To put my thoughts about The Truman Show in a nutshell ("Oh! How did I get it this nutshell? What kind of a nut has a shell like this?") I loved it and I left the theatre speechless. Congratulations, Jim, on another success and for making a perfect transition from comedy to drama without letting your style disappear.
There are a number of Jim Carrey Links on My Link Appreciation Page, so if you want actual information about Jim Carrey, I suggest going to one of those.
And now...Exactly why I appreciate Jim Carrey.
Jim Carrey is an actor that holds a special place in my heart. Not only do we share a birthday, but he and his movie, "The Mask," were the basis for my college essay that got me accepted. Jim Carrey was my first favorite actor, starting from the first time I saw "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective." After that came "The Mask," which had such a huge impact on me; it made me want to act.
See, I've always been a really big nerd. In seventh grade, I had frizzy hair, greasy skin, and thick glasses. I didn't know how to dress or make friends, and I was pretty much the biggest dork you ever did see. In eighth grade, I got contacts and cut my hair, thinking it would make all the difference, but it didn't; I was still a nerd, only I didn't have glasses anymore.
After eighth grade was when I saw "The Mask." The story itself, that of a man who wasn't really sure of himself and used a mask to be what he always wanted to be, was basically the story of my life. (Except for being the man I've always wanted to be. I've never wanted to be a man.) The best part was listening to the audience reacting to Jim Carrey being so funny. Laughter was suddenly the best sound I'd ever heard. So I decided that I wanted to make people laugh, too. In ninth grade I took a public speaking class and built up my self-confidence in front of an audience. Then my sophomore year, I tried out for a short play and got a part. I was so excited! My first audition and I already got a part! It was an ensemble part, but still. It was so cool.
That was the only part that year, but I made a big audience laugh the night of that play. I knew this was what I was meant to do. In my junior year, I got another part in a short play, then a small part in the drama ("A Midsummer Night's Dream," Mustardseed). By now I had taken acting class in school and was learning more and more techniques. I was starting to let myself go, rather than hold myself in, the way I would always see Jim Carrey doing.
Senior year has been the most successful so far. I got an awesome part in the annual short play tournament (I won my sophomore year and this year), a lead in the drama ("Arsenic and Old Lace," Abby Brewster), and a great part in the musical (a shoo-wop girl in "Little Shop of Horrors"). I also got to go to a Shakespeare Festival at Hofstra University (the college I'm presently attending) and play four parts and die numerous times. And, much like Jim Carrey, the physical comedy has left me quite bruised and bloody, but happy. People think it's really funny when you die or fly off a tire swing. Thanks to Jim Carrey, I became the "funny female Thespian" this year, something that I never thought I would accomplish.
Mr. Carrey's work amazes me and inspires me to put my inhibitions aside and just go nuts.
I also thought "Liar Liar" was incredible. That was such a great role for him to do. He still did the screwball stuff, but revealed a really sensitive, emotional side that I think a lot of actors wish they had. Maybe it's in his eyes. Or maybe I've just looked into it too much. (I saw the movie 15 times in the theatres.)
"The Truman Show" is great, too. I was first in line for that one, just like I was for "The Cable Guy," which was not a bad movie, thank you very much. It was a wicked, twisted, very amusing little flick that should be seen by every couch potato in America.
So, if Jim Carrey is out there reading this, thank you for everything you've given to me as an actress. My performances are dedicated to you.
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