James Franco — Blog — 3 Brothers Film

Review: The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018)

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs is bleak and darkly funny Western anthology from the Coen Brothers, but doesn’t quite add up to more than the sum of its parts.

Reviews, The Current: At HomeAnders BergstromNovember 20, 2018Coen brothers, Joel and Ethan Coen, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, western, anthology, black comedy, violence, James Franco, Tim Blake Nelson, Tom Waits, Zoe Kazan, Liam Neeson, Brendan GleesonComment

Review: The Disaster Artist (2017)

This is a work of exceptional sympathy, of one artist bonding with another and transcending his own failings as he explores the failings of another.

Reviews, The Current: In Theatres, Aren's ReviewsAren BergstromDecember 8, 2017James Franco, Dave Franco, Seth Rogen, Alison Brie, Ari Graynor, Josh Hutcherson, Jacki Weaver, The Disaster Artist, The Room, Tommy Wiseau, Greg Sestero, Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber, Tom BissellComment

Review: Palo Alto (2014)

A moody and perceptive teen drama.

Reviews, The Current: In Theatres, Aren's ReviewsAren BergstromJuly 28, 2014drama, Emma Roberts, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Gia Coppola, high school, Jack Kilmer, James Franco, Nat Wolff, Palo Alto, teenagers, teens, Zoe LevinComment

Planet of the Apes: Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)

Our Planet of the Apes coverage ends with Aren's discussion of the rebooted franchise.

Features, Planet of the ApesAren BergstromJuly 21, 201420th Century Fox, action, adventure, Andy Serkis, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, drama, Gary Oldman, James Franco, Jason Clarke, Planet of the Apes, reboot, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Toby KebbellComment

Thursday Rethink: Spider-Man 3 Is Messy but Not a Disaster

Anton tempers criticism of the notorious superhero sequel.

Features, Thursday RethinkAnton BergstromMay 15, 2014artistic personality, auteurism, criticism, fan service, fandom, fans, James Franco, Kirsten Dunst, Sam Raimi, sequel, Spider-Man, Spider-Man 3, superhero, Tobey Maguire, Topher Grace Comments

The American Dream in Pain & Gain and Spring Breakers

Michael Bay and Harmony Korine's films satirize the concept of the American Dream.

Essays, Movies TodayAren BergstromMay 13, 2013action, American Dream, Dwayne Johnson, Harmony Korine, James Franco, Mark Wahlberg, Michael Bay, Pain & Gain, satire, Spring Breakers, trash cinema Comments

Review: Oz: The Great and Powerful (2013)

Sam Raimi's prequel to the classic is a joyous CGI spectacle.

Reviews, The Current: In Theatres, Aren's ReviewsAren BergstromMarch 16, 2013adventure, blockbuster, Disney, fantasy, James Franco, Michelle Williams, Mila Kunis, Oz, Oz: The Great and Powerful, Rachel Weisz, Sam Raimi, The Wizard of OzComment

Review: Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)

Less human, more ape, please.

Reviews, The Current: In TheatresAnton BergstromAugust 13, 2011Andy Serkis, apes, Brian Cox, Charlton Heston, James Franco, John Lithgow, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Rupert Wyatt, science fiction Comments