Man on the Moon

Plot synopsis:
At the beginning, Kaufman's foreign man comes on saying (due to massive editing) it is the end of the film and plays a record alongside the end credits before walking off. Kaufman then comes back on in his normal voice saying he "Had to get rid of the people who don't understand me, and don't want to try". He then proceeds to show the actual movie on a film projector starting with his childhood home, in Long Island, New York 1957.Flashing forwards to New York City, 1973, Andy Kaufman (Jim Carrey) is a struggling performer whose act fails in nightclubs because, while the audience wants comedy, he sings childrens songs and overuses his "foreign man" character. Just as it becomes clear that Kaufman may have no real talent, he puts on a rhinestone jacket and does a dead-on Elvis impersonation and song. The audience bursts into applause, realizing Kaufman had tricked them making his big Elvis payoff all the more enjoyable. This is the first of many times we see Kaufman trick the audience, as "fooling the audience" is his performance style.His autistic, eccentric style catches the eye of talent agent George Shapiro (Danny DeVito), who signs him as a client and immediately gets Kaufman on a new sitcom, 'Taxi' in 1975, much to the dismay of sitcom-hating Kaufman. Because of the money, visibility, and chance to do his own television special, Kaufman acts on Taxi, but secretly hates it and works a second menial job as a restaurant busboy. Around this time, he gains popularity by making successful guest appearances on the new show 'Saturday Night Live'.At a nightclub, Shapiro witnesses a performance from a rude, loud-mouthed lounge singer named Tony Clifton, whom Andy wants to guest-star several times on Taxi on his terms, and whose bad attitude is matched by his horrible appearance and demeanor. When Clifton meets Shapiro privately, Clifton takes off his sunglasses and we see that he is actually Kaufman. Clifton is a villain character created by Kaufman and his creative partner, Bob Zmuda (Paul Giamatti), both of whom portray the character onstage at different times. Once again, the gag is on the audience.In 1980, Kaufman begins to have problems with his newfound fame. When he travels to college campuses, he wants to perform as he did in nightclubs, but the crowds dislike his strange sense of humor and simply want to see his more famous characters, such as Latka Gravas from Taxi and the Mighty Mouse singer from SNL. Frustrated by his dislike for Taxi, Kaufman appears on the set as Clifton and proceeds to cause chaos until he is removed from the studio lot. Kaufman relates to Shapiro that he never knows exactly how to entertain an audience ("short of faking my own death or setting the theater on fire"), so he does as he pleases.With the help of Zmuda, Kaufman decides he wants to be a professional wrestler but to increase the villain angle, he decides to wrestle only women and berate them after winning, declaring himself "Inter-Gender Wrestling Champion." He becomes smitten with one woman he wrestles, Lynne Margulies (Courtney Love). Continuing his villain wrestling character, Kaufman is despised by much of America, as he enjoys getting a rise out of everyone but fails to see that this affects his popularity (as the world fails to see he is simply playing a character, and not just being himself). Professional male wrestler Jerry "The King" Lawler challenges Kaufman to a "real" wrestling match, which Kaufman accepts. Lawler easily overpowers and seriously injures Kaufman, resulting in a major neck injury for Kaufman. When Lawler and an injured Kaufman appear on NBC's Late Night With David Letterman, Lawler attacks Kaufman again, and Kaufman spews out a vicious tirade of epithets. Once again, the joke is on the audience, as Lawler and Kaufman are revealed to be friends, and in on everything together. Unfortunately, Andy pays the price for this when he is voted off Saturday Night Live by television audience members.In 1983, Andy and Lynne move into a new house, and George calls to inform them that Taxi had been canceled, to the indifference of Kaufman. A few minutes later, Andy feels a boil on the back of his neck that is later revealed to be a cyst. In November, after gathering a meeting with his friends and family, Kaufman reveals that he has a rare form of lung cancer and may die soon. Many friends and family members refuse to believe this, thinking it another Kaufman stunt (and Zmuda actually believes a fake death would be a fantastic prank).By early 1984, Kaufman, aware that he may not have much time left, gets a booking at Carnegie Hall, his dream venue. The performance is a memorable success, and it culminates with Kaufman inviting the entire audience out for milk and cookies. Kaufmans health quickly deteriorates, and, out of options, he heads to the Philippines to seek a medical miracle (actually psychic surgery), where doctors supposedly pull out infected organs in the body. Kaufman immediately recognizes it as a scam similar to his own type of performance art, and the realization makes him laugh hysterically as the joke is on him for once. After returning to Los Angeles, Kaufman dies a few months later from the cancer at age 35.One year later, in 1985, Tony Clifton appears at Andy Kaufman's memorial tribute at The Comedy Store's main stage performing, "I Will Survive". The camera pans over the crowd and reveals Zmuda in the audience, hinting that maybe Kaufman's death was actually fake, and he is still alive somewhere. The film ends with a neon portrait of Kaufman among such comedy legends as the late Groucho Marx and Laurel and Hardy.

