![]() ![]() It asks the question of what we would do if we could, quite literally, play God. After having a really bad day, Bruce calls out God, begging for a break and daring the Lord to “Smite, oh Mighty Smiter.” This film, like many of Carrey’s films, is played for laughs but has a much deeper meaning. Not content with being one of the funniest men in the world, it was in Bruce Almighty that Carrey truly became a god. We’re starting off with Jim Carrey’s biggest role, at least in a spiritual sense. Carrey has proven himself to be a formidable dramatic actor as well, surprising audiences with his roles in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Man on the Moon, The Number 23 and more. Turns out, however, that there is more to Jim Carrey than just an elastic face and a catchphrase. Whether he was rocking a mask, a Hawaiin shirt, a suit or spandex, Carrey and his brand of slapstick physical humor endeared him to moviegoers who could rest assured that they would be leaving one of his films with a smile on their face. It seemed like every character Carrey touched became an instant classic. Nobody provided more laughs in the 90’s than Jim Carrey. It is an amazing film that gets more interesting each time it is viewed.Who is Jim Carrey? Is he an actor, a comedian, an artist or a philanthropist? All of the above? For some reason, Jim Carrey has always been primarily labeled as a “comedic” actor. If you get the chance, take a second look at Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Unfortunately, great material hasn't found him since (although I Love You, Phillip Morris is looking promising). Jim Carrey proved once and for all that he is an acting force to be reckoned with. He brought a quiet energy that the audience hadn't seen before, and showed that he was more than just a comedian. However, upon further review, there is no way that Jim Carrey didn't out-act Clint Eastwood (an Academy favorite) or Johnny Depp (who was still riding high on love from Pirates of the Caribbean). Jamie Foxx deserved the Oscar for his portrayal of Ray Charles. The other performances nominated in 2004 are certainly valued. This is the difference between an actor and a great actor. Keep the same channel on and watch Sally Field display raw human emotion on her beautifully un-cut face. Flip through the channels on a Sunday night and you will see five Desperate Housewives who are forced to emote with their hands as the botox paralyzes their faces. There are very few actors who can say as much with their eyes as he can. When happy, his eyes portray a child-like glee. When sad, the eyes look like a puppies begging for a treat. Furthermore, Carrey doesn't do any crazy things with his nose or open his mouth in a non-human way, but he does use his eyes to convey everything that the character is thinking. Throughout most of the film he is wearing a beanie covering his forehead. That isn't to say they aren't put to good use. ![]() ![]() ![]() In Eternal Sunshine, he has a quiet control over his facial movements. His ability to morph his facial construct has helped him achieve commercial success in films like Ace Ventura ($72 million domestic) and Dumb and Dumber ($127 million domestic). Most people think of high concepts and big expressions when they think of a Jim Carrey film. Think of the other performances nominated. Many dramatic actors would be able to handle the emotional shift that the scene requires, while comedic actors would surely be capable of the physical alterations, but Carrey is able to handle both in a perfectly grounded way. The role becomes both physically demanding and mentally draining, as he must juggle two sides of character in an instant. Carrey is in one frame, and then the camera slowly pans over as Carrey is off-screen ripping off his hat and getting into place and character for the rest of the scene while the camera is filming him close-up. When viewing the special features on the DVD, you will learn that Carrey played two different versions of himself in the same scene without the camera cutting or the director stopping tape. The idea is that he is watching a memory be erased. There is a scene in Eternal Sunshine where Carrey is watching himself inside the doctor's office as he is asking for the procedure. Neither the script nor Winslet's performance would have been as applauded if it weren't for Carrey's multi-layered portrayal of lovesick Joel Barish. Katie Winslet received a nomination for her work in Eternal Sunshine, and the writers won for the script they wrote. Jamie Foxx for Ray, Johnny Depp for Finding Neverland, Don Cheadle for Hotel Rwanda, Clint Eastwood for Million Dollar Baby, and Leonardo DiCaprio for The Aviator. I Was Robbed: Jim Carrey By Daniel Pellegrino December 7, 2009įive men were nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in 2004. ![]()
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