Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2017
Let me be clear, The Room was not intended to be an easy watch. However, if you are able to understand the complex plot, it is easy to understand the hype surrounding the movie. The Room is a masterclass in subtlety.
The Room stars Carolyn Minnott, who plays Claudette, an elderly woman under anesthesia currently undergoing a last-ditch surgical attempt to rid her body of terminal late-stage breast cancer. Though her surgery is never shown, the director, Tommy Wiseau who plays the minor character Johnny, masterfully uses Claudette as an unreliable narrator to let the audience delve into Claudette's tormented ego as she comes to grips with her relationship with her daughter Lisa, the lingering angst Claudette has about her life's achievements, and her own mortality.
Initially, it bears mentioning how Wiseau brilliantly alludes to Claudette's surgery. Wiseau's use of subtlety in two respects demonstrates his understanding of cinematic technique. First, Wiseau uses set pieces that appear profoundly artificial. Many set pieces are oddly decorated, have backdrops that do not track with the foreground, or are completely unnecessary to the plot. Second, Wiseau also injects subtle artificiality into characters themselves. Love scenes don't make sense anatomically, the delivery of certain lines is exaggerated beyond all bounds of acceptability, and many characters wear clothing that seems to be taken off the backs of the 1996 NBA draft class.
The Room stars Carolyn Minnott, who plays Claudette, an elderly woman under anesthesia currently undergoing a last-ditch surgical attempt to rid her body of terminal late-stage breast cancer. Though her surgery is never shown, the director, Tommy Wiseau who plays the minor character Johnny, masterfully uses Claudette as an unreliable narrator to let the audience delve into Claudette's tormented ego as she comes to grips with her relationship with her daughter Lisa, the lingering angst Claudette has about her life's achievements, and her own mortality.
Initially, it bears mentioning how Wiseau brilliantly alludes to Claudette's surgery. Wiseau's use of subtlety in two respects demonstrates his understanding of cinematic technique. First, Wiseau uses set pieces that appear profoundly artificial. Many set pieces are oddly decorated, have backdrops that do not track with the foreground, or are completely unnecessary to the plot. Second, Wiseau also injects subtle artificiality into characters themselves. Love scenes don't make sense anatomically, the delivery of certain lines is exaggerated beyond all bounds of acceptability, and many characters wear clothing that seems to be taken off the backs of the 1996 NBA draft class.
Do not be alarmed, this was intentional. Wiseau uses this artificiality to convey a sense that something is just not right...that perhaps what we're seeing is not quite reality, but instead are the memories of a tortured mind under anesthesia. This properly sets the stage for Claudette's introspective fever dream drama.
Claudette's tale is predominantly told through her interactions with other characters. Notably, the depictions of the characters in the movie are a prime example of how Wiseau tells this tale - elaborating on the personality of Claudette, and giving us a glimpse into the life she has lived, a life which might be lost at the end of the movie. For example, throughout the movie, it is clear that the anesthesia causes Claudette to undertake a profound self-examination, which Wiseau portrays by having Claudette impose her own insecurities onto others. The appearance of many characters changes subtly between most scenes, each character has subplots or motivations that are only partially developed, many characters appear fickle or even homicidal, and sometimes entire characters are replaced with different actors.
Claudette's tale is predominantly told through her interactions with other characters. Notably, the depictions of the characters in the movie are a prime example of how Wiseau tells this tale - elaborating on the personality of Claudette, and giving us a glimpse into the life she has lived, a life which might be lost at the end of the movie. For example, throughout the movie, it is clear that the anesthesia causes Claudette to undertake a profound self-examination, which Wiseau portrays by having Claudette impose her own insecurities onto others. The appearance of many characters changes subtly between most scenes, each character has subplots or motivations that are only partially developed, many characters appear fickle or even homicidal, and sometimes entire characters are replaced with different actors.
It is clear that Wiseau did this to demonstrate the inner turmoil felt by Claudette while on the operating table, and balancing this with Claudette's own limited experience with many of the people she knows in her own life. For example, although Claudette's relationship with her daughter is a loving one, Lisa is often depicted as manipulative and conniving. This clearly shows that while Claudette loves her otherwise perfect daughter, she is upset by her bland eagerness to be married and live safely. This allows us to understand better Claudette's regrets. By imposing this character flaw onto her daughter, Wiseau peels back the layer of the Claudette onion, and shows how she secretly wishes her daughter would live the life Claudette always dreamed about - carefree without regard for the feelings of others. By imposing her own insecurities onto her perfect daughter, Wiseau gives the watcher a glimpse into the complex motivations of Claudette.
