Five Essential... Jim Carrey Films

Richard J. Moir selects his Five Essential Jim Carrey Films...

5. The Mask (1994, dir. Chuck Russell)

The Mask is a perfect example of Jim Carrey's slapstick comedy. The way his body moves and bends in this '94 classic showed what he was capable of. While transformed as the Mask, Carrey had lots of room to do his thing, and while just as regular everyday Stanley Ipkiss, showed true acting potential.








4. Dumb and Dumber (1994, dir. Peter and Bobby Farrelly)

One of the classic comedys from the nineties, with Carrey in his early days showing us a glimpse of his potential to be a hit comedy actor. This film is full of sight gags, witty lines and great performances from Carrey and Daniels.









3. Man on the Moon (1999, dir. Milos Forman)

A lot of people see Jim Carrey as an over the top actor, bizarre and crazy. But despite what these people say about him, he does it brilliantly. Man on the Moon doesn't just highlight his typical but brilliant acting style, it shows that he can change at the flick of a switch, from an eccentric avant-garde "comedian", to a bad-ass wrestler and then to a man who we can't help but feel the deepest sympathy for. Kaufman was never understood and it shows why throughout this film, with such crazy antics as the opening credit sequence, wrestling women and purposely creating characters to loathe. Danny DeVito is great in his role, as is Giamatti but it's Carrey that steals the show.



2. The Truman Show (1998, dir. Peter Weir)

A very clever, original and thought provoking film which sees Jim Carrey play Truman Burbank, a man who doesn't know he's the star of a reality TV show. While the film is clever, advertising products, making real-life with actors etc, Jim Carrey shines as the "star", who soon works everything out. Jim Carrey shows he can do serious acting, but it doesn't quite top the number one spot.







1. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004, dir. Michel Gondry)

One of those movies that you really have to stay with or you'll be lost throughout the rest of the film. Jim Carrey takes on a serious role in this gem, while Kate Winslet almost takes his place as a zany, "out there" woman, trying to win his heart. A brilliant cast brought together by a brilliant script and director Michel Gondry. The film is very original, and that may be an understatement, as it sees Joel (Carrey) re-living moments he shared with Clementine (Winslet) while also erasing them from his memory. The story is brilliant, the cast chemistry superb, which makes a great original film. While Jim Carrey is seen as a over-the-top comedic actor, ESofSM shows he has great talent in any genre. A wonderful performance and his best film to date.


Honourable Mentions...

Liar Liar (1997, dir. Tom Shadyac)
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994, dir. Tom Shadyac)
Me Myself and Irene (2000, dir. Peter and Bobby Farrelly)

Jim Carrey Workout Video...


Agree? Disagree? We'd love to hear your comments on the list...

Richard J. Moir

Essentials Archive

Five Essential... Japanese Horrors

Richard J. Moir selects his Five Essential Japanese Horrors...

5. Audition (1999, dir. Takashi Miike)

Audition is a Japanese horror film but you wouldn't think it from the opening hour. It plays as more of a romantic drama with hints of comedy (mainly coming through the actual audition scene) and leaves the audience wondering what direction the film is actually going in. The last half an hour is exciting though, with a gruesome scene to show why this was labeled horror in the first place. Although the effects were used to full effect, and believe me, they don't cut much out, the use of camera work was often distracting and amateurish. The lack of a dolly and stedicam made me feel queasy at times, butthis just adds to the effect of the film. The final scene is one to remember.



4. Ju-on (2000, dir. Takashi Shimizu)

You may have seen ghost stories before, but they never had ghosts like the ones in Ju-on. Crafted with exquisite care by director Takashi Shimizu, Ju-on is an unrelenting 90 minutes of terror that will leave you gasping.










3. Onibaba (1964, dir. Kaneto Shindô)

Creepy and disturbing to the very last detail, Onibaba is a classic in Japanese horror and it's easy to see why through the stunning cinematography, creepy settings and costumes and the high pitched and daunting sounds. Despite being a great horror film, it's extremely symbolic which sometimes gets in the way, and I often found this hard to relate too. But that wasn't ruining my viewing pleasure one bit and the final scene is pure horror.






2. Battle Royale (2000, dir. Kinji Fukasaku)

Not quite the J-Horror film that describes the other films on the list, but the brutal scenes that plague this movie make this 2nd in my list. Set in an alternate present, a group of students are put on an island to kill one another, to solve Japan's problems of an out-of-control youth system. Some scenes are iconic and the characters play their parts well, while the cinematography is stunning and the ending superb.







1. Ringu (1998, dir. Hideo Nakata)

Gloomy, eerie and unsettling, Ringu masters suspense through it's dark mise-en-scene, disturbing soundtrack and fantastic plot. Watch a cursed videotape, and you will die in seven days. Everyone knows the story. It sparked a few remakes (Hollywood being the obvious culprit) and it's easy to see why. Ringu is a fantastic horror film, which uses the "demon woman" as it's main scare. Throughout we see Reiko, a reporter, watches the supposed cursed videotape and finds herself caught in it's trap, seeing things that aren't there, and witnessing horrid flashes of where the curse began.




Honourable Mentions

Ju-on: The Grudge (2002, dir. Takashi Shimizu)
Ichi the Killer (2001, dir Takashi Miike)
Gojira (1954, Ishirō Honda)

Agree? Disagree? We'd love to hear your comments on the list...

Richard J. Moir

Essentials Archive

Five Essential... Films of Jean-Pierre Jeunet

Richard J. Moir selects his Five Essential Films of Jean-Pierre Jeunet...

