The Majestic

This is a nice film. A movie that will make you laugh. I smiled most of the movie, and may be that was too long (146 minutes), I enjoyed it all. The story (a man with amnesia is seen as a long lost son in a small town) is not that special, but it has some nice things to avoid the bigger cliches. Jim Carrey is great as he was in The Truman Show. The movie is very well made, and in the end you will have a nice feeling about it.

This installment from the Frank Darabont, director of Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile and soon to come Fahrenheit 451, came back in 2001. This film highlights th actor Jim Carrey in a more serious role aside from his brilliance ion the realm of comedy. This film has a great message about standing up for what we believe in against any kind of oppression or tyranny even if it comes from our own government. This is told using a flavorful twist of identities, which of course is based primarily upon the old French Medieval legend- Return of Martin Guerre, and the growing concern of communism in the late 40's and early 50's. There are also some other historical aspects that need to be addressed. This movie came at the eve of 9-11, which led to a massive hysteria over, not Commies, but of Muslims. Interesting how the writer/director Darabont takes this lost character who takes another's identity and transforms him a hero by simply adding that Carrey had amnesia. He now has a great message to give to the courts and to the "whole of mankind." At the time this movie came out, it seemed like the movie had little purpose and meaning. Watching it today, it has gained a new meaning and warning on our civilization(wasn't Darabont lucky). Unfortunately, I don't buy the argument and disagree. There are too many little details either missing or unlikely that hurt the story. Still, the originality, color, relationships, character development, angles, and plot development all draw to make this film highly enjoyable. This film receives 88.5 out of 100 points.

I have been a big fan of Jim Carrey since his "In Living Color" days. I always felt he had a bright future ahead of him,as talented as the man is.I very much looked forward to the man's film career beginning, but sadly,at least for me anyway,his big screen efforts have left a lot to be desired.Most of Carrey's films have been ridden with oversexed dialog and toilet humor.Finally,a much more toned down Carrey gives me something to smile about.His efforts in The Majestic are simply amazing. The slapstick humor is put aside,very delicately,and what we have is a very appealing fictional story,with Carrey making an excellent romantic and dramatic lead.If you go into the watching of this film looking for the outrageous hairdo of Ace Ventura,the hideous green mask,or anything of the like from his previous films,this will be a big disappointment to you,but if you go into it with an open mind about what he can accomplish dramatically,you will be most pleased.Things are looking up for Jim Carrey.Also,Martin Landau is great as always in a supporting role.Thumbs up!

I often wondered how Carrey would handle a drama and now I know. Totally enjoyed this trip through nostalgiatown as Carrey rejuvenated a town with his infectious personality. Heavily dramatic at times but always with an undercurrent of jollity running through it. I especially appreciated Carrey's dead on comments in the military graveyard.

Anyone who saw Frank Capra's movies and particularly "Mr Smith goes to Washington" when James Stewart single -handedly fights the powers that be in the courtroom will see the connection."The majestic" is old cinema ,it's a fable that should not be taken seriously.It pays a tribute not only to Frank Capra but also to Tornatore's "Cinema paradisio" (1988) and to Homer in Wyler's "best years of our lives"(1945),and also to great movies of the past such as Vidor's "the big parade"(1925) (When Carey watches Renée Adorée saying farewell to her true love,it makes a parallel between her affair and Adèle and the true "Trumble") or Wise's "the day the earth stood still" .It even shows -perhaps ironically in that context- a poster of Kazan's "a streetcar named desire"!

Anyone who wants to take it literally will totally miss the point;it did not prevent "it's a wonderful life" and "Mr Smith goes to Washington to go straight to the heart;so does "the majestic " :it has a good screenplay which is never boring during 140 min and which features very good ideas:The hero remembering the lines of Dieterle 's "life of Emile Zola" whereas he suffers from amnesia ,the piano boogie which shocks the old music teacher,the way Landau reveals the young man the "truth" in the little graveyard,and how -always the magic of cinema" he recovers his memory...The first part is Martin Landau's triumph:he will move you to tears ;Tornatore's influence again,he really seems to come from "cinema paradisio" .But Jim Carrey in a sober part can succeed in his James Stewartesque act as well. Some will tell you it's passé,corny ,old hat :they are completely right.This movie can only appeal to these who have often a look at the past of the seventh art:I'm one of them and I do like "the majestic".