Man On the Moon

USA 1999, 118 minutes
Dir. Milos Forman
Rating: [M]
Genres: Drama, Comedy

Topics: Period 1950s, Period 1960s, Period 1970s, Showbiz, Biopic.

Feat. Jim Carrey, Courtney Love, Danny De Vito

Aroview: Mesmerising biopic of the late 'comedian' Andy Kaufman culls its magnificence from an utterly unique, intriguing personality subject and a virtuoso performance by Jim Carrey - easily his best role to date.

Part maverick, part innocent, and whole enigma, Kaufman's diverse repertoire of 'characters' (incl. 'Latka' on TV's TAXI) specialised in a comedy of discomfort that blurred the boundaries between performer and persona, delighting and infuriating audiences in equal measure. The film is less of an acquired taste, and though it might 'glamorise' the facts (as the writers also did with ED WOOD and PEOPLE VS. LARRY FLYNT), it is an expertly realised, off-beat pageant about a truly exceptional showbiz career.