Man on the Moon (1999)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Milos Forman

Writers (WGA):

Scott Alexander (written by) &
Larry Karaszewski (written by)

Release Date:

22 December 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

"Hello, my name is Andy and this is my poster."

Plot:

A film about the life and career of the eccentric avant-garde comedian, Andy Kaufman.

Plot Keywords:

Comedian | Life | Wrestling | Wrestler | Girlfriend

Awards:

Won Golden Globe. Another 3 wins & 15 nominations

Cast

Jim Carrey	...	Andy Kaufman (also as Tony Clifton)
Gerry Becker	...	Stanley Kaufman - Andy's Father
Greyson Erik Pendry	...	Little Michael Kaufman (as Greyson Pendry)
Brittany Colonna	...	Baby Carol Kaufman
Leslie Lyles	...	Janice Kaufman - Andy's Mother
Bobby Boriello	...	Little Andy Kaufman
George Shapiro	...	Mr. Besserman
Danny DeVito	...	George Shapiro
Budd Friedman	...	Himself
Tom Dreesen	...	Wiseass Comic
Thomas Armbruster	...	Improv Piano Player
Pamela Abdy	...	Diane Barnett
Wendy Polland	...	Little Wendy
Cash Oshman	...	Yogi
Matt Price	...	Meditation Student

Also Known As:

Andy Kaufman (USA) (working title)
Der Mondmann (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and brief sexuality/nudity.

Runtime:

118 min

Country:

UK | Germany | Japan | USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Canada:AA (Ontario) | Iceland:10 | Iceland:LH (video rating) | Spain:7 | South Korea:15 | Philippines:PG-13 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:14A (Alberta) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Chile:14 | Finland:K-8 | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | New Zealand:M | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R | Canada:PG (British Columbia/Manitoba)

Filming Locations:

Ambassador Hotel - 3400 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

During filming, a story broke out that a fight ensued between Jerry Lawler and Jim Carrey which was also played out by Lawler on "WWF Monday Night RAW" (1993) (where he commentates). The whole story was fabricated to promote the movie.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Andy is totally bald as a result of chemotherapy, his head has "5 o'clock shadow" visible through the makeup. If all of his hair had really fallen out, his scalp would look completely bare.

Quotes:

George Shapiro: Andy, you have to look inside and ask this question: who are you trying to entertain - the audience or yourself?

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Friday Night with Jonathan Ross: (#11.11)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

It's Howdy Doody Time

Thank you very much

The first time I saw Andy Kaufman was on the Saturday Night Live 15th anniversary show. In the clips from the first 5 years, they showed a few seconds of his Mighty Mouse thing, and I found it strange and funny. Since then, I've seen him on old Saturday Night Live shows, and comedian specials, and seen a few old Taxi episodes(though I was never a big fan), and found him to be quite strange, but also quite funny. So I was really looking forward to this movie, and I was not disappointed.

I agree with the person who said to try and find out the mystery behind Kaufman would have undoubtedly gotten it wrong. Instead, we get a look inside his art, and if you don't find him funny, you're not going to like this movie(and I have no problem with those who don't like the movie for that reason). Viewers may also be thrown by the fact that the movie, as demonstrated in the opening scene, is a series of "is that real or just a put on?" episodes(in a way, this reminded me of PENN AND TELLER GET KILLED, which is similarly constructed). But it stays true to Kaufman and his performance style, and I found it offbeat and, yes, funny.

I do have a couple of minor quibbles. I don't know the entire story, but there are a couple of facts fudged. For example, the way Kaufman left Saturday Night Live is not quite true(if they had done the true story, it would have been even funnier). Also, Courtney Love is not as good as she was in THE PEOPLE VS. LARRY FLYNT, though she does have moments. But, as I said, those are minor quibbles. Particularly high among the virtues is, of course, Jim Carrey as Kaufman. It took me awhile for him to "disappear" into the role, as so many people said he did, but he is amazing and constantly keeps us off balance and laughing, as does the entire movie.