Speaking Frankly with James

James Franco celebrates a birthday today (according to that lovely behemoth IMDB), and I think it's time to step back and look at his career. After all, this is a man who charmed the pants off everyone in sight as the brooding, poetic Daniel DeSario, then went ahead and played the crown prince of troubled youth, James Dean (in a role that nabbed him a Golden Globe). Hell, he even stole scenes from Robert de Niro in 2002's City by the Sea.

So what happened? Where are the award-worthy roles? Why is all the press going to the likes of other young talents in Hollywood? Every couple of years, an actor emerges and immediately everyone assumes that he's going to be the next thing, but even in Franco's case, it seems to have been a rather steep plummet. And what's more, no one seems to have noticed. After City by the Sea tanked at the box office, it was as if the boy wonder had never captivated the American Psyche. Forgotten amidst a sea of Jakes and Cillians, he seems to have been doomed to Spider-Man cameos and bad Romeo & Juliet knockoffs.

So, on this, the day of your birth, I implore you, Mr. Franco, to get off your ass and call your agent. Tell him you want to get cast in the next cowboy epic or in a big-screen adaptation of The Line of Beauty. Heath Ledger just had a renaissance-now make it your turn.