Watching the surreal, seriocomic, low-budget curio The Ape, James Franco’s directorial debut, one can’t help but be reminded tangentially of James Dean, and not merely because Franco memorably portrayed the legendarily brooding, cut-down-too-soon actor in a justly well-regarded made-for-television biopic. No, it’s rather that Franco’s turn as Harry Walker, a would-be novelist struggling with young married life and impending fatherhood, seems to capture everything about the collision of adolescence and adulthood — and its inherent apprehensiveness — that Dean poured into every one of his few screen roles.Revolutionary Road), its original staging and production cycle. C+ (Movie) B- (Disc)
I liked the review but Dave Klein is not on the commentary and Brian Lally
is.
Well James, it must’ve been a fun & exciting ride to do your first film – production, editing, writing, collaborating with your other theatre friends. It looks like you had a good time.
What I really liked was your interview. You expressed your thoughts & ideas so clearly & didn’t seem as shy as you have been. I was pleasantly surprised about that! You made a FINE interview! Find that same enthusiasm & warmth NOW and then you won’t keep saying that you’re ‘such a bad interview’! You can do it!
There were some great moments in The Ape but what I couldn’t get with was all the cussin. It really wasn’t necessary, ya know? The DVD box says the rating is NR – Not Rated.
This seemed to me to be an R.
Sorry, guy but that’s just my opinion.
What I took away from this film was that Harry Walker (your character) went crazy trying to write his dream novel and killed himself. So the ape isn’t real but is part of Harry’s imagination, yes? So Harry was talking to himself, fighting with himself and just imagining there’s an ape is his apt, right? That’s what I got out of it. What was the turning point of understanding was when the landlady called you back & said there WAS no fine print on the lease saying “UPKEEP OF THE APE”!! Wow – Harry had ISSUES!!
The “ron-de-jew” joke was funny, too! HA!
My favorite parts of this film was when you were in the office. Good stuff!
Enjoyed your chemistry with your “son”! He was such a handsome little boy!
You chose a good-lookin’ kid to play your offspring! Good goin! You should have more movie scenes with little kids. It was a nice side to see of you!
All in all, I’m glad I got to see your first attempt at film-making.
Hey, opinions count if they’re helpful. I hope mine was…