La Films North

It is not very often that a comedic actor can cross over into serious roles without eliciting the wrong kind of laughs from the movie-going and satellite TV-watching public. You know the kind of laughs being referred to here the ones that happen at you, as opposed to with you. Actor get pigeonholed based on the roles they have already played, and the audiences are not very quick to accepting change. It is just kind of hard to take these guys who the audience is used to hearing jokes from seriously. Oddly enough, one of the very few exceptions to this rule seems to be Jim Carrey, the Canadian-born comedian known for such early hit films as Ace Ventura: Pet Detective; The Mask; Me, Myself, and Irene; and Liar Liar all of which you can see playing regularly on the cinema channels of your satellite TV. Somewhere there in the late 1990s, Carrey must have decided that he wanted to channel his boundless, zany energy into more serious projects, and thus he started starring in dramatic roles that had critics turning their heads and Americans and movie lovers all around the world forking over their dollars, their euros, their pesos, and their yen. This is a list of Jim Carreys best dramatic turns make sure to watch them the next time you are browsing through your satellite TV channels and looking for an entertaining ngiht.

1. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Though Carrey had starred in more serious films before this 2004 Michael Gondry film, his performance here is so deep and moving that it seemed almost shocking to movie-goers. Carreys character is a man who is so heartbroken after a breakup with Kate Winslets character that he decides to have his memory of their relationship erased. What ensues is a deeply beautiful and bizarre film that features both incredible actors at their absolute best. This is not to be missed so make sure to stop the channel if you see it on satellite TV.

2. The Truman Show

This 1998 film was the first serious role Carrey starred in after already becoming famous, and began what seems like the actors interest in hyper or sur-reality. In a movie that would seem to preview the forthcoming decade of realtiy-show obsession, Carreys character in this film lives his life without knowing that it is being taped and broadcast to the public for their entertainment. Everything he encounters including something as simple as a rain shower is orchestrated.

3. The Majestic

This movie was not one of Carreys biggest box office hits, but it was a good one nonetheless. He stars as a 1950s-era Hollywood screenwriter who seems to have it all the job, the money, the girlfriend, etcetera. But he suddenly finds himself the target of an investigation by the House Committee on Un-American Activities, being questioned for ostensibly benign political activities of his during college. Carrey gives a solid performance in this 2001 film that explores a darker era of United States history.