Rating: 
Summary: An underrated gem
Review: I was guilty of not knowing much about Andy Kaufman before seeing this film. In fact, all I remembered about him was that he was "an eccentric comedian". As it turned out, the people from whom I received most input on Andy were the ones who didn't understand him and who never would. Taking just their words
was my mistake - fortunately, Milos Forman and Jim Carrey helped me in learning the truth about Andy when they gifted the world with this splendid picture. It was thanks to "Man on the Moon" that I first really learned the biography of the dadaistic entertainer Andy Kaufman, and immediately set out to find out more about Andy, the golden human enigma. I loved the film and became fascinated by the character of Andy - undoubtedly thanks to Jim Carrey's brilliant, Oscar-worthy portrayal of his persona and his personality. Carrey already proved that he *is* a true Actor with "The Truman Show", and with "Man on the Moon" he cemented this reputation. This is certainly the best role of his life - the best so far, of course. Yet even without Jim Carrey's performance "MotM" would stand on its own. The film is warm, embracing, involving and moving; it's one of few pictures made in recent years that will provoke deep reflections and thoughts staying with the viewer long after the screen goes black.Upon its release, "Man on the Moon" was not received 1/10th as well as it should have been. This is only natural, however. Few films which deserve to be described as magnificent received proper recognition at the time of their release - just look at the reception the freshly-made SF masterpiece "Solaris" is getting at this moment (The situation was exactly the same with "2001"). Since it is speculated that mankind will be constantly developing intellectually, I assume that "Man on the Moon" *will* get the recognition it deserves in less than two decades. Or, at the very least, it will become a cult movie (Actually, it already seems to be gaining this status, although the process is slow...) My one big disappointment was the fact that the film ends so... quickly. Adding to it is the fact that some parts of Andy's biography are left unexplored (Interestingly, a number of critics took off points when reviewing the film for precisely the same reason). After all, if you love a film, you want it to go on for long hours, if not days... That's why I was so pleased to learn out that this DVD release would have numerous extra features - they certainly add to the pleasure of watching "MotM", and enrich the experience. Thank you, Milos Forman and Jim Carrey - and thank you Andy, wherever your spirit may be now.
Rating: 
Summary: Jim Carrey's portrayal of Andy Kaufman was simply brilliant
Review: I know this movie met with a lukewarm reception from the general public when it was released two years ago,but I thought it was great-I remember seeing Andy Kaufman on "Saturday Night Live" the evening of 1/15/1977-That's when he did his portrayal of Elvis-My initial reaction was "Holy ****,that's incredible"-Of course,the rest of the TV viewing public fondly remembers Kaufman as Latka Gravas on the hit series "Taxi"-Kaufman aficionados are aware that Latka was merely an extension of the Foreign Man,which was an early staple of Kaufman's nightclub act-I had only seen Jim Carrey in "Liar Liar" & "The Truman Show"-But after I saw "Man On The Moon",I was totally blown away-I think it's great that Milos Forman brought together the cast of "Taxi" ie:Judd Hirsch,Jeff Conaway,Marilu Henner,& Danny De Vito-Lorne Michaels,the executive producer/co-creator of "Saturday Night Live" appears as himself in the scene where the audience has voted Kaufman off the show-FYI:In real life,that occurred in 1982-Michaels had exited "SNL" two years earlier-Be that as it may,if you are a major league Kaufman fan,you shouldn't miss this film.
Rating:
Summary: The People vs. Andy Kaufman
Review: MAN ON THE MOON had the obvious strike against it. That is, to this day, most of the population still does not (and will never) understand Andy Kaufman. The film is lauded by his friends, peers and die hard fans (which were far and few), but the jury is still out on most of the general public who remembers the bizarre comedian (his different personas/characters) and his obsession with the wrestling entertainment industry. Jim Carrey gives the performance of a lifetime to which some called it too good (or eerily too close to home) and passed over by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences with a nomination. Andy Kaufman was a performance artist to a degree and director Milos Forman delves in good detail into his art, life,performances, and death but the audience is still not given the information on what made Andy Kaufman tick which is what he would have wanted in the first place. Jim Carrey is empathetic to playing Kaufam perhaps because he too is sometimes misunderstood and maligned (yet approachable) by the public. The film reveals little of the mystery of what is going on inside Kaufman's head, but it depicts what facts are known to perfection which what makes the film worth watching and enhanced by an overlooked performance by Carrey and some good support performances from Courtney Love, Danny Devito and Paul Giamatti.
