Martin Freeman is not a fan of Jim Carrey's method acting on the 1999 film Man on the Moon.
The 2017 Netflix documentary Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond revealed how Jim emulated the late comedian Andy Kaufman in the 1999 movie. Jim refused to break out of character even after the cameras stopped rolling, and insisted that everyone called him Andy. Director Milos Forman often pleaded with Jim to cooperate.
This behavior didn't sit well with Martin, who spoke on the Off Menu podcast. He argued that Jim's actions were "absolutely pretentious nonsense" and "highly amateurish."
"For me, and I’m genuinely sure Jim Carrey is a lovely and smart person, but it was the most self-aggrandizing, selfish, f**king narcissistic b**locks I have ever seen. The idea anything in our culture would celebrate that or support it is deranged, literally deranged."
"I am a very lapsed catholic but if you believe in transubstantiation, then you’re going somewhere along the line of ‘I became the character,’ No, you didn’t, you’re not supposed to become the f***ing character because you’re supposed to be open to stuff that happens in real life because someone at some stage is going to say ‘Cut’ and there’s no point going, ‘What does ‘cut’ mean because I’m Napoleon?’ Shut up."
Martin believes that if it had been anyone else, they would have gotten fired. "You need to keep grounded in reality and that’s not to say you don’t lose yourself in between action and cut but the rest of it is absolutely pretentious nonsense. It’s highly amateurish; it’s essentially an amateurish notion because for me it’s not a professional attitude. Get the job done man, f**king do your work. He should have got fired. Can you imagine if he had been anybody else? He would have been sectioned, let alone fired. He would have been got rid of. It’s the ridiculous leeway given to some people." ~Marriska Fernandes
Martin, who?
So I’m making a movie called “Man On The Moonâ€. Who will play Andy Kaufman? Who really could? Does Mr. Freeman think that when an astronomical comedic genius like Jim Carrey is hired to do his business, that it comes with the stipulation to stop being that astronomical comedic genius when (no disrespect Mr. Forman) a one eyed conductor says “CUTâ€? Maybe Mr. Freeman has a bad hobbit of dissing fellow actors.
I could be wrong, but doesn't Daniel Day Lewis do the same thing? Stay in character the whole time?
I agree with Morgan Freeman. Jim Carey staying in character after the Director yells "Cut!" would have been extremely annoying! Like, get over yourself.
Jim Carrey is hardly Daniel Day Lewis ROFLOL! He's a really bad comedian who thinks he can act. He should get over himself, just like the Hobbit says.
I like Martin Freeman in his roles but I don't recall him the movie (I just checked - not listed in the cast), so really who cares what he thinks about Jim's method acting. I am sure Jim doesn't - "let me check my bank account", he says in his Mask or Ace Ventura or Riddler or...whomever voice. Must have been a slow news day.
I actually completely agree with Martin Freeman - Treating an actor or director or producer like God is the slippery slope to the Harvey Weinstein’s of this world - they feel like - and are taught that they can get away with anything so they do - Although I do believe that Jim Carrey felt he needed to immerse himself in the character to pull off the role - I think it was more insecurity in his abilities that made him choose to do what he did for that role (while I love Jim Carrey‘s movie characters I don’t believe he has the acting chops that Robin Williams did - Especially for such a nuanced character) - Not sure what led to this conversation with Martin Freeman I assume he had read the book and was asked his opinion - People are allowed opinions - everyone here is stating their opinions - Martin Freeman did stress that he wasn’t talking about Jim Carrey as a person just that particular acting style (Which I think was the only time Jim Carrey tried it - but I could be wrong on that point) personally there’s nothing wrong with stating his opinion in that sense
Martin, who?
"Angela Wilson • May 20, 2021 @ 11:37 AM I agree with Morgan Freeman. Jim Carey staying in character after the Director yells “Cut!†would have been extremely annoying! Like, get over yourself." Morgan Freeman is usually very wise, so I'm sure I would agree with him too, too bad he had no opinion in this case. :P
Okay - Two different actors - Martin Freeman (whom I love) and then there is Morgan Freeman (not a fan at all). Read the subject line - MARTIN FREEMAN. I also love Jim Carrey. What about all those other actors that have weird habits and demands? Actors live in their own world and whatever it takes for entertainment, I guess.
