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Have you ever stared at a disheveled, smelly, fierce-eyed derelict, talking to himself on a street corner, and wondered what it would be like to spend around two hours in his company? Have you ever wondered if compulsive necrophiliacs are humane deep down? Do you have a knack for deciphering nearly-inaudible dialogue spoken by people missing teeth and brain cells? Is that a yes? Thought so. Then look no further than

"Disillusioned youths groping for self-worth in the teenage wastelands of California." This could be the long-form title of newcomer Gia Coppola's directorial debut, adapted from a collection of short stories by James Franco. In a particularly lucid moment Franco said that he only wanted a woman to direct this adaptation, and that was the right move. She's been able to turn the violent environments of Franco's novels into tender

It was quite a while ago when Sam Raimi signed off on “Evil Dead,” a fun and uninhibited film that inspired many more and earned its author his reputation. Today, after the mid-air explosion of his Spiderman franchise Raimi turns his creative powers to mythology again with “Oz the great and powerful,” which was released in theaters earlier this month. And at the same time he sacrifices himself on the altar of the big-studio God

Actors Javier Bardem, Helen Mirren, James Franco, Viola Davis (pictured) and Olympia Dukakis as well as the singer Janis Joplin have been selected by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce to get their star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame in 2013. Several hundred candidates had applied to join the long list of artists whose stars are trampled daily by thousands of tourists milling around Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street. The list of the 2013

James Franco has a lot going for him. At thirty-four he’s already had a prolific career having risen from the parapets of television to Hollywood challenger status, all while attending grad school and appearing in a daytime soap.

But doesn’t this sound like the last-ditch attempt of a fading star seeking to reclaim the limelight? In interviews I’ve seen of him Franco appears as nothing more than

Is James Franco all over the place or what? Certainly, there are few careers as stimulating to watch (even the occasional booboo, like his hosting of the Oscar, somehow adds to his likableness). Edgy, edgy films like 127 hours, challenging roles (it took some nerve to play Alan Ginsburg in Howl) taking the time to attend a major university (Columbia),