Zeroville

Zeroville is a 2019 movie directed by James Franco, who stars in the lead role alongside a talented supporting cast including Megan Fox and Seth Rogen. This star-studded comedy-drama is based on Steve Erickson's 2007 novel, which shares the same title.

Venturing into the world of Zeroville, viewers are transported to the transformative landscape of 1960s Hollywood. James Franco embodies Vicar, a strange, socially awkward character who is living on the borderline of sanity and obsession. With a shaved head covered in tattoos of Montgomery Clift and Elizabeth Taylor, his fascination with movie lore is immediately apparent, solidifying his dominating passion for the cinema. Viewers can't help but be drawn into Vicar's unabashed love for movie magic, marking him as a bizarre yet endearing protagonist.

Vicar finds himself in Hollywood dreaming of working in the film industry. He is an outsider, strange and misunderstood, yet he's obsessed with the magic of cinema. Despite being an excellent film editor, Vicar is also a social misfit, captivating viewers with his unconventional methods and unfiltered opinions about movies. Yet, his vision, understanding, and passion propel him through the frenzied universe of Hollywood, symbolically marked with "1969" tattooed on the back of his bald head, creating an enduring image of his committed, passionate love affair with cinema.

Amidst the era of radical cultural shifts, Zeroville heavily invests in showing how old Hollywood glamour was slowly giving its way to the agents of change with the advent of the New Hollywood. Seth Rogan plays Wolf, a boisterous, stereotypical Hollywood character who guides Vicar through the fascinating and intimidating labyrinth of Tinseltown. Franco explores this clash of cultures in an unhinged, energetic style, creating a spectacle that's at once baffling, mesmerizing and utterly original.

Megan Fox plays Soledad, a glamorous actress who becomes the object of Vicar's affection. Fox's performance is strong and compelling as she brings a depth to Soledad that exceeds the initial impressions of her as a superficial starlet. The chemistry between Franco and Fox on-screen drips with intensity, adding a crucial dimension that keeps the Zeroville engaging.

The aesthetic dimension of Zeroville is absolutely integral to the film. Franco and his team expertly recreate the fashion, architecture, and overall aura of late-60s Hollywood. Cinematic references and nods to iconic films of the era are seamlessly woven into the film, serving as a love letter to the history of cinema. This climate of pop culture, steeped in film history, creates a backdrop against which the enthralling narrative unfolds.

Zeroville also explores the many ironies and paradoxes of Hollywood. It delves into the often contradictory world of movie making, laying bare the strange dichotomies that form the town's essence. All while showing the sometimes absurd, occasionally heartbreaking, but always enthralling world of moviemaking.

The narrative style is nonlinear, flashing forward and backward in time, giving viewers a portrait of Vicar's emotional journey as he navigates the realms of his obsession. This surreal approach enhances the overall tone of the film, veering from comedy to angst to optimism with an unpredictability that mimics the rollercoaster of life and the ups and downs of pursuing dreams in Hollywood.

However, Zeroville doesn't merely aim to entertain. It's also a commentary on the nature of film and its power to influence and shape perception. Moreover, it scrutinizes the very process of making and consuming films, revealing the artifice behind what viewers usually accept as entertainment or art.

In summary, Zeroville is a surreal, thought-provoking comedy-drama that dives deep into the world of Hollywood. Franco's passion project, characterized by eccentric characters, humour, heart, and a profound love for cinema, reflects on film's magic and power while satirizing the industry that produces it. It may not be a conventional movie, but it's a must-watch for anyone who shares Vicar's love for the magic of cinema or anyone who appreciates the quirks and complexities of a culture-shaping industry.