is disturbing, yet one of the best movies of 2010.

 

 

4. Inception

This blew my mind when I saw it in theatres. What great visuals and that music… djeez… Fantastic movie.

 

 

3. Easy A

The movie that made me love Emma Stone. “Easy A” may sound like an average teen comedy, but it’s so much more. The lead characters is actually likeable and very intelligent.

 

 

2. Toy Story 3

This is the best in the series. It made ma both laugh and cry, and that fire scene was actually really scary and disturbing coming to think of it. It could’ve traumatized millions of children. But “Toy Story 3” is a great adventure and it’s a wonderful Pixar film.

 

 

1. 127 Hours

This is definitely the movie with the best performance of 2010 (and not Colin Firth!!!). James Franco is amazing in “127 Hours” and you really feel adrenaline rushing through your blood during its entire runtime.

 

 

They Almost Made the Top 5: Kick-Ass, Shutter Island, Blue Valentine, The Kids Are All right

Top 5 Thursday: James Franco Movies

Because James Franco is in almost every movie coming out in 2013, I just had to make a list of my favorites. I did that in the item “Best of…” but here I made a top 5.

5. Spider-Man 2

The best in the trilogy, mainly because of the villain. Off all the Spider-Man movies I enjoyed this one the most.

4. The Rise of the Planet of the Apes

I was a bit sceptic about this film, but very surprised when I saw it. Amazing film, especially Andy Serkis as Ceasar.

3. Milk

It’s a good story and the movie is full of great actors. Not just James Franco, but also Sean Penn, Emile Hirsch and Josh Brolin. 

 

 

2. Pineapple Express

Definitely the funniest role he ever played and he’s the star of the film. Saul Silver is one of my favorite movie stoners.

 

 

 

1. 127 Hours

I don’t need to explain why, but I’m gonna do it anyway. James Franco’s acting is fantastic and one of the best performances I’ve seen in years. Great film.

They almost made the top 5: Howl and Spider-man

Movie Moments: "127 Hours"

This movie blew my mind when I saw it. Especially because of the great performance by James Franco. Here are my favorite moments from "127 Hours".

Moment # 1: Opening
We see how Aron gets ready for his trip to the Blue John in the Canyonlands. We hear the song “Never Hear Surf Music Again" by Free Blood.

Moment # 2: Aron meets Kristi and Megan
When Aron is climbing, he sees two girls. He sees that they’re lost and their names are Kristi and Megan. Aron offers to take them to the Dome, the place they were looking for. The girls accept Aron’s help.

Moment # 3: Climb and squeeze
Aron tells Kristi and Megan that he knows how to get to the Dome, but he knows an ever cooler way to get there. The most fun they will have with their clothes on. They have to climb and squeeze though. The three have to get between two rocks, but Aron lets go and drops. Kristi and Megan are afraid that something happened to him, but when they hear his voice they know he’s fine. He dropped into a beautiful blue pool of water. Kristi also dares to let go and Megan follows pretty soon.

Moment # 4:Aron gets stuck
After leaving Kristi and Megan, Aron starts to climb down a canyon. Suddenly a rock comes loose, falls and roles on his arm. Aron is stuck. First he doesn’t really realize what happened, he tries to move the rock and screams for help. No one will hear him.

Moment # 5: Sunshine
The sun comes up and Aron enjoys the feeling of the warmth on his skin. It reminds him of his dad, when he was younger. Unfortunately the sunshine only lasts for 15 minutes.

Moment # 6: Do not lose it
Aron is filming himself, a video for the people who find him. When he hears something he starts screaming for help. It was nothing, but when Aron sees himself on the camera he tells himself not to lose it.

Moment # 7: Good morning everyone!
When the morning breaks, Aron starts filming himself hosting a morning show. He starts interviewing himself, admitting that he was selfish for not telling anyone where he was going. Oops…

Moment # 8: The only sulotion
Aron knows the only way to get out of there is to cut of his arm. First he has to break the bones and cut the nerves. His will to live is much stronger than his fear of the pain. He manages to cut his arm of and escapes the canyon.

Moment # 9: Aron finds help
When Aron gets out he still has to walk all the way back. Aron finally finds help, they make sure he gets water and they send him a helicopter to take him home. The song "Festival" by Sigur Ros is playing.

