tubogoo

Kaufman bits, a significant number of which can be somewhat easily viewed in actuality on video and such, recreated expertly by Jim Carrey. Otherwise an extremely corny, not-enlightening, not well written, piece of mediocre nothingness.

If it hips people to Kaufman, inspires tham to investigate further etc., then I've got no problem with this flick. The world NEEDS to know about Kaufman, best I can figure.

Carrey looks like he's having a blast. And he does a brilliant job. So what? It's not a very good movie.

Andy's Funhouse, My Breakfast with Blassie, The Soundstage thingy, I'm from Hollywood, all stuff that's been commercially available at one time or another. Might be now, will be again. Whatever. Check it out. Read 'Lost in the Funhouse, and Bob Zmuda's book. You'll do much better than you'll ever do with this film.

I tend to keep my deep appreciation of Kevin Smith and his films to myself. I can clearly identify and agree with each and every criticism hurled at his films. The constant, ham-fisted, garrulous monologues. The tongue-tied actors, clearly struggling to wrestle with these word jumbles. Direction that clearly discourages both the actor's own choices, and any sense of genuine visual creativity. Relentless pop culture references that are often cheap, trite, and played-out, etc., etc.. It's all true...

Then again, it isn't. This guys enthusiasm for what he does is so infectious. I can't help but be moved. 'Dogma' is a fantastic film. Having read the script an eternity ago (as everyone seemingly had) I was entirely impressed.

I feared he'd never be able to pull it off to the satisfaction of the snooty, fancypants, 'film-geek' types.

But I also felt as though I'd already seen it. I exaggerate not when I say, it's precisely as I imagined it would be. Which was enormously satisfying.

Many jokes work, many don't. Each performance has it's great moments and it's awkward, clumsy ones. Working with Bob Yeoman (Drugstore Cowboy, Rushmore), one of the best cinematographers around, it's still mostly dull to look at. It doesn't look as good as most films. For Smith it's a quantum leap forward. And it's still a striking entertainment overall.

So determined and heartfelt is this film. So much do I, personally, admire it's sentiment. Embarrassingly, yet sincerely, I am sympathetic to the greater 'View Askew' continuity. I loved this damn movie.

Rickman, Rock and, surprisingly, Damon and Affleck are the standout performances. Jason Lee looks like he's having a blast with a character I'd like to have seen more of. Salma Hayek's part is considerably smaller than scripted (and likely filmed) but lively and memorable. George Carlin got the biggest laughs from me. He very well might be the only guy who could elevate the part beyond a hackneyed cliche. Once again more of him would be great.

The DVD will, most likey, feature a longer cut. Which I suspect will be an improvement.

I am grateful, as it stands, that they mercifully cut the 'Fat Albert' gag. Maybe it played funnier than it read. Probably not (hey, THEY cut it.).

No matter, I'm tired and just effectively slammed a film I actually thought was great. Hey, I ain't no film critic.

Go figure.

Oh, and since nobody else has seemed to point it out) not even the film's detractors), the 'platypus' gag is, I'm pretty sure, more or less, an old Robin Williams joke. But hey, in this context, it was a hell of a lot funnier. Yup.

Words can not convey how simply wonderful this thing is. The king of men and Kaufman sit at a Sambos and discuss everything under the sun. One of Andy's quieter achievements. A must see for any serious fan of either man's work. The other user had it correct. It is a masterpiece.