Another prime example is Peter, Johnny's psychologist friend. Peter represents Claudette's feelings about the psychology profession as a whole. While Peter often times give sound advice, he is ambiguously replaced with another actor later in the movie. This shows that while Claudette values good psychological advice, in her opinion psychologists are fungible as good advice can come from anyone. Did Claudette have a bad experience with a psychologist in the past? Who knows, as Wiseau deliberately uses this ambiguity to paint a more pained and nuanced picture of Claudette.
However, what is most compelling about the Room is how Wiseau breaks the fourth wall by juxtaposing Claudette's thoughtful and seemingly self-aware dialogue against the nonsensical lines recited by other characters. For example, when major reoccurring and purposeful character Denny (played by Phillip Haldiman) asks Lisa to borrow the ingredients for basically an entire cake, Claudette asks whether Denny even has a kitchen. This rare criticality insinuates that Claudette is aware that she is undergoing surgery and subtly makes the viewer reflect on the extent of Claudette's own introspection. In fact, Claudette's brief mention of her breast cancer shows she is not only aware of it; but more importantly, the briefness in which it is mentioned shows that Claudette has avoided addressing it for a while, but believes she must now confront it directly. This sets up the final scene - Claudette's climactic coming to grips with her own mortality.
Finally ending in the death of a minor character (I won't say who), Claudette eventually comes to grips with her own mortality. Though it is left ambiguous whether Claudette passes away at the end of the movie, it is - MAJOR SPOILERS - heavily implied that Claudette succumbs to her illness on the operating table. However, although Claudette may have passed, it is not before many of the characters express strong regrets for the events that transpired during the movie. Many characters are remorseful for the way they treated others, and many are struck by their own profound self-realizations. This is Claudette reconciling her turmoils. Although it is heavily implied Claudette succumbs to cancer, Wiseau leaves Claudette's fate open to interpretation, keeping the door open to the possibility of a happy ending - Claudette is finally able to live the carefree life she has always dreamed.
In the end, it's hard to think of adjectives to describe a movie that so masterfully uses an apparently standalone plot as a distraction from the true plot - a nuanced and self-aware introspective about the life and times of a dying woman. This movie is truly unique and peerless. The five stars reviews of this movie are well deserved and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an esoteric cult-classic that ranks among the greatest psychological thrillers of its day. If you like this movie, I would also recommend Memento, Split, or anything with Nicolas Cage.
OVERALL RATING: 5 thumbs up and 2/2 stars.
Another prime example is Peter, Johnny's psychologist friend. Peter represents Claudette's feelings about the psychology profession as a whole. While Peter often times give sound advice, he is ambiguously replaced with another actor later in the movie. This shows that while Claudette values good psychological advice, in her opinion psychologists are fungible as good advice can come from anyone. Did Claudette have a bad experience with a psychologist in the past? Who knows, as Wiseau deliberately uses this ambiguity to paint a more pained and nuanced picture of Claudette.
However, what is most compelling about the Room is how Wiseau breaks the fourth wall by juxtaposing Claudette's thoughtful and seemingly self-aware dialogue against the nonsensical lines recited by other characters. For example, when major reoccurring and purposeful character Denny (played by Phillip Haldiman) asks Lisa to borrow the ingredients for basically an entire cake, Claudette asks whether Denny even has a kitchen. This rare criticality insinuates that Claudette is aware that she is undergoing surgery and subtly makes the viewer reflect on the extent of Claudette's own introspection. In fact, Claudette's brief mention of her breast cancer shows she is not only aware of it; but more importantly, the briefness in which it is mentioned shows that Claudette has avoided addressing it for a while, but believes she must now confront it directly. This sets up the final scene - Claudette's climactic coming to grips with her own mortality.
Finally ending in the death of a minor character (I won't say who), Claudette eventually comes to grips with her own mortality. Though it is left ambiguous whether Claudette passes away at the end of the movie, it is - MAJOR SPOILERS - heavily implied that Claudette succumbs to her illness on the operating table. However, although Claudette may have passed, it is not before many of the characters express strong regrets for the events that transpired during the movie. Many characters are remorseful for the way they treated others, and many are struck by their own profound self-realizations. This is Claudette reconciling her turmoils. Although it is heavily implied Claudette succumbs to cancer, Wiseau leaves Claudette's fate open to interpretation, keeping the door open to the possibility of a happy ending - Claudette is finally able to live the carefree life she has always dreamed.
In the end, it's hard to think of adjectives to describe a movie that so masterfully uses an apparently standalone plot as a distraction from the true plot - a nuanced and self-aware introspective about the life and times of a dying woman. This movie is truly unique and peerless. The five stars reviews of this movie are well deserved and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an esoteric cult-classic that ranks among the greatest psychological thrillers of its day. If you like this movie, I would also recommend Memento, Split, or anything with Nicolas Cage.
OVERALL RATING: 5 thumbs up and 2/2 stars.
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