Rating:
Summary: The Great Beyond
Review: If you want an accurate description of the real Andy Kaufman's life this movie would not be the way to go; you should buy one of the many biographies that came out at the time of this film's release. If you want to see an entertaining look at what Andy Kaufman was like, both on stage and off then you should see this film. Seeing Jim Carrey on screen playing Andy Kaufman is like seeing the actual Andy Kaufman. Jim Carrey becomes Andy, and it really is the highlight of the movie. Weather he is reading the Great Gastby, wrestling women, being alter ego Tony Clifton, fighting on the Letterman Show, or doing the famous Mighty Mouse seen on SNL you believe Jim Carrey is actually Andy Kaufman. The performance is not only believeable, but very very compelling. The supporting cast includes Danny Devito, Hole's lead singer Courtney Love, and Paul Giamatti. All put in very capable performances, but are overshadowed by Carrey (which isn't necessarily a bad thing cause this is basically HIS movie). The story follows Andy's career hitting all the highs and lows, ending with his tragic death of cancer. The movie covers sooo much of his career it seems like it spreads itself thin, the audience gets glimpses of Andy's antics, friends, family, etc.. but it doesn't really go in depth on any one aspect. In the end the flaws of the plot and pacing aren't nearly enough to make this a bad movie. It is funny, touching, and by the end you really see what Andy's act was all about. He toyed with the audience getting you to both love and hate him, either way you enjoyed ever second of it, as you should this movie. The DVD version of this movie is solid, but REALLY could of used a commentary track. Hearing Andy's friend Danny Devito and Jim Carrey talk about the movie would have been outstanding....instead we are given deleated scenes and a documentary. Although the extras on the disc are good, imagining what they could have been only leaves you a little bit disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent film!
Review: I really enjoyed this film from the depths of my heart. When I was about five, I would watch reruns of Taxi on Nick at Night and saw the genius that is Andy Kaufman. When I heard about this film, I was determined to rent it when it came out on video. When I rented this modern masterpiece, I discovered that Mr. Kaufman's life was much different than it seemed. This heartfelt movie was a sweeping drama about the life of Andy Kaufman and his friends. Jim Carrey gives the best performance of his career, which should have given him at least a nomination for the little gold guy, if not the statue. Courtney Love gives a surprisingly good performance as Lynn, Andy's girlfriend, and Danny Devito is brilliant. But, Jim still steals the show. I enjoyed seeing the cast of Taxi in the film and also Lorne Michaels. But be careful. When you rent this film you might need a box of tissues to go along with it!
Rating:
Summary: A joke on us?
Review: My favorite Kaufman routine is one in which he is in a club and he is being heckled by a guy. The guys says "You suck, Kaufman" and Kaufman gives some line back to him. Kaufman takes care of the heckler, classic comedian style. And then the heckler days "yOU'RE NOT FUNNY, kAUFMAN. tHE TRUTH IS, YOU PAID ME TO DO THIS...Am I right? Am I right Kaufman, didn't you pay me...to heckle you? So you would look good, huh?" And this bit goes on for an uncomfortable amount of time. Kaufman seemed to be about layers of uncomfortability...about making the audience feel something other than laughs.. Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski are fun screenwriters, (though I am not sure they are still working) having produced script for Larry Flynt and Ed Wood....they are not always concerned with tradition, and find great hools in telling the story. They then seem like the perfect choice for writing the story of Andy Kaufman, the most non traditional of performers...and certainly the first five minutes of the film does not dissapoint...Kaufman(Jim Carrey) stands in a movie screen, tells everybody it is his movie and the weirdness ensues. Ok. Well, then the next two hours never captures this same kind of "what is real?" feeling. I mean, don't get me wrong. I enjoyed this movie, and Carrey does an amazing job of recreating Kaufman onstage...but I thought there were a few problems...one is that no one knew Kaufman that well, and therefore it is almost impossible to create a bio pic for someone you can't actually identify with. Therefore we are saddled with forties bio cliches" I Want to Be The greatest of all times" and the fantastic"I want To Play Carnegie Hall", and the obligatory "guy finds cyst on his neck". Second of All, Kaufman just comes off like a jerk half the time. Third of All, when the film ends, we are no further along about Kaufman than When the film started. But as I think about it, here an hour and a half after seeing the movie, I wonder if the wanting more, the frustration, the unanswered questions is not the ultimate Kaufman prank. And the pranks are the major gist of the film. Much of the film is about an audience not knowing how to take it all...and they are brilliant pranks...just when you think you have it figured out, Kaufman's illusionary reality takes over. So have we been had? Is this film pretending to be a meaningful bio, and is the ultimate prank? Did we watch
this just to be part of a giant illusion, to be caught up in the routines, to cringe at the innapropriate gags, to wonder why all the members of Taxi are playing themselves twenty years later and DiVito is playing someone else?, and then walk away feeling we have seen a genius or a madman or both...
and feel like we have been involved in some giant Kaufmanesque experience... All in all, I think this is a worthwhile experience... or maybe Kaufman is alive, and paid me to write this.
