Posted in: Movies, Recent Updates | Tagged: greg sestero, HRL, Lauren Looks Back, the disaster artist, the room, tommy wiseau

Lauren Looks Back: Tommy Wiseau's Beautiful Train Wreck 'The Room'

What can I really say about this film? It's arguably one of the worst (or best?) movies ever made. It's unintentionally hilarious, has no real plot, and it's just plain weird. If you've never seen it, let me give you a basic rundown: a banker's fiancée seduces and manipulates his best friend. Super simple, right? What could possibly go wrong with a plot that straightforward?

The movie came out in 2003 and was a complete flop. An independent film written, directed by, and starring Tommy Wiseau as the main character (Johnny), the movie is mostly a series of sub-plots that have nothing to do with the overall plot. Wiseau had never made a movie before this one, and every single person in the film — aside from Greg Sestero (who plays Tommy's best friend Mark in the movie) — had never done a movie before, either.

Sestero was a friend of Wiseau's and wasn't even supposed to be in the film in the first place. But after Wiseau fired the original actor for Mark, Sestero stepped in. I don't really know what else to say without giving every plot points for the upcoming The Disaster Artist film (which details the production of the movie, which is based on the amazing book by Sestero), but I'll highlight some things that make me laugh my butt off.

Wiseau's line deliveries. By now most of you have seen the infamous "I did not hit her! It's not true! It's bullishit! I did not hit her! I did not! Oh, hi, Mark." scene. According to Sestero, it took 32 takes over three hours to film this one scene because Wiseau couldn't remember the lines.

It took six months to make the movie. Two cinematographers — and their crews — resigned. Three actors quit, causing noticeable replacements in the final product.

There was going to be a subplot where we find out Johnny is a vampire.

At one point, we learn that Johnny's future mother-in-law has breast cancer… in that she tells Lisa (Johnny's fiancée) that she has breast cancer, and then it's never brought up again.

There is a scene where the characters toss a football around, in an alley, while wearing tuxedos. We never find out why.

"Oh, hi doggy!" was improvised.

There was a lot of dubbed dialogue, which explains about 78%* of the film's weird dialogue.

The film has become a cult classic, with midnight showings, parties, and even Wiseau himself holding several Q&A sessions with fans over the years. Even Rifftrax took a stab at this movie, and it's hilarious. You should absolutely see this movie before seeing The Disaster Artist, because it puts some things in perspective. Good luck.

*I have no idea if it's really 78%. It's probably more.

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