James Dean (2001)

Best movie of this year hands down!

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

This is a TV biopic of James Dean. It starts with director Elia Kazan (Enrico Colantoni) egging Dean on as he keeps rubbing Raymond Massey the wrong way. Then it goes back to his childhood as he loses his beloved mother. His cold distant father Winton (Michael Moriarty) would abandon him to other family members. He would never get the approval from his father that he craves so much. He would ascend through the acting world in NYC and Hollywood as well.I'm not a big enough Dean fan to know how much truth is in this picture. However there is no denying that James Franco is the perfect guy of his generation to play the guy. It's much more than mimicry. He is channeling his spirit somehow or at least his public persona. He is really the rebel without a cause. The production is OK for a TV movie. The style is old school and functional. Watch it for Franco's performance.

for the younger generation this movie is not so good. james franco is not a good james dean.the movie is well made.BUT THAT JUST IS NOT JAMES DEAN.so many actors have tried over the years to capture his magic not one has so far.the main thing about james dean is you can watch his films over and over again and not once will you ever catch him acting, in every scene you believe he his that person. james franco trys to hard you can tell he's acting. i would recommend that people just watch the real jimmy. lets just remember him as he was Hollywood has made enough money out of his death let him rest in peace stop making these awful movies about his life.

James Franco did a completely spectacular job in James Dean and with the performance he gave he has really set the bar for all actors everywhere, from the past and for years to come. I have a lot a trouble believing anyone will ever be able to beat that performance and he really made me open my eyes to him. In my opinion he is the greatest actor the world has ever seen and I have a feeling no one will ever be able to change that. Not only did he become my favourite actor after seeing the movie but at the same time I've become jealous that someone could have so much talent. Keep up the good work Jimmy, many people are excepting great things from you now. Three words - "James is King."

Before I started my senior year in high school, I had watched the premiere of the TNT original movie about the famous actor who died at a young age in the 1950's. The actor who portrays the late actor is James Franco (who strikes a resemblance) in which throughout the film, Franco portrays the character with such realism that we are convinced that he IS James Dean. This film is a look from how he started off in Hollywood doing famous films as "Giant" and "Rebel Without A Cause" to the conflicts he had in his family and the early marriage he had. Yet, as of now, people still cherish James Dean as a recognizable actor who died too young; as of 2005, I only pray that James Franco doesn't leave us anytime soon as he continues to make movies.