Tags: comedy, depressing, bleak, cult, insanity, home movie, humor, prank

Review:
It's common knowledge that explaining a joke renders it humorous (a notion that Andy toyed with in his Foreign Man routine, remember?)True, some facts were altered for dramatic purposes (though the truth is just as interesting), or maybe just necessity, but the base story is still pretty accurate.
I went to see this movie about a person who was famous for his "Elvis" personation, and his little record player, doing the "Mighty Mouse" skit on Saturday Night Live, never to forget "Latka" on "Taxi."  He was a man of many talents, so many that the world never knew about, so many that only Andy knew who he really was.
And it took his death to show the world that Andy Kaufman was in fact a human being, who just needed a hug, and a chance at what he did best.This sadness me to realize that our joy brought this man pain, who we wanted was not who he wanted to be, and I think everyone should be able to live the dream they choose.
Jim was Andy, and what I saw was too true for me to tell myself, "It's only a movie."This is a story about a man who lived and died without being understood.
He was REALLY different, many times very offensive, sometimes very unfunny....but always extremely interesting and certainly unique.Jim Carrey shows us once again how comedians can be such good dramatic actors.
The rest of the cast is good, too, from Danny DeVito to Paul Giamatti to Courtney Love.Right from the beginning of this movie one sees how original it is, and how original Kaufman was as a comedian.
You have to really appreciate Kauffman's absurd humor and to appreciate Carrey's great portrait of this man.On multiple viewings (I've seen it four times) I liked this film even more than the first time, even though I knew the surprises.
Having liked the contrived Latka Gravas, but never really knowing much more about Andy Kaufman than the Headlines, Man on the Moon offered some incredible depictions of this one of a kind enigma.I was never a big fan of his off-Taxi antics, but then again, Man on the Moon made it clear that I simply did not understand them.
I'm not any more of a Kaufman fan than I've been, but Man on the Moon has left me with an incredible appreciation for his genius.Jim Carrey's performance is chilling.
I now know a lot about what he did, but I still know very little about who he was.If the creators' intent was to let the world get to know Andy Kaufman the man, then I think the film missed its mark.
Jim Carrey delivers on of the greatest acting achievements of the nineties in this stunning biopic about the legendary comedian Andy Kaufman (the man on the moon, according to REM).
Indeed, the point of the film seems to be that, with Kaufman, the many characters he showed to us on stage and T.V. pretty much reflected the man who existed in real life.This may be both the strength and the weakness of the movie itself.
Between Milos Forman's unique directing style, the actors' performances, and Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski's writing, the film is able to simultaneously make you a member in one of Andy Kaufman's audiences, experiencing both joy and frustration at his antics, and a close friend who sees, or thinks they see, the Andy Kaufman behind the masks.
The film's other stars, in particular Paul Giamatti, Courtney Love, and Danny DeVito, all turn in excellent performances as well.Man on the Moon is both inspiring and thought provoking - a must see..
