This Is the End [2013]

Seth Rogen presents a wholly original premise: He and his movie buddies — all meta-playing themselves — party at James Franco’s house when the Apocalypse hits. The execution is nearly great, with Michael Cera and a musical finale as the highlights.

d: Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg | imdb.com | trailer | Emma Watson
Pineapple Express 2 | The Real World | Interview: Rogen, Goldberg

Spring Breakers [2013]

Four college girls, two of them with a Disney pedigree, hit Spring Break and jail in an arthouse exploitation film. Then James Franco, wearing grillz and cornrows, bails them out, croons some Britney Spears and then the gunplay. This is really good (trash).

d: Harmony Korine | imdb.com | trailer | Chauffeur

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)

In this origin story and second “Planet” redux, scientist James Franco raises an ape with the help of a super drug. During Caesar’s maturation, the film does the near-impossible, humanizing the ape as it displays and elicits real emotions.

d: Rupert Wyatt | imdb.com | trailer | Ape escape | Charlie Rose

Your Highness (2011)

The stoner fantasy features a sorcerer’s tale and a sorcerer’s tail (Natalie Portman’s bare ass), but director David Gordon Green, James Franco and Danny McBride can’t recapture the high times of “Pineapple Express.” You may have to be stoned to enjoy it.

d: David Gordon Green | imdb.com | trailer | Advice for Isabel

127 Hours (2010)

Danny Boyle uses too-frenetic direction and flashbacks and James Franco employs a method all his own to play the real-life Aron Ralston, making the story of the 27-year-old hiker who cut off his right arm inspirational. But they don’t capture the solitude.

d: Danny Boyle | imdb.com | trailer | Wow | Aron falls. | Aron’s bag
I love you. | We have to do it again. | I aim to shave 45 minutes off.

Date Night (2010)

Excellent on television, Steve Carrell and Tina Fey are smarter than this action-comedy, which is, not ironically, standard date night material. The outtakes are the best part, a hint of what might have been had the pair been allowed to improvise the whole film.

d: Shawn Levy | imdb.com | trailer