5. The City of Lost Children (1995)

Dark, stylish and quirky as anything you've ever seen before, this is a truly original film. In a futuristic city, a scientist named Krank uses the help of his clones to kidnap children and steal their dreams, therefore not allowing himself to age. It's a weird story, but beautifully told by Jeunet and his partner Marc Caro. Dominique Pinon (who features in all 5 movies on this list) is wonderfully brilliant, playing the clones of Krank. Ron Pearlman also stars as the hero of the story. Even though the whole film is stunning, the best bit is shown through one single scene, where Jeunet shows that one slight incident can cause a complete catastrophe in a series of humourous events.



4. Foutaises (Things I Like, Things I Don't Like, 1989)

Jeunet won the Cesar award for this short film and it's easy to see why. This short is clever, funny and wonderfully made and was an inspiration for moments used in Jeunet's later film Amelie. It's a short film that cannot be made better in any other medium, it's just a pure cinema film. This is the sort of film that cinema was invented for.








3. Delicatessen (1991)

Sometimes I sit back after watching this film and wish I had written it, or at least come up with the storyline. A lonely clown moves apartments to start a new life, only to soon find out that the owner kills the people living there to feed other tenants. The clown (played by Dominic Pinon) falls in love with the owner's daughter, naturally, and dark comedy hilarity ensues. Wonderfully shot with a great scenery, brilliantly acted by every member of the cast and some memorable scenes.






2. A Very Long Engagement (2004)

This is the second film in which Jeunet and the gorgeous Audrey Tautou team up, and it makes people want more. Tautou is given news that her fiance is still alive after a battle in World War One, and goes in search to find him. The film is full of quirky moments which give it an edge, and it brings in the idea of fate, for example when Tautou runs down a hill to determine to herself if her husband is really alive. The war scenes are extremely well done and the scripts very well written. But there's only one other Jeunet film that could beat it.





1. Amelie (2001)

One of my all time favourite films, only tied at the top spot with Misery, Amelie is superb in every single sense. It was the first Jeunet film I saw which made me want to see the others. It was his first film going solo (without Marc Caro) and he made a good choice, turning away from the dark, surreal storylines and giving his audience a brighter and happier romantic comedy. It's not just any rom-com though, as the film is dotted with distinctive Jeunet touches, used in previous films. The cinematography and direction is what got me. The colours are used to fantastic effect, and some of the odd camera angles and movements just fully work in the film's favour. Brilliant acting and a warm storyline makes this Jean-Pierre Jeunet's greatest film.


Also...

Jean-Pierre Jeunet was the director of the fourth Alien film, Alien:Resurrection in 1997. He has made other well received short films that are well worth a look if you can get hold of them. These include:

The Bunker of the Last Gunshots (1981)
No Rest for Billy Brakko (1984)
The Escape (1978)

In October of this year, his new film, Micmacs a tire-larigot, will be released.

Richard J. Moir

Essentials Archive

Five Essential... British Movies

In a new column, Richard J. Moir selects his Five Essential British Movies...

5. The Full Monty (1997, dir. Peter Cattaneo)

The Full Monty is the film you heard about when you were a child, but were far too young to know anything about. When I finally got round to watching it, I was half laughing at my innocence beforehand and at the genius of the film itself. Every single actor doesn't fail to put in a performance, with Robert Carlyle already showing why he himself is one of Best of the British. The laughs are sprinkled well throughout the film, and is driven forward by each man's personal fear, of which the others help. Funny, charming and faultless.





4. The Long Good Friday (1980, dir. John Mackenzie)

Having not seen many British gangster films I finally got to see one which many have loved and quoted as the best British gangster film out there. Bob Hoskins stars as the London mob boss, caught up in more than he can handle. Some of the dialogue is superbly written, with Hoskins getting the majority of the witty lines. Some scenes are brilliantly brutal, but others are just laughable, including a shower scene which was meant to be taken seriously, but I couldn't help a giggle. Hoskins steals the show but he isn't against much competition as characters fade in and out too quickly before we get to know them.




3. Gregory's Girl (1981, dir. Bill Forsyth)

Gregory's Girl (starring John Gordon Sinclair and Dee Hepburn) is a romantic comedy, sure to tickle your rib cage and have you wanting more. The subtlety of the humour is brilliant, as Gregory tries to win over tom-boy Dorothy. Each actor brilliantly plays their part in a timeless classic.









2. A Clockwork Orange (1971, dir. Stanley Kubrick)

Dark comedy at it's greatest in one of the most disturbing and controversial films ever made. Malcolm McDowell is brilliant as the narrator, a sex driven rapist who loves Beethoven and his pet snake. What's not to love? The film makes a great contrast from the fantastic novel by Anthony Burgess, and Kubrick sticks well to the story, while using his fantastic directing skills to get the best out of McDowell and also the amazing, futuristic sets.






1. Trainspotting (1996, dir. Danny Boyle)

And here is where we see Robert Carlyle again. Only this time, he doesn't take the limelight. This is for Perth-born Ewan McGregor, who shines in this film about loneliness, drug addiction, sex and Scotland. The film hits home hard, so you have to be prepared to watch it, and the humour is very dark. Although, that can be questioned when you take Spud's character, brilliantly played by Ewen Bremner. Each character is portrayed to perfection and Danny Boyle, one of my favourite directors, has done well with another novel-to-film adaptation. Choose British Film. Choose Trainspotting.




Honourable Mentions...

This Is England (2006, dir. Shane Meadows)
East is East (1999, dir. Damien O'Donnell)
The Italian Job (1969, dir. Peter Collinson)
The 39 Steps (1935, dir. Alfred Hitchcock)
Kes (1969, dir. Ken Loach)

Agree? Disagree? We'd love to hear your comments on the list...

Richard J. Moir

Essentials Archive