Rather, it showed most of the skits and performances that Andy has done throughout his life, most of which you could learn about on MTV specials.The acting was well done, especially by the star Jim Carrey.
The best thing, in my opinion about the movie is learning more about how Andy Kaufman met his girlfriend, the scenes from Taxi and his wrestling career.
Man on the moon is definitely a drama and you need to search very hard to find any comedy in it.However from what i understood, Andy Kaufman wasn't very funny himself.
The early depth of character and inventive fun that this film promised in the opening scenes faded away only a third into the picture as Jim Carrey's own alter-ego tossed aside Andy Kaufman's so it looked like a Carrey biopic on Viagra, with lacklustre and bewildered support  from the ensemble actors and the badly cast Danny de Vito.
That's the only possible reason the movie's so terrible.Alas, unlike his stand-up routine, Andy didn't save the show at the very last second by making the audience question reality.Read about Kaufman's antics in the available biographies.
That is, unless you want to gawk Jim Carey in Kaufman drag needlessly recreating Andy's gags for no particular reason.This film amounts to a ton of missed opportunities heaped upon a clueless screenplay and director.
entertainment story type bio pics, you'd enjoy man on the moon, but it's a clunger for anyone expecting to understand the real Andy Kaufman.
I have always appreciated Andy Kaufman for his dadaisticly irrational performances and that's why I had been looking forward to this movie long time before its release.
I knew Carrey was a great comedian acceptable for movies such as Ace Ventura, but how could he cope with role of man, whose performances stunned many people all over the world, but who never considered himself to be a real comedian.
I don't care that Jim Carrey looks almost exactly like Andy Kaufman or that they share a birthday; there was no reason to make this movie..
Maybe they can put a man on the moon, but they can't make a good Andy Kaufman film.
As a straight biography, there are inspired, original moments - such as the beginning acting as an end, or some of Kaufman's bits (including the legendary Saturday Night Live "Mighty Mouse" skit) - but most of the movie is rather pedestrian, given that it's directed by Milos Forman, who brought One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest to the big screen.
The script is smarmy and self-satisfied, as if it's telling it's damn funny and if you want to be hip, you'll think it's funny, too.Jim Carrey, as Andy, turns in some remarkable work, but thanks to a rather standard script doesn't really get to show off his acting chops (which we saw in The Truman Show).
It's sad that a brilliant comedian like Jim Carrey plays a person that's way less funny than he himself is.
Milos Forman's "Man on the Moon" is a biopic of famed entertainer Andy Kaufman, who was a unique individual to say the least.
Naturally, with two-time Oscar-winner Forman at the helm, the movie is in good hands from a visual standpoint but the audio department also benefits from a soundtrack that was largely composed by Rock and Roll Hall of Famers R.E.M. This of course includes their classic song that supplied the film with its title.Ultimately, though, "Man in the Moon" is, like its subject, unlikely to appeal to everyone.
It is a truly interesting, unconventional biography film that follows the life of complicated, eccentric comedian Andy Kaufman.
It does not hold back on showcasing who this man truly was as both a performer and in real life, the film matches up the tone to who he was as a person in a way that I think would have made Kaufman proud had he been around to see this.
Same as Jim Carrey.Jim Carrey by honoring his comedian idol in this movie with an AMAZING acting performance which deserves all the awards and compliments.THE GREAT BEYOND part is also a spiritual quest that all human beings need to persuade to understand what being with The God, The One, The Beginning Point, The Dot, The Spirit That Is In Everything.Because as Jim Carrey says after his experience as playing Andy Kaufman affected and changed him a lot and sparked a divine self-realization.
Jim Carrey may or may not exactly look the part, but he was the only man who could have done this and knocks it out of the park.Much like Kaufman himself, this film is hilarious at times and grating at others.
First off, I'm a huge fan of Jim Carrey, and nobody could've nailed the role of comedian Andy Kaufman better than him.