F***! THIS HAPPENED OVER 20 YRS AGO! wth - slow news week? Worst click bait ever.
who cares
I agree with @too busy. This was over 20 years ago and Martin Freeman wasn't even in the movie. Many actors stay in character during a shoot. Why is Jim Carrey being singled out?
OK, I agree it's pretentious BS the way some actors take method acting to an extreme but why should somebody be "fired" for it? If Jim likes to walk around the set in character...so what? As long as he hits his cues and does his job then what else really matters? You're taking this waaaay too seriously Mr. Freeman. However, I did read that Carrey got into it on set with that wrestler he had a feud with, playing his character even off camera, and that's definitely going to far, That could be a reason to fire someone. Also, method acting can be dangerous. In the case of Belushi, he was reportedly emulating De Niro's method acting and actually trying to live the life of a self destructive individual in order to prepare a role, and look what happened. That was off set though and if somebody is that crazy, there's not much anybody can do.
It's method acting. So many actors are accustomed to this type of acting to help keep the emotions and feelings of the character fluid and continuous. Jared Leto and Daniel Day Lewis are a two examples. I like Martin Freeman, but as an actor he should know that there a many people who are method actors. I'm sure Jim Carey wasn't the only one he came across. I think he just didn't like him, in my opinion.
Well "too busy", Martin Freeman didn't comment on it 20 years ago because he's referring to the Netflix documentary that came out recently that shows what a "treat" Jim Carrey was during filming. Method acting is not being in character all the time. That's rare and if it works for some people, fine, but it's probably incredibly annoying that other actors can't talk to their co-worker about a scene because he's in character. Method is accessing feeling and memories and knowing why you're doing something as a character rather than blindly doing it. Some people can do that naturally, some people need to use the method to get to the same place. But it's not being in character all day and night, that's a little excessive.
Hahahaha! If Freeman thinks this is bad he should drop by the tribute office some time. Seriously though, who cares? Man in the Moon was a mediocre movie about a mediocre talent. And who cares what someone from Hobbit movies thinks??
I totally agree with Martin Freeman, when I saw that documentary it made me ill and I have not liked Carrey since. Self aggrandizing....watching the director plead with him and cow tow to him as he went on and on was truly sickening. I was truly disappointed to see one of my fav comedians behave this way
DMLNG is that code for dumb lil thing cuz you sure are dumb! So you say " Okay – Two different actors – Martin Freeman (whom I love) and then there is Morgan Freeman (not a fan at all)." I think the superhero mania is getting to lil Martins head first of all he actually thiks he is some super hero handler. But u really you want to compare Hobbit boy and Wakanda escapee to the great Morgan Freeman? If u want to see bad acting look at at Bilbo Baggins in the Netflix series Start Up. Please look at The Shawshank Redemption (on every top list of greatest movies ever) and Morgan's acting chops in that movie and then reassess you notion of what great acting is. Or maybe your just dislike Morgan for other reasons making you "not a fan". Maybe you are Miss Daisy and he drove you crazy..
Maybe it was a slow Newsweek, maybe not. Martin Freeman was probably asked a question and was honest about what he thought. I doubt if Jim will take it personally. He's in a very different place in his life. The point might have been to publicize the documentary. I just looked it up and am now watching it. Was Martin doing an interview for a Netflix show?
Some guy- Martin Freeman of the original Office and Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Love Actually
Morgan Spurlock should shut up. It's because of him that I can't get a super sized milkshake anymore. I love milkshakes. I don't know what Marvin Kaplan's problem is. Sure, the guy is dead, but A SEVERED ARM is terrific movie. Hobbits are perverts. Don't listen to 'em!
Who cares Martin!! Your opinion matters 22 years later where no one could pull off such a feat to emulate Andy Kaufman, except Jim Carrey? Get a life.