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Man On The Moon
1999
In a remarkable and touching performance, Jim Carrey tones down his usual idiosyncrasies to play late avant garde comedian Andy Kaufman in MAN ON THE MOON. In life, Kaufman was a complex, controversial, and, at times, insane performer, and Carrey captures this, as well as the subtle nuances of his more toned-down private life. .. Read more
| Starring | Jim Carrey, Danny De Vito, Courtney Love, Paul Giamatti |
|---|---|
| Director | Milos Forman |
| Genres | Comedy, Drama |
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Man On The Moon
In a remarkable and touching performance, Jim Carrey tones down his usual idiosyncrasies to play late avant garde comedian Andy Kaufman in MAN ON THE MOON. In life, Kaufman was a complex, controversial, and, at times, insane performer, and Carrey captures this, as well as the subtle nuances of his more toned-down private life. Director Milos Forman stages faithful recreations of Kaufman's pranks, method-like immersion in characters, and even scenes from TAXI, the hit TV show that made him a star, but also follows the comedian through his tragic diagnosis with cancer and his loving relationship with his girlfriend Lynne Margulies (Courtney Love). Danny DeVito, Kaufman's real-life TAXI co-star, plays George Shapiro, the manager who discovers him and is willing to put up with all his antics, acknowledging Andy's wry genius. Along the way on his self-made rocky road of stardom, Kaufman reinvents himself as a foreign man who mangles jokes, and as Elvis; lip-syncs the MIGHTY MOUSE cartoon theme after a full minute of dead air time on Saturday Night Live; becomes a professional wrestler, and subsequently manages to sabotage his TV career. The supporting cast in MAN ON THE MOON is excellent, including Paul Giamatti has his comedic partner-in-crime, and many members of the real cast of TAXI.
| Starring | Jim Carrey, Danny De Vito, Courtney Love, Paul Giamatti |
|---|---|
| Director | Milos Forman |
| Studio | UNIVERSAL PICTURES UK |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 53 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Comedy, Drama |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 04 Apr 2005 Production year: 1999 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (3)
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The non-conforming, self-destructive career of comedian Andy Kaufman (who found fame as the squeaky-voiced Latka in the 1980s sitcom Taxi) is re-created by Jim Carrey and director Milos Forman in this challenging, off-the-wall biography. Carrey is Kaufman, and he gives everything he's got to Andy's provocative, manipulative stage performances. In an audacious piece of casting, Kaufman's Taxi co-star Danny DeVito portrays his understanding manager, and he too is first-rate. From the bizarre credits scene onwards, Forman keeps the audience unsure of how to perceive Kaufman, a decision that has prompted some critics to complain he does not allow enough insight into the off-stage Andy. That is perhaps the point of the movie, however: after all, you never knew when he had stopped performing.
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An intriguing story of an unusual and uncomfortable talent, with a good performance from Carrey; those who were never exposed to Kaufman's comedy are likely to need more convincing that he is worth this elaborate treatment.
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Most helpful member's review
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28 out of 30 people found this review helpful
Proof that Carrey can act
During the mid to late 90s Jim Carrey represented the gurning face of American comedy. The likes of ?Ace Ventura? and ?The Mask? made him a household name and one of the best paid ?actors? in Hollywood.
Why do I put ?actor? in commas? Because until the likes of ?The Truman Show? and, in my opinion, the superior ?Man in the Moon?, Carrey had done little to distinguish himself as an actor.
?Man in the Moon? is a biography of comedian Andy Kaufman whose strange sense of humour made him equally loved and hated. His most famous role was a recurring part in the TV series ?Taxi?. Before Kaufman can become mega famous he is diagnosed with cancer and hunts for a cure.
Carrey plays Kaufman with plenty of sympathy and seems to really respect the talent the man had. He acts better than in any of his films to date and it?s easy to see why he is being offered more meaty roles like ?Eternal Sunshine?. If you where a fan of that movie then ?Man in the Moon? is for you as Carrey?s face pulling is not on show here.
A very good biopic of an interesting man. -
Most recent members' review
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Not engaging
I felt like an outsider throughout the film. Jim Carey did a reasonable job but the film itself did little to help one get inside Kaufmann's head.
The film baffled me, no doubt like most of Kaufmann's audience, but when his antics are compressed into a couple of hours they lose impact and become a bore. -
News and features
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Jason and Jim join up for Pierre Pierre
- 06 Mar 2008
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind star Jim Carrey is reportedly teaming up with Juno director Jason Reitman to develop a new comedy called Pierre Pierre. The Hollywood Reporter says Reitman will produce and direct the film, while Carrey - whose previous credits include Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Mask and Andy Kaufman biopic Man On The Moon - will star as a "self-indulgent French nihilist" charged with transporting a stolen Mona Lisa. Edwin Cannistraci and Frederick Seton... Read more
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In a remarkable and touching performance, Jim Carrey tones down his usual idiosyncrasies to play late avant garde comedian Andy Kaufman in MAN ON THE MOON. In life, Kaufman was a complex, ... -