James Franco directed this labor-of-love adaptation of his own play with The Ape, a droning tale of a writer's downward spiral into rotting moral machismo that just so happens to also feature an annoying comedian in a really bad ape mask. What could have been an interesting premise turns nauseatingly sour as Franco's lead character becomes more unhinged as the audience's patience is tested to its breaking point. Camera compositions are the best thing about the stagy adaptation, with fine work by cinematographer David Klein being the most stand-out element of the production. Brian Lally as the imaginary Ape roommate has a few moments of levity, but he has the unfortunate luck of being shoehorned into a character that isn't that funny, even though he's still playing the role to the back of the theater. The film gets credit for its genuine N.Y.C. attitude and references that might only be appreciated by natives of that area.
