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. with a penchant for loud Hawaiian shirts and goading trash talking. Harangued by this (imaginary?) roommate, Harry spins further and further out of control, unraveling at work and eventually indulging in an affair with his boss, Cathy (Allison Bibicoff). Having alienated everyone in his life, it seems like only the ape is there for Harry. Of course, given the atypicality of this relationship, it can’t end well.<BR><BR>First off, the ape mask and suit are purposefully low-fi, all the better to ratchet up the movie’s off-kilter, DIY charms. <STRONG>For those wondering too, yes, there are problems with lice and poop flinging, and the masturbatory habits of apes are addressed as well</STRONG>. The role of Harry indulges Franco’s penchant for squinty disaffection, and in the end <EM>The Ape</EM> is <STRONG>a bit too willfully weird to connect on the basic emotional level to which it aspires</STRONG>. Still, the film is at least pleasantly out-of-the-box, refreshingly different from the sort of self-indulgent tripe one would expect from a young actor of Franco’s station. And some of its dialogue is occasionally inspired, too, as in a bit where Cathy is revealed to have been using an ethnic online dating site called “Rendez-Jew.”<BR><BR>Presented in 1.77:1 anamorphic widescreen with Dolby digital 5.1 and 5.1 DTS audio tracks, <EM>The Ape</EM> looks a lot better than it has any right to, as Franco and cinematographer-producer David Klein (<EM>Clerks</EM>) do a good job of expanding the project’s visual palette and giving it some real space to breathe. It’s not hamstrung by amateurish production value; quite the opposite, it’s smartly rendered. <STRONG>It also comes replete with a few nice bonus features, namely an audio commentary track with Franco, Klein and fellow producer Vince Jolivette, and a 10-minute, partitioned interview with the soft-spoken Franco in which he dissects the tangential inspiration for the project</STRONG> (including the works of Edward Albee, plus Richard Yates’ <A href=)
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…