Given his comedy style on the show, I would never have guessed what a different approach he took to most of his comedy in real life.Jim Carrey, a fan of Andy Kaufman, is great as Andy, and Andy's alternate persona Tony Clifton.
I used to view Jim Carrey as one of those actors that everyone (who didn't live in a collection of moss under a rock) knew and loved that I just couldn't find anything special about - that was before I saw some of his great films like Eternal Sunshine, The Truman Show, and Man on the Moon.Carrey plays the eccentric, inventive comedian Andy Kaufman with wonderful style and devotion to the techniques and candour that Kaufman was so loved for.
It is in tune with Kaufman's personalities and his obstinate nature.I most enjoyed the beginning of the film, the little prank that Carrey's Andy Kaufman played on the audience.
Jim Carrey, an actor who delivers inconsistent performances, is simply outstanding in his dead-on portrayal of the physical and mental comedic genius Andy Kaufman.
Jim Carrey did a good job on his role but I think Andy Kaufman was NOT funny, not intelligent, but just really annoying.
Having viewed most of Jim Carrey's movies one can only wonder whether he's actually a clone of Kaufman in real life?
THis film beckons the simple Question....Was it even worth making.Well judging by the Box office returns...The answer is simply NO.Jim carreys excellent performance as the late Andy Kaufman seems to be the only thing really going for it.Courtney love is only so so,And danny devito who presumably only did this film out of respect for his late TAXI costar,is about as fun as watching paint dry.Putting it mildly,Kaufman is such a Jerk that one wonders if it is even worth trying to examine him.Even if he was,the film makers have failed in their efforts especially the screen writers.Even Paul Giamatti goes by nearly forgotten leaving little else for us to care about.The film has a few funny moments(like tony cliftons overeaction to be thrown off the Taxi set,,although he made it happen) and some touching moments...Whilst People versus larry flynt was more entertaining and thought provoking..this film is somewhat subdued and pointless.I give it 5 out of 10.
While Jim Carrey does a remarkable job of imitating Andy Kaufman, and the movie is somewhat enjoyable (in a formulaic, hero-worshiping manner), it is majorly affected by the facts about the person it concerns.
But if you watch any of the many tapes of his "performances", or listen to any of the people who worked with him or saw him perform, you'll get the true picture of what this man was - a hack.Jim Carrey said he took the role because Kaufman was an "inspiration" to him.
Jim Carrey presents a magnificent performance as Andy Kaufman, proving again that he acts better in dramatic movies than comedy.
This movie just made me pissed and if they didn't tell us Jim Carey was in this movie then most people would probably not go see this like me, let's face it who actually knew about this comedian and wanted to know more about his life?
I found it very funny though and it was an entertaining way of informing me about his career.Despite the lack of an Oscar nomination, it is Carrey who makes this film work so well - his performance is great, capturing Kaufman's routines as well as providing us with some tender moments.
It is reasonably well-acted by Jim Carrey, at least enough so to add some three-dimensional fullness to the character of Andy Kaufman.
Yet somehow Andy Kaufman lives on in what can only be described in my opinion as Jim Carrey's stand out best performance.
I love entertainers like this (both Kaufman and Carey's portrayal of him) and this film just really played my emotions in all the right ways.
