Trailer Time: James Franco's Hart Crane biopic, 'The Broken Tower'

James Franco is anything but your typical Hollywood pretty boy. I know movies like Pineapple Express and Your Highness may appeal to the lowest common denominator, but he has a diverse array of interests that have seen him  tackle projects most wouldn't dare. Some of those have come to fruition, such as starring in Howl, the Allen Ginsberg biopic. Others, such as his planned adaptations of Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian and Faulkner's As I Lay Dying may be tougher sells.

Next on his list is The Broken Tower, a docudrama centered on the life of poet Hart Crane, who committed suicide by jumping off a steamship in 1932 at the age of 32. The film is based on the Crane biography written by Paul Mariani. While he would come to be regarded as one of the most influential poets of his generation, Crane nonetheless saw himself as a failure who could never find happiness due to his homosexuality. His first and only attempt at a long poem, The Bridge, is considered to this day to be his most accomplished work.  The film's title comes from Crane's final poem, which many believe to have sprung from his failed heterosexual relationship with a friend's ex-wife.

Franco wrote, directed, and stars in the film, which also features his brother, Dave Franco, as well as Michael Shannon. The first teaser trailer has been released, and it's clear he's got a lot of passion for the subject. The Broken Tower is currently available On Demand, with the DVD to be released on March 27th....[ThePlaylist]