Today we're celebrating the 50th birthday of A-list funnyman Jim Carrey. Carrey has enjoyed a successful comedic career that has included by film and television. He first came to prominent national attention after appearing on the TV show "In Living Color" for over ten years, but it was his film career that truly elevated him to superstar status. His first smash hit came with his two Ace Ventura films in 1994 (Pet Detective) and 1995 (When Nature Calls), and audiences were hooked. He appeared in a slew of comedy and dramatic comedy films throughout the 1990s, including such big-time fare as 1994's Dumb & Dumber, 1997's Liar Liar and 1998's The Truman Show. He has worked consistently throughout his career, and although he made a name for himself in comedy, he has tried out some more dramatic roles as well. For example, take a look at his performances in 2001's The Majestic, 2004's Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and 2007's The Number 23. While he hasn't received as rave of reviews for his dramatic portrayals, I personally have found them to be nearly as good as his comedic counterparts. Most recently, audiences have seen Mr. Carrey in the 2011 comedy Mr. Popper's Penguins, and it won't be until 2013 until we see him again in the comedy Burt Wonderstone. So to celebrate his birthday, I've listed my five favorite of Carrey's performances. I hope you enjoy the videos. Once again, happy birthday Jim Carrey!
The Christmas season is a time for us to reflect on the happiness in our lives and spend time with our friends and family. It's supposed to be a time of jolliness and cheer, and the best Christmas movies do well to convey that sense of cheer. However, there's always that one character who's trying to bash that holiday happiness and bring down everyone's cheery livelihood. This post will salute my favorite holiday villains. They're the ones who take away the Christmas spirit from the rest of the characters and try to ruin the holiday itself. However, sometimes these characters can prove to be the most charismatic and most memorable in a film, and for those particular individuals, I've created this list. I've gone through all of the Christmas-related films I've seen (a relatively short list, but a comprehensive one nonetheless), and I've chosen my seven favorite holiday villains. I've supplied videos for each when possible, so I hope you enjoy them. And enjoy this list of my favorite Christmas baddies!
"How happy is the blameless vestal's lot! / The world forgetting, by the world forgot / Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind! / Each pray'r accepted, and each wish resign'd." -- Mary
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a 2004 Academy Award-winning dramatic film directed by Michael Gondry and written by Charlie Kaufman. After the end of a two-year relationship with a woman named Clementine Kruczynski (Kate Winslet), Joel Barish (Jim Carrey) learns that she has used a revolutionary new technique to erase any trace of him from her memory. Distraught and deeply depressed, Joel decides to have the same intercession in order to erase Clementine from his own memory. He meets with Dr. Mierzwiak (Tom Wilkinson) to discuss the procedure and has everyone planned for an immediate operation, which is to be performed at his home while he sleeps that very night. While technicians Stan (Mark Ruffalo) and Patrick (Elijah Wood) supervise the process, Joel's subconscious starts to rebel against the memory-forgetting agent as he desperately tries to cling to any little piece of Clementine that he can find.
Although I've seen this movie before, I honestly didn't have any real recollection of it. I first saw it on a red-eye plane flight sometime soon after its release, but I can't quite remember whether I stayed awake for the film's entirety. That being said, I always wanted to give it another chance considering the fantastic it reviews it received upon its initial release in 2004 and considering the very favorable word of mouth publicity the film has received since. Add the fact that you've got Carrey and Winslet co-starring in a Kaufman-written film, and there's quite a bit of reason for me to give it a gander.
Since we're already mentioned Kaufman, let's start with the screenplay. At first glance, it might not seem all that splendidly fantastic. Sure, it's a little bit out there, but based off what we've seen him create in the past (here's looking at you, Being John Malkovich), anyone looking for a little bit of normalcy should probably look a little bit further from this one. Still, the basic storyline is one of love, and it's ultimately not all that complicated. The plot, however, moves so quickly and so carefully that it almost seems as though there's more to think about than there should be. Any time a films dares to go into a character's subconscious, there's always going to be a little bit of trickery when it comes to conveying it to the audience. Dealing with memories is never the easiest thing to show, but it's well-conceived here, especially considering we're watching the deterioration and forgetting of memories right before our eyes. At the same time, however, we're seeing how each and every character is intertwined with the person next to them, and the final ten minutes of the film help to serve as a perfect "tying-the-bow-on-top" effect. In a sense, everything comes full circle, and those of you who have been reading me for a while know how much of a sucker I am for full-circle screenplays. So while on the surface the screenplay seems a bit rote and predictable, the underlying plot devices and character development make this one a brilliant story that's going to pull at your heartstrings. There's a reason it managed to nab the Oscar statuette for Best Original Screenplay.
