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.

Marry, Kiss, Cliff - Round 12

Lance Brumbder (“Orange County”), Saul Silver (“Pineapple Express”) and Don Lockwood (“Singin’ in the Rain”)

Marry: Don Lockwood would be the most sensible choice. He is charming and he always knows how to lighten up your day. Don can get you in the right mood.

Kiss: Okay, he might not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but let’s face it. You gotta love Saul Silver. I think he’s great!

Cliff: As much as I like Lance Brumbder, he’s also a pain in the ass. He can’t do anything right, he actually doesn’t really do anything but watch TV.

Top 5 Thursday: Movies from 2008

The most recent year so far for my top five of movies from a certain year. It’s 2008. An what a great year it was for film.

5. In Bruges
It’s Colin Farrell surprising me in this fast paced black comedy, about two assassins who’re laying low after one of them mistakenly kills a young boy instead of his mark. And Ralph Fiennes is fantastic as the coldhearted boss. I laughed so hard!

4. Happy Go Lucky
Sally Hawkins shines as Poppy, a London schoolteacher who is probably the happiest person on Earth. Some will hate her for it, but I loved her and this witty comedy.

3. The Wrestler
Mickey Rourke was nominated for an Oscar and took home the Golden Globe. His best performance so far and there is no single misstep in Darren Aronofsky’s drama.

2. Pineapple Express
When I first heard about this I thought it would be silly. Well, it is, but it’s a good kind of silly. Seth Rogen and James Franco are an awesome duo and how loveable was Franco as stoner Saul Silver?

1. Gran Torino
Clint Eastwood played the most miserable SOB on screen that year (a racist Korean War veteran), but he turns into an unlikely hero worthy of tears shed. That's a stunning accomplishment. I love this movie!

They Almost Made the Top 5: Cloverfield, Untraceable, Definitely Maybe, The Other Boleyn Girl, Horton Hears a Who, Get Smart, The Dark Knight, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Burn After Reading, Slumdog Millionaire, Frost/ Nixon, Marley & Me, Wall E, Milk

Movie Moments: "Pineapple Express"

I’ve wanted this movie for this item for a while now, I just had to rewatch it first. I did so I decided to pick my favorite scenes from “Pineapple Express”.

Moment # 1: Crossjoint
Dale visits Saul to get some weed, when he finds a crossjoint. You light it at three points. They smoke it and say it’s great, but they almost choke on their own coughs and don’t sound like they are enjoying it at all.

Moment # 2: Dale witnesses a murder
Dale is supposed to visit Ted Jones for work, but instead he witnesses him killing someone while sitting in the car. Jones is with a female cop. Dale wants to drive off, but instead he hits two cars which draws the killers’ attention. Dale manages to get away eventually, but he’s in big trouble.

Moment # 3: Getting rid of the phones
Saul thinks it’s better to lose their cellphones, because he thinks the cops will track them down and find them. They have all kinds of ideas like tying the phone to an animal or building a hot air balloon. Dale smashes his phone and Saul wants to smash it on a tree. Instead he throws it in the woods and the phone is lost. Saul’s genius idea to find it: call it.With what Saul?

Moment # 4: Saul, Dale and Red fight
Saul and Dale visit Red. Saul trusts him, but Dale doesn’t. They start a fight, which ends up with Dale punching a hole in the wall and Red being tied up with ducked tape.

Moment # 5: In the dumpster
Saul and Dale are running away and try to hide. In panic Saul jumps in a dumpster, but Dale doesn’t think it’s a good idea. Saul thinks they should still hide there, because he’s in the dumpster already.

Moment # 6: Fork
Dale is trying to tell his girlfriend Angie that she’s in danger, when Saul walks in to warn them. Angie thinks Saul is a bad guy and stabs him with a fork in the back. Saul screams like a girl.

Moment # 7: Police car
Because Saul spilled slushies all over the front window of the police car, he can’t see where he’s going. Saul kicks in the window with his foot, but can’t get it out. Now he has to drive with one foot sticking out of the front window.

Moment # 8: “I love you”
Dale calls Angie to tell her he loves her. Angie takes him back and tells him she wants to marry him. Dale than realizes that she’s very shallow and superficial if she takes him back, because he made a mess.

Moment # 9: Dale’s ear
Matheson, one of the bad guys, shoots Dale in the ear and now there is a piece missing. Dale tries to put it back on.

Moment # 10: Dale saves Saul
While all the weed and the barn it’s in is on fire and Saul is unconscious, Dale has to save him. His pants catch fire, so Dale takes them off. Saul won’t wake up, so he carries Saul outside… in his underpants.

Favorite Moment: Moment # 7 : Police car

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