Favorite Moment: Moment # 3: Climb and squeeze

James Franco Overdose

It's obvious that I have a summer break, because I just made seven wallpapers. Who else has time for such nonsense? And all of the wallpapers include James Franco! It's really starting to look like an obsession, but I'm in denial. I just appreciate his talent (and off course his good looks, I can't deny that). I also made one of "127 Hours", that movie is just simply brilliant. And I made one with James and Mark Ruffalo. Here they are.

As always, feel free to use 'em on your own computer or let me know what you think.

Movie Tip # 48: 127 Hours

Director: Danny Boyle

Starring: James Franco, Kate Mara, Amber Tamblyn

Description: "127 Hours" is the true story of mountain climber Aron Ralston's remarkable adventure to save himself after a fallen boulder crashes on his arm and traps him in an isolated canyon in Utah. Over the next five days Ralston (James Franco) examines his life and survives the elements to finally discover he has the courage and the wherewithal to extricate himself by any means necessary, scale a 65 foot wall and hike over eight miles before he can be rescued. Throughout his journey, Ralston recalls friends, lovers, family, and the two hikers he met before his accident. Will they be the last two people he ever had the chance to meet?

Review: Director Danny Boyle earned himself eight Oscars for "Slumdog Millionaire". This time the scale of the movie is smaller, but the hero bigger. A man who was trapped between a rock for 127 hours, literally. How can that be interesting? Well, this is how. The cinematography in this movie is simply brilliant: split screens, quick montages, impossible angles, great soundeffects, etcetera. But it's not only the cinematography that made this movie so good. Thank you James Franco, for that fantastic performance. I think this is one of the best performances I've seen in a while. He has the ability to show us so many different emotions: fearless joy, desperation, anger and regret. His subtle performance makes him believable. After you've seen this film, you ask yourself one question: How come the adrenaline is pumping through my body while watching a man who hasn't moved an inch for 90 minutes? Danny Boyle is a master and "127 Hours" is a masterpiece.

50 Books Challenge - # 11: Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Aron Ralston

Title: Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Author: Aron Ralston
Story: It started out as a simple hike in the Utah canyonlands on a warm Saturday afternoon. For Aron Ralston, a twenty-seven-year-old mountaineer and outdoorsman, a walk into the remote Blue John Canyon was a chance to get a break from a winter of solo climbing Colorado's highest and toughest peaks. He'd earned this weekend vacation, and though he met two charming women along the way, by early afternoon he finally found himself in his element: alone, with just the beauty of the natural world all around him. It was 2:41 P.M. Eight miles from his truck, in a deep and narrow slot canyon, Aron was climbing down off a wedged boulder when the rock suddenly, and terrifyingly, came loose. Before he could get out of the way, the falling stone pinned his right hand and wrist against the canyon wall. And so began six days of hell for Aron Ralston. With scant water and little food, no jacket for the painfully cold nights, and the terrible knowledge that he'd told no one where he was headed, he found himself facing a lingering death -- trapped by an 800-pound boulder 100 feet down in the bottom of a canyon. As he eliminated his escape options one by one through the days, Aron faced the full horror of his predicament: By the time any possible search and rescue effort would begin, he'd most probably have died of dehydration, if a flash flood didn't drown him before that. What does one do in the face of almost certain death? Using the video camera from his pack, Aron began recording his grateful good-byes to his family and friends all over the country, thinking back over a life filled with adventure, and documenting a last will and testament with the hope that someone would find it. The knowledge of their love kept Aron Ralston alive, until a divine inspiration on Thursday morning solved the riddle of the boulder. Aron then committed the most extreme act imaginable to save himself.
Start: february 26th 2011
End: march 1st 2011
Comment: It's very hard to imagine yourself in a situation like this. He has only four options: trying to push the rock away, making a hole with his knife so he can release his hand, wait for help or amputate his hand. This book tells the extraordinary story of Aron Ralston and it took my breath away. I think it's a miracle that the guy survived it, with just a little bit of water and food and eventually losing a lot of blood. Aron is very lucky to be alive. It's not just a story about a guy who survived a climbing accident. While being stuck he looks back on his experiences as a climber and his life with his family and the people he met along the way. These thought make him stronger and that would eventualy be the reason of his survival. His family and friends gave him the strength to survive. It's an amazing story and I can't wait to see the film version "127 Hours".
Rating: 4,5/ 5