MovieChat Forums > The Disaster Artist (2017) Discussion > The Book

The Book

posted 8 years ago by rjw510
6 replies | jump to latest

For those of you who have read The Disaster Artist, what did you feel towards Wiseau before, during and after? I went on something of an emotional roller coaster during the book. Before I read it I just saw him as a bit eccentric and clearly out of his depth, but as I got further through the book my view constantly changed; amusement, shock, sadness, dislike, hate, confusion, ridicule, sympathy, hilarity, and the rest, not necessarily in that order.

Even now, having read the book a couple of times and seen The Room more times than any well-adjusted human being should, I'm still trying to place Tommy and decide whether I like him or dislike him. Maybe I'm not supposed to do either.

[–] WarbabyFox 8 years ago

Tommy has lived a strange life thus far. I think his eccentric style has a lot to do with his car accidents. He didn't really have a good home life during his younger years either so I bet that *beep* him up as well.

[–] politicidal 8 years ago

Yea Tommy Wiseau is one of a kinda that's for certain. I pitied him sometimes and hated him the rest.

What's missing in movies is same as in society: a good sense of work ethic and living up to ideals.

[–] kurtolson_5 8 years ago

i kinda feelt sorry for the guy in some ways
but then again he seemed to be very rude and talked down on people a lot
so he kinda have himself to blame for being lonely

but im also happy he could succeed in his dream of being a filmmaker

[–] Moonlighty 8 years ago

Granted it's Greg's POV and could all be made up to sell a story. But it all sounds entirely believable based on Tommy's performance in the Room (and some other later interviews with Tommy and Greg). I think he was sympathetic before he made the Room, just a lonely awkward socially inept but funny guy. I could see why Greg felt drawn to him. But then when he got desperate and clingy and emotionally abusive, then he was a lot less endearing. With the backstory, you could see why he was a bit the way he was, but that's no excuse to be a dick. During the filming of the movie, he really was awful to the cast and crew.

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Consider the daffodil. And while you're doing that I'll be over here looking through your stuff.

[–] leesmith1988 8 years ago

Tommy is maladjusted, so I think it's natural to feel all those different emotions towards him, because he lacks any self awareness, he's oblivious to the way he treats people. He had preconceived notions of how hierarchical people acted within Hollywood. I couldn't help laughing at the part of The Disaster Artist where Greg describes Brianna wanting some water and Tommy shouts 'There is no water in Hollywood' and then proceeds with throwing a bottle of water at her head.

[–] Nephilim-6 7 years ago

Tommy is a strange man.

Judging from the book he comes across as a man who initially was innocent and a dreamer but was wronged so many times that he became resentful. But still vulnerable in a way that he refuses no-one into his life in order not to get hurt again.

That last bit in the book touched me a lot when they are at the screening and Tommy opens up and it ends with that very specific quote from Greg of not seeing Tommy anymore. And it sounds like Tommy's last bit of innocence died. Like he just gave up on dreams and became the persona just to be recognized.

Maybe I'm interpreting it wrong but it sounded like he just embraced stardom regardless. Letting go of integrity in favor of being 'loved'.

Did you ever notice that people who believe in creationism look really un-evolved? - Bill Hicks