We're also getting a stellar set of performances from an all-star cast that's sure to hold a few surprises here and there. We all know just how good Oscar-winner Winslet can be, but there's something about her performance here that's very different from anything else she had done to date. Until this film, she had mostly been seen in intensely dramatic roles that usually came in period films. Here, she gets to burst out of that shell and play a trendy young woman who's trying to make the most of her life. Perfectly balanced with her is Carrey's sullen and seemingly "boring" Joel, and together, the two make for a pair that complements one another perfectly. It should be noted that Wilkinson and Ruffalo also play decent roles, and even Elijah Wood gives a few good scenes here and there. The real surprise, however, comes with the very strong performance from Kirsten Dunst, who at that time was most famous for her leading role in 2002's Spider-man. While I'm not a huge fan of Dunst's overall level of acting, I do have to say that I was impressed with her supporting role here, so I shall give credit where credit is due. Also be on the lookout for bit performances from David Cross and Jane Adams, who play their parts well.
Overall, I'm surprised with just how good Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind turned out to be, and as a result, I'm a little annoyed with myself for having waited this long to give it another view. It's definitely one of the defining cinematic romances of the twenty-first century, and with a powerful screenplay backing the superb performances, there's quite a bit to love about this particular film. If you have yet to give it a chance, I strongly suggest you add it to your "To Watch" list. Don't wait as long as I did to finally take it in.
"One man's toxic sludge is another man's potpourri." -- The Grinch
How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a 2000 comedy film directed by Ron Howard that serves as a live-action version of Dr. Seuss's classic Christmas tale. The town of Whoville is jubilantly preparing for their Whobilation celebration on Christmas, spending their time buying as many gifts as they can possibly buy for their friends and family. However, all of the emphasis on the material possessions starts to bother a little girl named Cindy Lou Who (Taylor Momsen), who wonders if that's really the true spirit of Christmas. She learns of a mysterious creature called the Grinch (Jim Carrey) who lives on Mount Crumpit just outside Whoville who hates Christmas and the Whos. Cindy doesn't believe anyone should be left alone on Christmas, so she nominates the Grinch to be this year's Holiday Cheermeister, and after some persuasion, he reluctantly agrees to attend the ceremony. However, Mayor Augustus Maywho (Jeffrey Tambor), who had past tiffs with the Grinch, humiliates the Grinch during the ceremony. As payback, the Grinch decides to ruin Christmas for the entirety of Whoville.
I was twelve when this film was released, and at the time, I was in quite a pro-Jim Carrey swing. While I still love him as an actor, I think he's lost a tiny bit of appeal from my younger days. However, when I saw How the Grinch Stole Christmas, I thought it was one of the funniest movies I had ever seen. Eleven years later, I can see that's a rather lofty platform on which to place this film, but it still has quite a bit to like.
Ultimately, this is a film that's really going to pander toward Carrey fans. Director Ron Howard gives Carrey a lot of free reign to run with the Grinch character, and he takes it as far as he possibly can with a PG-rated film. I do admit that his manic presence does go a little too far at times, but there are a couple handfuls of gems in terms of his one-liners. Whether they were ad-libbed or written into the script, I don't really know, but either way, there's plenty of laughs to be had at the Grinch's expense. The rest of the cast fills out rather nicely, but it's tough for any of the other characters to shine when they're being upstaged by Carrey's performance. Momsen plays a convincing, wide-eyed girl looking for the beauty in the Christmas holiday, and compared to her adult co-stars, she goes above and beyond. We get some okay bits from the likes of Tambor, Molly Shannon and Christine Baranski, but as I think I've made clear: this is Carrey's film and his film alone.
