Today everybody knows the extent of Carrey’s acting abilities, but it took some time for the actor to recognize that. What set him apart from other comedians was his incredible range and the versatility he had within the genre of comedy. He could go from the most physically absurd style to even surreal-type humor. Of course, he demonstrated just how dark and morose he could be too. “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” was Carrey’s breakthrough moment in realistic drama.
The film starred the great Kate Winslet and was written by screenwriting legend Charlie Kaufman. It told the story of a terribly difficult breakup and how a man uses a new type of memory loss procedure to erase the memory of his ex-girlfriend literally. The breathtaking scenes both dramatically and cinematically elevated Carrey into a new status.
"He Smelled Horrible"
Paul Giamatti described how bad Carrey smelled during performing, especially when he was playing the Tony Clifton character. Apparently, the comedian was eager to feel the full effect of the character, who was notoriously stinky. This is why he acted with slices of Limburger cheese in his pockets, and Giamatti could not stand it.
Giamatti continues saying, "And he’d constantly be hugging people, and he had it all over his hands and stuff. It was disgusting. He was touching people and making them shake his hands all the time. He smelled horrible, like really bad. It was just weird, and that’s the least of it."
Jim and Joel Schumacher
Carrey hasn't only made enemies. While Giamatti may not be such a fan of his, Carrey has made friends elsewhere. Joel Schumacher, the director of "Batman Forever," has expressed his incredibly positive experience with the actor. Schumacher took over the Batman franchise from Tim Burton in the '90s and formed a strong bond with him.
Both Schumacher and Carrey share a passion for eccentric and camp-style filmmaking, which became evident in the very original "Batman Forever." In fact, the duo had such a great dynamic on their first project together that they decided to reunite in 2007 to make "The Number 23." Carrey was very public over his grief after the director's tragic passing. Carrey took to Twitter to say that Schumacher "saw deeper things in me than most."
More Success
Of course, you can't wow them forever. Carrey had rightfully earned his spot in the hall of great actors, but as a comedian to his very core, the actor went back to good old funny movies. He would continue to land more comedies, some hits, and some, a little more lukewarm at the box office.
Some of these films included "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and "Fun with Dick and Jane." These were the quintessential Jim Carrey movies that people were guaranteed to love.
Unstoppable
Carrey's incredible ability to go from comedy to drama kept being displayed. Carrey's resume is filled with both. In the early 2000s, he went from "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," a kids movie based on Dr. Seuss's book, to "The Majestic," a drama about a blacklisted Hollywood writer who loses his memory.
Carrey's career continued like this for some time. Another hugely daring film came in 2008, where he wowed audiences as a gay conman in "I Love You Phillip Morris," in which he starred alongside the great Ewan Mcgregor.