Rating:
Summary: A Good Movie About a Troubled Star
Review: Before I watched this movie, I did not know who Andy Kaufman was. I hadn't known that he had appeared on Saturday Night Live ( indeed, I didn't know much about SNL ) and I hadn't known *anything* about Taxi. So I walked into this movie with a wide open mind. Whatever impressions I have of Kaufman now were made by this film. And I love this movie. Absolutely adore it. It's incredible. Kaufman is difficult to understand. I don't, few have, and few will. I don't think he knew himself at all, and I think he was as surprised as everyone else by Tony Clifton and Kaufman's various other antics. The movie itself is deeply moving. Jim Carrey disappears into the role ( making some wonder if, long after faking his death, Andy Kaufman appeared in this movie as the ultimate daredevil act of defiance ). Man on the Moon is not a comedy. Kaufman's life wasn't a comedy either, and he wasn't really a comedian. He was more like a stuntman, by the looks of it. Throughout his short life Kaufman attempted a delicate balancing act, and he would have continued succeeding if he hadn't gotten cancer. That is, if he ever had cancer. To sum up Kaufman's life, I suppose there's one quote I could use, from John Lennon's song, "I'm So Tired":
"You'd say I'm putting you on/But it's no joke, it's doing me harm/you know I can't sleep/I can't stop my brain/...you know I'd give you everything I've got for a little piece of mind."
Rating: 
Summary: strange movie
Review: this guy had problems for sure, i never seen his act, or his appearances on taxie..or even a clip, i had heard jim carrey's perfromance of theis truly bizarre person was good and was almost a carbon copy of the real man.
i don't get his humour at all, or saturday night live for that matter, mad tv and in living color for me...!
Rating:
Summary: A joke on us?
Review: My favorite Kaufman routine is one in which he is in a club and he is being heckled by a guy. The guys says "You suck, Kaufman" and Kaufman gives some line back to him. Kaufman takes care of the heckler, classic comedian style. And then the heckler days "yOU'RE NOT FUNNY, kAUFMAN. tHE TRUTH IS, YOU PAID ME TO DO THIS...Am I right? Am I right Kaufman, didn't you pay me...to heckle you? So you would look good, huh?" And this bit goes on for an uncomfortable amount of time. Kaufman seemed to be about layers of uncomfortability...about making the audience feel something other than laughs.. Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski are fun screenwriters, (though I am not sure they are still working) having produced script for Larry Flynt and Ed Wood....they are not always concerned with tradition, and find great hools in telling the story. They then seem like the perfect choice for writing the story of Andy Kaufman, the most non traditional of performers...and certainly the first five minutes of the film does not dissapoint...Kaufman(Jim Carrey) stands in a movie screen, tells everybody it is his movie and the weirdness ensues. Ok. Well, then the next two hours never captures this same kind of "what is real?" feeling. I mean, don't get me wrong. I enjoyed this movie, and Carrey does an amazing job of recreating Kaufman onstage...but I thought there were a few problems...one is that no one knew Kaufman that well, and therefore it is almost impossible to create a bio pic for someone you can't actually identify with. Therefore we are saddled with forties bio cliches" I Want to Be The greatest of all times" and the fantastic"I want To Play Carnegie Hall", and the obligatory "guy finds cyst on his neck". Second of All, Kaufman just comes off like a jerk half the time. Third of All, when the film ends, we are no further along about Kaufman than When the film started. But as I think about it, here an hour and a half after seeing the movie, I wonder if the wanting more, the frustration, the unanswered questions is not the ultimate Kaufman prank. And the pranks are the major gist of the film. Much of the film is about an audience not knowing how to take it all...and they are brilliant pranks...just when you think you have it figured out, Kaufman's illusionary reality takes over. So have we been had? Is this film pretending to be a meaningful bio, and is the ultimate prank? Did we watch
this just to be part of a giant illusion, to be caught up in the routines, to cringe at the innapropriate gags, to wonder why all the members of Taxi are playing themselves twenty years later and DiVito is playing someone else?, and then walk away feeling we have seen a genius or a madman or both...
and feel like we have been involved in some giant Kaufmanesque experience... All in all, I think this is a worthwhile experience... or maybe Kaufman is alive, and paid me to write this.
Rating:
Summary: In the Great Beyond - or is he?
Review: I was a fan of Andy Kaufman until he started the women wrestling schtick. I, of course, did not realize his remarks and his wrestling were all a put-on by this master con man until much later. By then, it was much too late and he had already died from cancer. You won't really learn much about Andy Kaufman from this movie - bits and pieces, but from the look of his life, no one really knew a lot about him. You never are told why his dad is so upset Andy is playing in his room by himself. You never get a grasp of what made Andy Kaufman constantly invent characters that people even loved or hated. His "Latka" character was brillant as well as funny. His "Tony" character was the portrait of an obnoxious lounge singer. He appeared to use everybody and everything as a huge prop to complete practical jokes. This may have been gunny to Andy, but lots of times, he was the only one who got the joke. Jim Carrey is fantastic as Andy Kaufman. Seeing Carrey do the "Mighty Mouse" bit brought me back to the first time I seen the bit - fearing that Kaufman had simply became a victim of stage fright and than laughing as he pantomined the "Mighty Mouse" song. Andy Kaufman was a complex and troubled man. He seemed determined to elicit extreme reactions from people, good or bad were the same to him. Just provoking the reaction was what he seemed to crave. I have to admit, I still don't understand Andy Kaufman and I still am not a big fan of his, but the movie was very thought provoking. On one hand, he is seen meditating, trying to become a more spiritual person - on the other hand he is seen being a total jerk to his co-workers for no apparent reason or at least no reason that is elaborated on in the movie. If you want a look at a complex performer, I recommend this movie highly.
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