However, I think what makes this film so good is the storyline. While the screenplay isn't by far the greatest in the world, the basic story that Dr. Seuss laid down with his original story is simply fantastic. Yes, you could just as easily read the book or watch the original 1966 animated version to get the overall message, but it's good that someone took the time to reinvigorate the story for a more modern audience, especially considering how how materialistic society has become. The basic moral of the story is that Christmas shouldn't revolve around the presents and the material possessions on which we place so much importance; rather, the holiday should be a time of happiness and joy that we spend with our family, friends and loved ones. This film does a great job showing us that's how we should be spending our holidays rather than engaging in rampant over-spending to satisfy our desire for earthly possessions.
At the end of the day, the message should be enough to get you to like this film. As I previously stated, this is going to be a film most loved by fans of Jim Carrey, so if you're not into his brand of comedy, this one might not be for you. However, if you love him - or can at least tolerate him - I think you'll be in for quite a treat with How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Don't expect anything brilliant, lest you be terribly disappointed. Just go in expecting a straight-forward, heart-warming tale, and you'll be doing just fine.
"I'm like Tinkerbell - without applause, I die." -- Conan O'Brien
Conan O'Brien Can't Stop is a 2011 documentary directed by Rodman Flender that centers around Conan O'Brien's 2010 comedy tour, "The Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour." The idea came to O'Brien after his highly-publicized departure from NBC after Jay Leno decided he wanted to continue appearing on television as a talk show host. NBC severed ties with O'Brien, prohibiting him from appearing on television for a period of six months. The documentary shows the creation of the tour's show as well as the ups and downs it put Conan through during the 45-show schedule.
I first heard about this film after it hit film festivals and was generally well-received. I didn't have the opportunity to give it a view when it hit theaters earlier this year, but you can now find it on NetFlix Instant Watch. Being a fan of O'Brien, I knew that I had to give this one a gander at one point or another, so it was just a matter of time until I sat down and did just that.
I honestly have some rather mixed feelings about the film. While it's an interesting, in-depth look at the creation of Conan's tour, it just felt a little bit empty and a little bit flat. There didn't seem to be anything truly redeeming about the film. Yes, we get to see a very personal side of a highly-publicized figure in today's society, but there are times where I wasn't quite sure I liked the Conan we got to see. At certain moments, he seems like a man who lets his celebrity and fame get to his head, but he immediately comes back and says that because he's so hard on himself, he has to be hard on the people that work for and with him.
In his review for the Arizona Republic, Billy Goodykoontz wrote the following about the film:
It's hard to feel sorry for a guy who banked millions for not hosting "The Tonight Show" anymore, but it's also fascinating to see a man this compulsively driven to get back in front of people and tell jokes, to hear the laughter, to soak in the applause.
In that sense, I suppose there's something rather interesting to see in Conan O'Brien Can't Stop. We see the sheer determination and will that he drives into his comedy tour. After his nasty NBC break-up, the fan support was overwhelming, and it's nice to see that a man in his position took the time to give back to that support, even if it took a physical and emotional toll on himself. Even if he has his moments where you want to hate him, you can't deny that Conan O'Brien is driven and dedicated. If that's all you get from this documentary, then I'd have to say it's a success. If you're a fan of Conan, this is a must-watch.
Today we're celebrating the 50th birthday of A-list funnyman Jim Carrey. Carrey has enjoyed a successful comedic career that has included by film and television. He first came to prominent national attention after appearing on the TV show "In Living Color" for over ten years, but it was his film career that truly elevated him to superstar status. His first smash hit came with his two Ace Ventura films in 1994 (Pet Detective) and 1995 (When Nature Calls), and audiences were hooked. He appeared in a slew of comedy and dramatic comedy films throughout the 1990s, including such big-time fare as 1994's Dumb & Dumber, 1997's Liar Liar and 1998's The Truman Show. He has worked consistently throughout his career, and although he made a name for himself in comedy, he has tried out some more dramatic roles as well. For example, take a look at his performances in 2001's The Majestic, 2004's Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and 2007's The Number 23. While he hasn't received as rave of reviews for his dramatic portrayals, I personally have found them to be nearly as good as his comedic counterparts. Most recently, audiences have seen Mr. Carrey in the 2011 comedy Mr. Popper's Penguins, and it won't be until 2013 until we see him again in the comedy Burt Wonderstone. So to celebrate his birthday, I've listed my five favorite of Carrey's performances. I hope you enjoy the videos. Once again, happy birthday Jim Carrey!
