Actually, his Eternal Sunshine work isn’t being ignored! Roeper from “Ebert & Roeper” has been pushing and talking about an oscar nom for that performance. I think there’s a likelihood. Plus, it’s a Charlie Kaufman film - which always garners nominations.
If I’m remembering the same bit you are (I think it was The Joe Pesci Show), he was doing an impersonation of Jimmy Stewart doing an impersonation of Jim Carrey. He was fricking hilarious when he was doing that.
“I’m Jim Carrey! I need attention 24 hours a day!”
Not many people can pull of that sort of self-depreciating humor, IMHO.
A bit off topic, but has anyone seen an Adam Sandler movie called Punch Drunk Love? His was funny in it, but only because his character was quirky. I thought it was damn good dramatic acting.
Dick van Dyke. Leslie Nielsen. Don Rickles. Mary Tyler Moore. John Ritter. Alan Alda. Lucille Ball. The list goes on…
He’s coming around. It’s going to be a few years. Robin Williams had the same problem.
I’m a huge fan of Carrey’s. Dramatic and comedic. But his appearance on SNL was a high point.
It was indeed the Joe Pesci show - Carrey doing his spot-on Stewart impression, and Mark McKinney (Former Kid in the Hall) as Carrey. McKinney did Carrey doing Stewart, then Carrey did Stewart doing Carrey.
The best part, however, was the ending - as was usual for the Joe Pesci skits, Jim Brewer pulls out a bat and begins to beat on the guests, but Carrey (as Stewart) catches the bat, and turns the beating around.
“That’s a nice bat, son. I wonder what it would look like shoved up your ass!”
I had my reservations about Carrey, but *Eternal Sunshine * managed to turn some of them around. Maybe he actually can hold back the mugging a bit. You know…act and all.
I was kind of dreading *Lemony Snicket * until I saw Sunshine, but I’m wary of being burned. He does have potential though.
The only one I can think of was his role as Chas, the oldest son, in The Royal Tenenbaums. He wasn’t bad.
Many actors say comedy (especially physical comedy) is a lot harder to do than drama. I can believe it. In a dramatic role, you can just pile on the pathos. The right makeup job can elicit the right reaction in drama. Comedy requires you to actually work on your timing and delivery, instead of letting the writing and “atmosphere” save you.
I like all of Jim Carrey’s dramas, and definitely think he deserves an Oscar for Eternal Sunshine. Well actually I think he deserved an Oscar for The Truman Show too. I do think it’s very unfair that the Academy basically shuts out any comedies from the running, as well as comedic actors, as if it takes no talent to act in a comedy. Then again, I don’t really like Carrey’s comedies, even if I can concede that he’s a talented physical comedian.
While beating Breuer: “Every time a Guido screams, an angels gets his wings!”
Regarding McKinney (doing his impression of Carrey): “This guy mugs so much, he should have a handle on the side of his head!”
Easily the best “Joe Pesci Show” sketch.
And let’s not forget “Jimmy Tango’s Fat Busters”!
RIDE THE SNAKE
And let’s not forget Carrey’s brilliant performance as the Masturbating Bear. Woo!
Besides being hilarious, I also found that SNL skit fascinating because it was all about Carrey’s respect and admiration for Jimmy Stewart. The man is obviously a huge fan, and I think it’s apparent in his dramatic work. I’m not saying that Jim Carrey is the “next James Stewart”; I suspect, though, that he really, really wants to be.
“Thanks to your program, Jimmy, not only did I lose a hundred pounds, I discovered that I am the DEVIL!”
“Talk is cheap. SCAN ME!”