In 2003 an unknown filmmaker called Tommy Wiseau wrote,
produced, directed and stared in the independent film The Room. Although thousands of independent movies are released
every year, Tommy’s was different. The
Room was perhaps the worst film ever made and has since gained cult status,
growing with popularity all the time as it is discovered by new people. If you
search for The Room on YouTube you
will find clips with views in their millions and about two years after first
being told about the film, I finally watched the entire thing today. Although
I’d seen the clips and had heard the stories, nothing could quite prepare me
for the ninety-nine minutes I saw. I have never seen a film that was as bad as The Room but I have seen plenty which I
have enjoyed less and although billed as a drama, I laughed as much as I have
during any film this year.
The plot centres around three people in a love triangle.
Johnny (Tommy Wiseau) is a fairly successful banker living with his fiancé Lisa
(Juliette Danielle) who is a bit of a bitch. Jonny piles his unusual love on
her and they seem very happy together but she has eyes for his best friend Mark
(Greg Sestero). Lisa begins an affair with Mark who is at first worried about
destroying his friendship with Johnny but soon finds Lisa too irresistible to
ignore. Lisa’s mother get’s cancer but this is swiftly ignored and never
mentioned again. Johnny begins to get depressed and becomes even more
incoherent that usual. Then he pets a dog and plays football in a tuxedo. Mark
becomes increasingly agitated and as a result his beard sometimes disappears
only to come back in the next scene. The film comes to a head at Johnny’s
birthday party where Lisa invites all of Johnny’s friends. Johnny tells her
that this was a good idea but is still suspicious about his fiancé and best
friend…