Genius or lunatic, regardless of what you think of comedian and boundary pushing performer Andy Kaufman it's safe to say he influenced and heralded in a whole new age of comedian and is responsible for the likes of Jim Carrey, Sacha Baron Cohen and other such similar blurred-line acts.While perhaps not a household name as such, Kaufman who rose to fame in the late 70's and early 80's from roles in shows like Saturday Night Live, Taxi and his infamous live TV appearances such as what occurred with pro-wrestler Jerry Lawler on David Letterman, was an endlessly energetic and constantly mysterious human being that underrated director Milos Forman and his leading man Jim Carrey shone a light on in the memorable 1999 film Man on the Moon.A film that harbors one of Carrey's best individual performances (a performance that will be examined in upcoming Netflix doco Jim and Andy), Man on the Moon does a fantastic job of recreating many of Kaufman's most infamous events from his early rise, his Taxi fame, wrestling exploits and perhaps most fascinating of all, his washed up Las Vegas singer alter-ego Tony Clifton.Kaufman being the figure he was (or still is if you buy into many conspiracies around the fact Kaufman never in fact passed away), makes it extremely hard for Forman and Carrey to offer any significant insights into what drove Kaufman to do the things he did or what possessed him to pursue certain aspects of his too short of a career.It's part of the unarguable charm of the performer though, a man that as sure as day would be concocting his next surprise or event at any given chance and it's this manic, almost otherworldly ability that Carrey and Forman capture to great effect.In a performance that blurs the line between imitation and full on embodiment, Carrey literally becomes Kaufman and it's a turn that deserved more plaudits upon initial release.Ably supported by Danny DeVito as Andy's committed agent George Shapiro and Paul Giamatti as long-time friend and fellow "comedian" Bob Zmuda, watching real life footage of Carrey and Kaufman and key scenes of the film compared with real life footage, you get a full understanding that this was as good of a reincarnation of Kaufman as we're ever going to get.Final Say – For anyone looking for an insight into the life and times of Kaufman Man on the Moon is the perfect answer, as well as being a refreshing reminder that Jim Carrey can match it with the best of them when given material that suits his unique and often underrated acting abilities.4 neck braces out of 5.
"The Man on the Moon" stars Jim Carrey, as the highly debated comedian Andy Kaufman, as well as Danny DeVito, who plays Andy Kaufman's manager, George Shapiro.
Jim Carrey has starred in "Dumb and Dumber" as well as the masterpiece "The Truman Show", yet has managed to produce one of the his best performances to date thanks to a hilarious, interesting film directed by Milos Forman, who also directed "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest".Based on a true story, the film follows the life of an eccentric American comedian Andy Kaufman, and his practical, crude jokes which he employs to "entertain" his audience.
Kaufman's personal life is also explored including his romantic relationship with Lynne Margulies (Courtney Love in a good role), and his friendships with Tony Shaprio (Danny DeVito) and creative partner Bob Zmunda (Paul Giamatti).Jim Carrey was a real pleasure to watch as Andy Kaufman in Man on the Moon and I'm sorry that the movie was not a hit in 1999.
Either way, I found it a very interesting and entertaining film with a stand-out performance from Jim Carrey.
So, when he's the one who handles the film relating the life and death of one of the most brilliant and misunderstood comedians of his generation: Andy Kauffman, portrayed by THE greatest comic star of his generation : Jim Carrey, it can't get more promising than that.
Carrey plays Andy Kaufman, who throughout the film is constantly acting on his distinctive ideas to entertain the people around him.
If ever there was a part that Jim Carrey was born to play I would have to say that it was Andy Kaufman.
The film aggravates as we watch Kaufman constantly put up roadblocks to his own success, but also fascinates due to the mesmerizing performance by Jim Carrey in the title role.
The film aggravates as we watch Kaufman constantly put up roadblocks to his own success, but also fascinates due to the mesmerizing performance by Jim Carrey in the title role.
Courtney Love's performance as the leading lady is a matter of taste, but it really doesn't matter because this is Jim Carrey's show all the way and he makes the film worth watching.
Courtney Love's performance as the leading lady is a matter of taste, but it really doesn't matter because this is Jim Carrey's show all the way and he makes the film worth watching.
Watching Jim Carrey's 'Man on the Moon', I got a feeling that to entirely like the movie and feel for the character, you had to have been a fan of Andy Kaufmannn, the stand up comedian on who the biopic was based.
Add to this Danny DeVito's performance - also one of the best in his career and we have all reasons to consider 'Man on the Moon' as good entertainment.And yet I also had a feeling of exploit watching this movie.
Man on the moon is Carrey's best I think.This film will make you laugh.
A movie, about the life and times of Andy Kaufman.