I can't really explain this, but I assure you, it's important. Also, I'm trying to come up with a way to make the question itself as least-biased as possible
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something about Jim Carrey when he is playing Jim Carrey has always bothered me. I like the Carrey that was done in Eternal Sunshine, but even then I found it hard to be convincing due to my inability to see him as anything other than him being his Jim Carrey Carrey self.
1) Liar Liar was impressive at the time if I recall correctly, but in a lasting way, I don't think it is one of his major films. 2) I would agree that in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, which I consider one of his major films, which is also one of my favorite films, he is a very different Jim Carrey. 3)Daniel Day Lewis
Sub-answer: Yes. There is Jim Carrey, the actor, and Jim Carrey, the personality; it's confusing because they use the same referent, but I think they're separable. So Jim Carrey, the actor, can play other parts besides Jim Carrey, the personality, as I think he successfully did in Eternal Sunshine.
Sub-sub-answer: Edward Norton comes to mind. I never think of him as "Edward Norton" - he fades into his character unlike Robert Deniro or Al Pacino or Nicolas Cage or Jack Nicholson, who generally play variations on the same character (speaking of Norton, want to go see The Illusionist?). Johnny Depp also might work - it's kind of weird to think that Edward Scissorhands is the same as Captain Jack Sparrow.
Tragically, perhaps, but certainly intriguingly, I think Johnny Depp's ability to play a wide range of bizarre, almost otherworldly, iconic men has in some ways become *his* Actor Personality. It's entirely what people expect from him. Maybe someday when he plays, like, a suburban dad in midlife crisis (+ 40 pounds) would people say he's "not being Johnny Depp". Even in his bad movies that I've seen (Ninth Gate, whatever was the name of that terribly boring Stephen King adaptation about a writer and his ex wife, Sleepy Hollow) he kind of played the same "I'm Johnny Depp in a bad movie" character, which is always the same quietly arrogant, obnoxious, wimpy dude who swears to, but typically fails, to "get to the bottom of things". So Johnny Depp has, until now, either always been a swoon-inducing bizarre/almost otherworldly/iconic guy or the useless, full of himself asshole
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But I think you might be right about Norton. Also, I offer up Ewan McGregor, although he's been both sucky and MIA lately, as someone who does not bring his Personality to a character (amazing that it's the same dude in Trainspotting, Moulin Rouge, Velvet Goldmine, and even the shittier Star Wars trilogy). Also, I think he's the sexiest mother fucker alive, which bears mentioning.
Answer: Liar Liar was huge. at least in my circle. it was ridiculous and quirky, but still, everywherre.
Sub-answer: I think that if he goes into directing and the reemerges as a deeper individual, he might escape being jim carey, but even when watching his serious roles its difficult not to think of him with a green face screaming SMOKIN'. He might get away from himself if he were to start doing action.. because then he would be cool, and funny, but still, at the core, kind of just funny.
Sub-sub answer: Charleze Theron, who is exceptionally mysterious and versatile. I honestly didnt think she would escape from the Sweet November type roles, but she's really gone from funny in Curse of the Jade Scorpion, to sexy in the Italian Job, to real and frightening in Monster to ass kicking in AEon flux, she is rarely typecasted as lovey dovey just because she is attractive, and also kind of mysterious because she's so hot that she's not too stupid to ACT.
Ummm...I'm gonna say no. I'd like to say yes, but I can't ignore my gut feeling--when someone mentions Liar Liar, I automatically put it in a slightly lower category. I think it's because it's *between* the two Jim Carrey worlds...he's sporadically outrageous, but it's also got the sappy romance/child thing, so it's always hovering... I think the difficulty in pigeonholing it as distinctly "Jim Carrey" or "not Jim Carrey" is what keeps it from being in the Major Films category
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Also...what do you make of Liar Liar?
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2) I would agree that in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, which I consider one of his major films, which is also one of my favorite films, he is a very different Jim Carrey.
3)Daniel Day Lewis
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Sub-answer: Yes. There is Jim Carrey, the actor, and Jim Carrey, the personality; it's confusing because they use the same referent, but I think they're separable. So Jim Carrey, the actor, can play other parts besides Jim Carrey, the personality, as I think he successfully did in Eternal Sunshine.
Sub-sub-answer: Edward Norton comes to mind. I never think of him as "Edward Norton" - he fades into his character unlike Robert Deniro or Al Pacino or Nicolas Cage or Jack Nicholson, who generally play variations on the same character (speaking of Norton, want to go see The Illusionist?). Johnny Depp also might work - it's kind of weird to think that Edward Scissorhands is the same as Captain Jack Sparrow.
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Sub-answer: I think that if he goes into directing and the reemerges as a deeper individual, he might escape being jim carey, but even when watching his serious roles its difficult not to think of him with a green face screaming SMOKIN'. He might get away from himself if he were to start doing action.. because then he would be cool, and funny, but still, at the core, kind of just funny.
Sub-sub answer: Charleze Theron, who is exceptionally mysterious and versatile. I honestly didnt think she would escape from the Sweet November type roles, but she's really gone from funny in Curse of the Jade Scorpion, to sexy in the Italian Job, to real and frightening in Monster to ass kicking in AEon flux, she is rarely typecasted as lovey dovey just because she is attractive, and also kind of mysterious because she's so hot that she's not too stupid to ACT.
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I dont know if she really kicks ass or i am just in love with her!
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You know, now I'm having a hard time thinking of any women who really escape their popular personae. I'll get back to you :)
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