James Dean

TV-14

2001

1h 36m

Biography

List

93%

15 Reviews

Tomatometer

76%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Starting with his childhood in Santa Monica, this biopic explores the tumultuous life and early death of James Dean (James Franco). Dean makes his Hollywood debut in Elia Kazan's "East of Eden," opening the floodgates for his film career. While enjoying his newfound success, Dean embarks on a relationship with Italian actress Pier Angeli (Valentina Cervi). His success, however, is overshadowed by his father's (Michael Moriarty) reluctance to bridge a painfully deep gap with him.

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Critics Consensus

James Franco's uncanny portrayal of James Dean keeps this biopic engrossing, even as it emphasizes the Hollywood icon's myth over his more nuanced life story.

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Ann Hodges

Houston Chronicle

For Freaks & Geeks' James Franco, James Dean is a major breakthrough. He not only looks like him, but his mannerisms and his whole persona are startlingly real. This movie rests on his thin, hunched shoulders, and he carries it off.

Rated: A-

May 11, 2020

Full Review

Hal Boedeker

Orlando Sentinel

The movie itself is rarely adventurous, but it could prompt viewers to watch the actual Dean performances again. Credit for that would go mainly to Franco, who excels at playing this odd, conflicted figure.

May 11, 2020

Full Review

Austin Smith

New York Post

Franco's metamorphosis into Dean ranks as one of the great TV performances of the year. And it would have been enough to earn James Dean a rave, but it's only one of several performances that set this movie apart.

May 11, 2020

Full Review

Robert Lloyd

L.A. Weekly

James Dean is an unusually intelligent job that benefits from the relative modesty of its production and straightforward direction.

May 11, 2020

Full Review

M.S. Mason

Christian Science Monitor

James Franco is so Deansian, it's scary. The life story of the rebel without a cause has been shaped by fact and presumption into a startlingly enthralling drama.

May 11, 2020

Full Review

Terry Kelleher

People Magazine

There's no joy in noting that it sometimes plays like a parody of a James Dean movie.

May 11, 2020

Full Review

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James H

James Franco performance as the late great James Dean is so iconic Francos portrayal of Dean its like Dean took the role on himself

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/04/24

Full Review

william k

James Franco is excellent in the title role, but otherwise a stifled and cursory account of the actor's life.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

directing and screenplay meh, franco yeh

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

Full Review

andrey k

Wonderful biography of the great cult actor James Dean, brief and to the point.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

panayiota k

I am a bit disappointed with the movie. I didn't like that it was focused around his dad and also the fictional parts can be confusing. People who haven't read anything about the real James Dean and they just starting to know him, will have misconceptions about his character. The cast is great though, Enrico Colantoni, Samuel Gould and of course James Franco in a quality movie without Seth Rogen for a change.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

James Franco's performance is perfect, his physicality and tone of voice is all truly James Dean. Heartbreaking performance.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

Full Review

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Mark Rydell

Director

James Franco

James Dean

Michael Moriarty

Winton Dean

Valentina Cervi

Pier Angeli

Enrico Colantoni

Elia Kazan

Edward Herrmann

Raymond Massey

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Synopsis

Starting with his childhood in Santa Monica, this biopic explores the tumultuous life and early death of James Dean (James Franco). Dean makes his Hollywood debut in Elia Kazan's "East of Eden," opening the floodgates for his film career. While enjoying his newfound success, Dean embarks on a relationship with Italian actress Pier Angeli (Valentina Cervi). His success, however, is overshadowed by his father's (Michael Moriarty) reluctance to bridge a painfully deep gap with him.

Director: Mark Rydell
Producer: Bill Gerber, Mark Rydell
Screenwriter: Israel Horovitz
Production Co: Miramax
Rating: TV-14 (S|L)
Genre: Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 4, 2017
Runtime: 1h 36m
Sound Mix: Stereo

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