Best F(r)iends: Volume 1 (2017)

As you might know, I went from hating Tommy Wiseau's The Room to loving it. I also devoured Greg Sestero's book The Disaster Artists —and Franco's movie as well, but that's completely unrelated. So when I heard of Best F(r)iends: Volume 1, the first Wiseau-Sestero project in 15 years, I knew I would end up watching it. 

The film follows Jon (Greg Sestero), a drifter who stumbles upon Harvey (Tommy Wiseau), a quirky mortician. Harvey gives him a job and soon an unlikely partnership and friendship forms between the two men. Little does Harvey know that Jon is going to betray him.

I will not add anything else so not to spoil the film for you —just in case you're crazy enough to decide to watch it— but it's kinda The Room all over again. What I mean by it is that Sestero's character betrays Wiseau's this time around too, but the story is more complex than it looks like, it has a pretty tense ending that leaves you wanting more and, overall, it's a beautiful story about two lost souls, two sad people looking for human contact and relationships. 

The characters are kinda compelling as well. Greg Sestero wrote the character of Harvey specifically for Tommy Wiseau and I don't think he could have done anything smarter than that. Harvey is a quirky, eccentric and over-the-top man, he is coherent with Wiseau's personality and because of this, Wiseau does a wonderful job at depicting him. His performance isn't much better than that in The Room, but it's more than clear that he's having fun and that's enough to make you have fun —that and the unique way he delivers his lines. This guy was born to be a comedian in my opinion. Sestero gives a little amateurish and yet convincing performance as Jon, the homeless guy. The supporting characters and cast, on the other hand, are extremely uninteresting and boring.

Grindstone Entertainment Group, Lionsgate

Justin MacGregor's direction certainly isn't the best of the year but it isn't the worst either as it suits perfectly the material and the two leading actors. The pace could have been better and so the editing —some scenes are basically overly long shots that end up being dull—, but there are some unique camera angles and use of drones that are very interesting.

Would I suggest this film? It depends. If you enjoyed The Room, if you found it hilarious as I did from the second view, then, yes, watch it as it makes for a pretty weird and funny experience. If you hated The Room, if you are only into serious movies, then you can pass it.