By Drew Grant 2/28 9:44pm

Acting with James Franco

Clockwise from top: Franco, Dangeruss and Riff Raff

James Franco Finds Way to Piss Off Rapper After Playing Down Spring Breakers Inspiration

In Spring Breakers, James Franco has made the role of a lifetime: Alien, a gangsta white-boy townie from Florida who seduces (and in turn gets seduced by) the trio of bubble-gum co-eds turned criminals played by Vanessa Hudgens, Selena Gomez, Ashley Benson, and director Harmony Korine’s wife, Rachel Korine. He’s a creepy, status-obsessed wannabe, but Franco managed to take inspiration from outside of himself anyway.

Since the beginning, rapper Riff Raff has been promoting the film, saying the Franco character was based on him. And the similarities are evident: the gold grill, the dreadlocks, the fact that one of his albums was called The Golden Alien and he and Korine appeared on a Sneeze magazine’s cover together.

All was kosher. That is, until James Franco got upset over the idea that his performance could have been done by the From Gs to Gents contestant himself. Read More

By Drew Grant 2/27 2:06pm

Being James Fanco

Besties. (Getty Images)

Using the Kübler-Ross Model for Marina Abramovic’s Documentary on James Franco

1. Denial: According to Elle.com, Marina Abramovic is looking to make a film which explains to audiences, “‘Who is James Franco?’ and ‘Why is he doing what he’s doing?’” Haha, that is a very good question!
… Wait, this is a joke, right? Wasn’t he just involved in the documentary about HER? I’m pretty sure that’s illegal. Or at least, really gauche. Very funny, you guys. Read More

By Drew Grant 2/18 6:22pm

Franco Files

Ceci n'est pas un merde. (Illustration by James Franco)

James Franco Explains ‘Gay Town’ Exhibit to Breathless Financial Times Reporter

Remember how James Franco just debuted his latest art exhibit, “Gay Town” in Berlin last week? You know. The one with that angry picture of Spider-Man. We did a whole post on it, go read it.

Apparently we weren’t the only ones to take notice of Franco’s latest “art” project, as evidenced by Peter Aspden’s overly adverb-laced interview with the actor in this weekend’s Financial Times. Franco says things “chummily,” and “out-zonks” Aspden “instantly.” There’s a whole paragraph devoted to his smile. But even the puffiest puff piece can’t save Franco from himself, like when pressed to explain his insane Spider-Man picture: Read More

By Drew Grant 2/14 3:11pm

The Ouroboros of Franco

"Hey girl."

NASCAR Grand Marshal James Franco Opens ‘Gay Town’ in Berlin

Hey ladies. You know, on this very special Valentine’s Day, you’re not looking for a dozen roses or a bear holding a box of chocolate. You’re not looking for hearts, or balloons, or even a book of homemade coupons offering “I O U = One (1) Free Massage During a Screening of Crazy, Stupid Love on Our DVD Player (Your Choice, Non-Transferable).”

No girl, what really gets your motor running (pun intended) is to have artist/actor/Grand Marshal for the Daytona 500 James Franco show you the collection for his latest installation exhibit in Berlin, “Gay Town.” Read More

By Drew Grant 1/22 1:25pm

Sundance Film Festival

7 Photos

You go, boy.

The Observer’s Grand Jury Prizes for Sundance

Sundance Film Festival, perhaps the most sporty/mainstream of all the cinema fests (Cannes more about getting drunk in the sun and being weird, SXSW is more about being the next Lena Dunham), is currently full swing. Which means that all the celebrities have mercifully vacated the premises for a week and are up in Utah, pretending to know what those white, flaky stuff on the ground happens to be. Though we haven’t seen the film selection this year because we’re still not allowed in NC-17-rated films, we do have our own Grand Jury selection awards to hand out for Excellence in Sundancing. Take a look. Read More

By Kara Bloomgarden-Smoke 1/21 12:03pm

james franco

Screen Shot 2013-01-21 at 11.57.05 AM

Future Poet Laureate James Franco’s Ode to Obama

Writer, actor and perpetual grad student James Franco penned a poem specifically for the inauguration called “Obama in Asheville.” The poem, commissioned by patron-of-arts Yahoo! News, really sums up….well, something.

He references Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, Claire Danes, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Cormac McCarthy, Christopher Hitchens, his friend Frank, Eleanor Coppola and, of course, the President. Someone get this guy (another) book deal, stat. Read More

By Drew Grant 1/17 2:35pm

MOVIE TRAILERS

Video

Get ready to feel dirty!

Harmony Korine’s Spring Breakers Preview: Sullied Tweenies, James Franco, ‘Spring Break!’ (Video)

Harmony Korine is either a brilliant genius or insane or both. Not that these are new opinions about the director of Trash Humpers, but still … teaming up with James Franco to make a movie about four teenagers who lose their innocence and become dirty little freaks over the course of one Spring Break is dark enough. Having the teenagers played by formerly squeaky-clean tween stars like Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Benson and Selena Gomez (well, she’s less clean now) and Korine’s own daughter wife(!!!), Rachel Korine? That’s bordering on distasteful.

The trailer for Spring Breakers has just hit the net, giving us first glimpse into this sordid tale, which looks like it will give Tony Kushner’s Lincoln script a run for its money. Read More

By Drew Grant 1/08 12:03pm

james franco

Video

Franco does Bieber (YouTube)

James Franco Is a 13-Year-Old Girl; Lip-Syncs to Bieber (Video)

James Franco doesn’t have a lot of down time, what with his new book he’s supposed to be writing and his Huffington Post award-winning columns and all (plus maybe a movie career). Still, when he gets some time to just let loose, the 34-year-old likes to just let loose, you know? Drink some beer, goof off with friends, and of course, obviously, make tribute videos to his favorite Justin Bieber songs.

Though the cover of Bieber’s “Boyfriend” was originally on Mr. Franco’s WhoSay account, it has since been deleted. Also, it looks a lot more like Dave Franco than his older, more famously annoying brother, but maybe it’s just the hair.

Check it out for yourself below. Read More

By Drew Grant 9:35am

2012 in review

10 Photos

Biggest Over/Underachiever: James Franco

Celebrity Superlatives: Class of 2012

This has been a big year for the young Hollywood crowd! Channing Tatum made the cover of People‘s Sexiest Man Alive, Taylor Swift dated both a Kennedy and a New Direction, and Lena Dunham did everything else. But now that the year is coming to an end, it’s time we hand out the awards like “Best Smile” and “Most Likely to Become President” (both go to Ryan Gosling). Give a hand for your 2012 Class of Celebrity Superlatives! Read More