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Man on the Moon (20-Dec-1999)
Director: Milos Forman Writers: Scott Alexander; Larry Karaszewski Keywords: Drama, Biography
REVIEWS Review by Walter Frith (posted on 9-Jun-2007) I'm sure that
there is something to behold within the personality and act of the late
Andy Kaufman. But I just don't see it. Director Milos Forman's 1996 bio
pick on the life of pornographer Larry Flynt is a seriously under rated
and brilliant film that didn't get the credit it deserved. I never
liked Larry Flynt or the things he did but his right to free speech was
and is absolute and although I never liked his lifestyle, I still
thought the film about him is a classic and it was my favourite film
the year it came out. So my dislike for 'Man on the Moon' has nothing
to do with the way I feel about Andy Kaufman. This is simply a one
dimensional and totally non lethal motion picture that never finds a
way to tell its story above the level of mediocrity, a quality a lot of
people thought Andy Kaufman possessed. The first thing that has to be
noted is the casting of Jim Carrey. It came down to casting either him
or Edward Norton. Carrey looks more like Kaufman that Norton but what's
really disappointing about the movie is that instead of Jim Carrey
playing Andy Kaufman, Carrey plays Andy Kaufman PLAYING JIM CARREY! And
shame on the powers that be for selecting Carrey over a real actor
simply for box office reasons. Andy Kaufman (1949-1984) died at the age
of 35 of lung cancer and the film opens in the late 1950's when he is
just a boy and shows how he always had the desire and ambition to
become a performer. The film then zips forward to the mid 70's when
Kaufman is in his mid to late 20's and how he got his start in the
profession of stand up comedy. This is how the film begins its
downfall. It fails to avoid mirroring its own subject and can't find a
way to be a grand piece of film making and can't elevate itself very
far to give its structure depth and remains totally mediocre for two
hours. There is also no room for real characterizations. Carrey as
Kaufman is the only mildly interesting character in the entire movie.
Danny DeVito plays his agent, George Shapiro and is neither colourful
nor absorbing. Courtney Love, who was so good in 'The People vs. Larry
Flynt' isn't introduced in the film until almost a full hour into it
and never shows any strong characteristics in a very pivotal role.
Aspects of popular culture cannot be explained to people. You either
see the art of you don't. It's like the Andy Warhol contribution of the
Campbell's soup can as art. No one can explain it as you either see it
or you don't. The only contagious part of 'Man on the Moon' is the pro
wrestling reference. As a fan of pro wrestling myself, I thought the
segments involving Andy Kaufman and Jerry Lawler were worth watching.
Pro wrestling is like a male soap opera with circus like performers who
make it big based on personality and microphone skills rather than pure
wrestling talent. Again, when realizing this, you either see the
concept or you don't. Another aching part of 'Man on the Moon' is that
it spends too much time showing Kaufman in his stand up performances
and his antics on stage, including the creation of a character Kaufman
created named Tony Clifton. Carrey brings aspects to the Andy Kaufman
portrayal by using scenes from 'Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls' (the
bongo playing) and 'The Cable Guy' in the way he showcases Clifton.
There is a scene in 'The Cable Guy' where Carrey, dressed up with bad
hair and a bushy moustache, beats up a guy in the men's room in comic
fashion. Carrey looks like that and acts like that in his portrayal of
Clifton. There is too much Jim Carrey on screen and not enough Andy
Kaufman. All of Kaufman's involvements with the entertainment industry
only scratch the surface, except for the pro wrestling stuff. There was
a need in this film to place more emphasis on the personal side of Andy
Kaufman's life with the woman he loved. More interaction with the cast
of 'Taxi' was not shown and it should have been. Writers Scott
Alexander and Larry Karaszewski have written what looks more like a
television script and you won't see director Milos Forman's stamp of
sub text on any part of this movie. The movie also has serious problems
with its continuity. A reference is made to Jimmy Carter as president
of the United States and then it later shows Kaufman on the first
broadcast of Saturday Night Live which 1975. Carter didn't take office
as president until January 1977 so how could a reference be made to him
as president in 1975. Also, a scene where Kaufman and his lady go to
the movies shows a poster of 1980's 'Coal Miner's Daughter' and 1982's
'E.T. the Extra Terrestrial' side by side. The film is also technically
flat. The climax of a Christmas palladium act near the end of the film
looks more like a college production than a professionally put together
movie. As movie making, 'Man on the Moon' fails on almost every level
and was a shocking disappointment from a two time Oscar winning
director like Milos Forman and as for Oscar talk about Jim Carrey, this
film looks like Robin Wiliams' first Oscar nomination for 'Good Morning
Vietnam' in 1987. It's simply the comedian playing himself more and not
enough of the character the script called for. What a let down! Visit
FILM FOLLOW-UP by Walter Frith
Locate a copy of this film here.
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