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James Franco rants on Instagram over New York Times review

James Franco isn't keeping quiet over a recent negative review in The New York Times.

A scathing message posted to the actor's Twitter account Thursday blasted the Times' theater critic Ben Brantley for his pan of the new "Of Mice and Men" Broadway revival.

Franco and "Bridesmaids" star Chris O'Dowd performed in the play's opening night Wednesday. Based on George Steinbeck's classic 1939 novella, the "This Is The End" actor is portraying migrant worker George while O'Dowd has stepped into the role of the mentally incompetent Lennie.

After the New York Times released a less-than-flattering review of the play, Franco went on a rant on Instagram, calling Brantley a "little b****" and declaring that "the theater community hates him."

The Instagram post was quickly deleted, but not before Vanity Fair's Richard Lawson obtained a screenshot:

Franco later reposted the same photo but without the comments about Brantley in the caption.

Franco and O'Dowd will be starring in "Of Mice and Men" at the Longacre Theatre until July 27.

Tell us: Do you think Franco went to far with his post? Or was he justified in defending his work?

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