James Franco is something of an enigma. On one side of the coin, he’s definitely an intelligent. He’s taught courses at NYU, USC and UCLA where he is also an adjunct professor of English and is pursuing a PhD at Yale. He is a prominent actor and a celebrated multimedia artist. He was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar at the Academy Awards for his performance in Danny Boyle‘s 127 Hours. And yet somehow, anytime the guy gives an interview, or even more notable when he hosted the Academy Awards, he kind of seems like a stoned goof.

This year, Franco has tried his hand at yet another project: adapting William Faulkner‘s As I Lay Dying. Considering the literary prowess of the source material, its status as a Cannes Selected Feature and this promising trailer, the result may just be quiet good. I typically have a hard time being won over by films about the early 20th century as they seem to rotate around accuracy rather than a hard pressing story so we’ll see where this one lands for me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VO68Kd2yQsE

As I Lay Dying is directed by James Franco and stars Franco, Jim Parrack, Tim Blake Nelson, Richard Jenkins, Danny McBride, Logan Marshall-Green,and Ahna O’Reilly. It is set to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on May 20.

Follow Silver Screen Riot on Facebook
Follow Silver Screen Riot on Twitter