A.S.T.A.S.T.C

Anyone who knows me knows that I think The Room is a masterpiece. It is an amazing symphony of blunder, culminating in a singular viewing experience unlike like any other. When you aren’t laughing out loud at the unbelievable dialogue and characters, you are vocally questioning every decision that Writer/Director/Producer Tommy Wiseau made. Honestly, and without any disrespect, it is a FEAT to make a movie this bad. I truly believe that is more difficult to pull off a film with as many “what-the-f*&$-was-he-thinking” moments as The Room has than it is to make a really, genuinely great movie. The Lord of The Rings Trilogy took 4 years to shoot in remote locations while pushing filmmaking technology to the next level? Who cares! Tommy Wiseau couldn’t decide wether to shoot his film on HD or 35 mm film, so he bought one of each camera and shot it on both at the same time! Lets see Peter Jackson find the stones to pull off that maneuver! And yet, through it’s disappearing characters and plot lines, non sensical sets, and complete lack of flow, it is infinitely watch-able. Just ask any of the hundreds of people who line up at the Laemmle’s Sunset 5 in Hollywood on the last weekend of every month to watch it.

I’ve probably seen The Room 10 times at this point, but I’ve never seen it in the theater. Let me just say… AWESOME! The film has taken on a life of it’s own, with Rocky Horror like interactions and traditions. People shout at the screen in response to the incomprehensible dialogue and point out every plot flaw. And let me tell you, the crowd is on it’s game. Every error is pointed out, every brilliant moment covered with a chant or action. And before it all, Mr, Wiseau himself walks the line to take pictures and throw the football around.

Of all of the crowd interactions, and there are many, the throwing of plastic spoons is probably the most prevalent. One of the more bizarre production choices made in the film was the inclusion of framed pictures of spoons through out the main apartment set. Like most things in the movie, there is no real rhyme or reason to it (though I imagine Tommy would tell you about the symbolic meaning of spoons in all of our lives and how they power love between two people), but there they are, clear as day, and on screen a good chunk of the time. Whenever one of these artistic wonders appears, the crowd gleefully yells “SPOON!!!!!” at throw hundreds of pieces of the plastic cutlery into the air. The guy at the merchandise table (oh yes, there is a merchandise table) guessed that there were probably 10,000 spoons in the theater the night we went. I think he underestimated. There are scenes in the film where it does nothing but rain spoons. The floor after the movie is a wasteland of white plastic utensils. But I imagine, as a spoon, this is the way you would want to go out.  

One thing you can’t deny is the joyful, vulgar glee that everyone, new viewers and veterans alike, seem to have both before, during, and after the screening. There is a sense of common purpose for everyone there, and the energy is incredible. It was an amazing night, and I can’t recommend it enough!

(And for those who want to experience it for themselves, the next screening is on July 31!)