In a world of cynical imitators and cheesy-on-purpose clones (we’re looking at you, Sharknado), The Room remains the gold standard for completely sincere, completely stupefying so-bad-it’s-good cinema. The empty-headed opus of the mysteriously accented Tommy Wiseau bombed upon its initial release in 2003, but gained a fervent cult following in the years to come. It’s easy to see why: The film is staggeringly incompetent on all levels, kinda-sorta telling the tale of a man (Wiseau), his cheating fiancée, and assorted hangers-on as they deliver overwrought proclamations of betrayal (“YOU’RE TEARING ME APART, LISA!”), reveal terrible secrets that are never referenced again (“I definitely have breast cancer”), and toss around footballs in ways that no human beings ever toss around footballs. It’s a glorious, monumental mess, and a complete hoot. Oh hi, Mark.
Sadly, Wiseau caught the self-awareness bug soon after the release of The Room, even claiming the film was supposed to be a “black comedy.” (Pro tip: It wasn’t.) Still, that shouldn’t dissuade folks from coming out when The Room and Wiseau himself return to Milwaukee’s Landmark Oriental Theatre this September. On Friday, September 4 and Saturday, September 5, Wiseau will grace the historic theater with his disquieting presence for the first time in three years in order to celebrate the 12th anniversary of his unintentional “masterpiece.” Both dates will be midnight screenings, and both will include episodes of Wiseau’s new series, The Neighbors. And yes, Wiseau will be there to…well, do whatever it is he does at these things.
Advance tickets are $15, and can be purchased at the Oriental box office or online. Ha, ha, ha. What a story, Mark.