James Franco and Seth Rogen have been nothing short of entertaining over the course of their careers. The two have been together since their start on the short-lived series, Freaks and Geeks, and they haven’t looked back since.
Franco has had the glorious Hollywood career. Most fans know him as Harry Osborn from the first Spider trilogy. However, the actor is also an Academy Award nominee for his role in the thrilling 127 Hours. Rogen, has seen his stock rise from unknown Hollywood actor to A-lister in the last decade. Getting his start on Apatow’s, 40 Year Old Virgin, Rogen made it big on the comedy, Knocked Up, and had appeared in countless other films including, Green Hornet, the Guilt Trip, and Neighbors.
Together the two have done many other comedies such as Pineapple Express, which told the story of two stoners on the run, and This is The End, which saw the actors play themselves in an apocalyptic Los Angeles. While their films have certainly been entertaining, it is their newest project that has many up in arms.
Franco and Rogen’s new film, The Interview is set to open this fall. The movie tells the story of two journalists (played by Franco and Rogen) sent to North Korea to kill Kim-Jong-Un. The film, which is not meant to be harmless, has come under fire from some in North Korea.
On June 25, 2014 North Korean news cited a government official who stated the film shouldn’t be made, and if it does see the release their will be “merciless” retaliation.
As it stands now, the film will be released, but Sony Pictures will be amending parts of the film to try to ease tension that has arisen. As a result, the movie was pushed back from an October 2014 release to a December 25, 2014 release date to accommodate the changes
So while Franco and Rogen’s films are funny and entertaining, has this one gone too far?
It’s common for movies about weed, like Pineapple Express and other movies with suggestive takes on religion, such as This is The End, to spark some controversy.
However, “The Interview” could have taken things to a whole new level.
While this writers is all for a new original comedy, joking about an issue as big as North Korea, and its leader Kim-Jong-Un, is a serious step in the wrong direction.
With tensions in the country being at such a high, the movie will just escalate the issue even further. The threat of a “merciless” attack coming at the movie’s expense, is it still in good taste to release the movie?
During an interview with Nightline, Rogen addressed the topic.
“It’s a tough subject matter,” But I think the best comedies deal with what on the surface might be a tough thing to make light of.”
Rogen has a point, sometimes the best films are ones that can push the envelope. However, at what cost must we go through to get a laugh. I’m sure Rogen and Franco aren’t trying to escalate tensions in North Korea, and I’m sure their hearts are in the right place, but are their minds?
#TheInterview
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