James Franco: five best moments

http://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2015/feb/06/james-franco-five-best-moments-the-interview

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There seems to be nothing that 36-year-old James Franco can’t do: he paints, writes poetry, acts, directs and has even taught a university film class. But throughout his career as an actor, kick-started on cult TV comedy Freaks and Geeks, he has starred in a variety of films from irreverent comedies to Oscar-winning dramas.

He now stars in much-talked-about film The Interview, where he shares the screen with one of his long-time collaborators and friends, Seth Rogen. The movie was released online in the US in December last year, amid a flurry of controversy involving the North Korean government, in Australia in January, and opens in UK cinemas this weekend. Which Franco performances would you add to this list?

Pineapple Express

After watching this movie, it is obvious why Franco and Rogen have teamed up for several film projects ever since. Their evident chemistry onscreen allows Franco to give a hilarious and charming performance as a lonely drug dealer who hangs out at his house all the time and wants to lure Rogen’s character into becoming his best friend.

Milk

The Harvey Milk biopic boasted a vast cast led by multi-award winner Sean Penn, but the second-best performance of the film was undoubtedly Franco’s role as Milk’s boyfriend Scott Smith. As showcased here, this was Franco’s first major dramatic role – not counting TNT’s TV movie about James Dean, for which he won a well-deserved Golden Globe. But Milk was a turning point for Franco, the moment when he showed the industry he could do more than comedy and action.

127 Hours

This movie is all about Franco’s performance. He is the only actor we see for the majority of the film, and he successfully carries it. Just him, trapped, trying to survive; it was enough to convince critics around the world that he deserved some recognition. And it came indeed: he took home an Independent Spirit award and was nominated for a Golden Globe and an Academy Award (but we should all try to forget the notorious Oscar hosting fiasco).

This Is the End

What can an actor enjoy more than playing themselves? In this 2013 apocalypse comedy Franco and his chums got to do just that. Not only were they just making a film with their friends, but Franco took advantage of the meta-plot device to play his fictionalised self as an overdramatic, oversensitive narcissist who would do anything to be Rogen’s BFF.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Like 127 Hours, this reboot allowed Franco to distance himself from immature man-child roles and play a more sober, straightforward character. His performance helps the movie evolve, connecting the human-ape worlds through his father/son relationship with Caesar.