James Franco’s Oscar Roundtable performance in Newsweek was substantial and weird.
Every year a copy Newsweek shows up on my doorstep with a bunch of actors on the cover. I say, “huh?’ but then remember it’s their annual Oscar Roundtable feature where a few venerable actors hold forth on actor-y subjects like “landing the perfect kiss” or “trying something out in a different voice.” I was pleased to see James Franco with a murky grin sitting among the likes of Colin Firth, Annette Benning and Nicole Kidman.
Despite the number of exclamation points the Newsweek editors threw into the conversation (“Sex!”) the roundtable lacked excitement and chemistry. I immediately found myself scanning the pages for “FRANCO:”
When asked about the usually cute subject of how to land a perfect onscreen kiss, Franco immediately started talking about pornography: “I think if anybody who has made a home sex tape knows, what feels best doesn’t always look best. You have a lot of respect for those actors in pornography because they are really not just doing it, they are selling it. It’s the same thing with a kiss.”
After shitting of “The Social Network” he went on to explain why he isn’t on Facebook: “I have, like, different—a lot of different aspects, or different kinds of people in my life, and I just hated the idea that they were all going to mix on my page. I didn’t want professors hearing from my stupid friends.” James Franco is an elitist prick but you have to hand it to him for not having any bones about it.
Franco also refused to divulge any information about what he plans on doing at the Academy Awards, which he is co-hosting this year with Anne Hathaway. He assured everyone it will include singing and dancing.
Naturally, he ended the interview with an amazing quote: “I’d like a child.”
Can’t wait to see the baby footage on Funny or Die.
