MovieChat Forums > Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond - Featuring a Very Special, Contractually Obligated Mention of Tony Clifton (2017) Discussion > Does anyone else sit back with the feeli...

Does anyone else sit back with the feeling

posted 6 years ago by RussellNash (2087)
3 replies | jump to latest

that Carrey’s portrayal of Kaufman (while maybe interesting and intense) had very little resemblance to the real Andy Kaufman?

Carrey came across as a full-blown manic, and I never got that impression of Kaufman who seemed more restrained in his comedy.

Jerry Lawler, one of the people who actually meet and worked with Kaufman, even said that Kaufman (unlike Carrey and his movie character) was courteous and polite.

Carrey’s co-workers seem genuinely pissed off by his behavior on set. The interview with Carrey, with his depression-beard and his childish deep thoughts about life and reality… I actually like Carrey as an actor but man, that was unbearably toe-clenching IMHO.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Paperboy (127) 5 years ago

It's unbelievable how much they pamper with the actors in Hollywood. They spoke to Jim as if he was a retarded child and didn't dare to openly criticise his shenanigans, well almost, I believe it was Bob Zmuda who yelled at Jim when he invited the Hells Angels.

Undoubtelly, Carrey felt the need to be artistic in his performance (some kind of need to prove that he's more than a simple jester, if anyone ever thought that) and went over the top with how he handled the persona.

[–] ChipDouglas (1602) 2 years ago

It did seem like he missed the mark on some aspects, but I also think he completely succeeded with others.

The whole idea of acting like Kaufman non-stop is a very Kaufman like idea. That's why the cast and Carrey leaned so hard into it.