Jim Carrey and the Elusive Oscar | Why He's Never Been Nominated

Jim Carrey delivered superb dramatic performances in The Truman Show, Man on the Moon, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, but he's never been nominated for an Academy Award. In this video, I break down Carrey's extraordinary career in film and television and discuss the reasons why the Oscar has so far eluded him. #jimcarrey #oscars #academyawards #brianrowevideo #goldenglobes
Written and Produced by Brian Rowe
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[@prilljazzatlanta5070]

Comedy is harder than drama. I will always stand by that. You can cover up bad dramatic acting with good writing but as far as comedy goes either it makes you laugh or it doesn’t. I get tired of comedic actors feeling that they need to turn “serious” to be validated. The people who make us laugh typically have greater truths behind what they’re saying

[@TheAwardsContender]

Agree 100%!

[@florenciabalori3625]

Well in the video you have the perfect example in Benigni, he's famous in Italy for being a comedic actor and you can see how all that comes through in La Vita è Bella, but he nonetheless won the oscar for best actor because he was able to blend comedy and drama seemlessly

[@wacabell]

Living proof that the Academy's all about politics, Jim Carrey is one of the best actors of his generation.

[@TheAwardsContender]

He should really have an Oscar nod by now!

[@addiatmeikokusuma8058]

Jim Carey was snubbed for The Truman Show was a crime...and he still can make a fun of himself during the telecast about the whole situation...he is a legend

[@TheAwardsContender]

Agreed, an absolute legend. Thanks so much for watching!

[@smurfyboy92]

I do think Jim Carrey's lack of nominations definitely comes from academy snobbery. I think many people ithin the academy never wanted to give him a nomination because they perceived him of not being a "serious actor"

[@TheAwardsContender]

Agreed! He was so popular in comedies that it was difficult for many to see him as a great dramatic actor. Thanks for watching!

[@gutterbaby8382]

The same can be said for the lack of major nominations for Adam Sandler's great performances in Punch-Drunk Love, The Meyerowitz Stories and Uncut Gems. Voters just could never forgive him for Jack and Jill.

[@yanitchka]

Unfortunately, I completely agree with you.

[@slc2466]

Right, and why can't he be considered for some of his best comedies as well? Heaven forbid says the Academy, due to the snob factor you mention.

[@user-vq5gz3if3o]

Robin Williams was on a league of his own. Not a regular comedian. He was extraordinary, rest his soul!

[@TheAwardsContender]

Amen!

[@Mr.Tin_88]

I have faith that he'll receive an Honorary Academy Award for his legendary career. And there, finally there will be Justice.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Yes!

[@griffbotstudios1052]

I’m glad you brought up the Robin Williams comparison. While I mostly agree with the argument that Carrey has to overcome a bias as “the comedian in the rhino’s ass”, it’s fascinating that Williams was mostly immune to this. For three of his nominations (The Fisher King, Dead Poets Society, and Good Morning Vietnam), Williams plays characters that exhibit his trademark comedic mania, funny faces and all. They’re great performances, but they never let the audience forget that he’s a comedian. And the Academy didn’t care. And while he’s far more mellow in Good Will Hunting, he’s still got his fair share of zingers. But for Carrey, any element of his silliness seemed to be a death sentence to his Oscar chances, even in a more serious film like The Truman Show and Man on the Moon. But then he takes an explicitly dramatic turn in Eternal Sunshine and that doesn’t work either. All that said, I think Carrey’s comments about the nature of campaigning are explicitly telling. Williams was a fantastic campaigner and universally beloved among his peers. Meanwhile, Carrey was more shy and reserved. That might work on the Globes, with their tiny membership and bias toward popular actors, but the Academy requires a far larger press tour. The more introverted Carrey might just not be fit for the “shaking hands and kissing babies” element of the Oscars.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Excellent points throughout!! I loved reading this piece. I agree that Carrey has never been one to enjoy campaigning for an Oscar. Outside of a surprise amazing supporting role in a drama in the next couple decades, Carrey is most likely to win an honorary Oscar later in his career. Thanks so much for watching and for your eloquent, fascinating take!

[@JJSmithMedia]

He definitely should’ve been nominated at least twice, if not a winner. Unfortunately he hasn’t done anything since Eternal Sunshine worth nominating.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Agreed, his work since Eternal Sunshine hasn’t been as good. But his performance in I Love You, Phillip Morris from 2010 was outstanding. Thanks for watching!

[@dbspaceoditty]

@@TheAwardsContender i love you philip morris needed so many awards.

[@tinaverma1835]

@@dbspaceoditty definitely

[@xrh_tm55]

I totally agree that he should have been nominated for Eternal Sunshine, one of my favourite films of all time and Kate Winslet should have won that year btw - but he should also have been nominated and won for The Truman Show. It was such an iconic role!!! And better than Benigni's for sure..

[@TheAwardsContender]

Thanks for watching!

[@gidgitvonlarue9972]

He's an artist now doing out there paintings - it's his happy place and I understand that TOTALLY! Zen land.

[@stelios2506]

Kidding should have received so much more love, it's a fantastic show !

[@TheAwardsContender]

Agreed!!

[@renan.csmaia]

Jim Carrey is amazing and I have been a fan since when I was a child in the 1990s!!

[@TheAwardsContender]

Yes, same here! I was nine years old when Ace Ventura: Pet Detective was released (the perfect age for that movie, I think), and he became my idol for years. Thanks for watching!

[@Wulfdon]

I love The Majestic. His speech during the hearing and his final words with Martin Landau can always bring me to tears. Such an underrated film. Yes, there are some cliches but overall, just a wonderful feel-good movie.

[@TheAwardsContender]

I’m so happy you enjoy The Majestic, I agree it’s a wonderful film. Thanks for watching!

[@prilljazzatlanta5070]

Its a corny movie but ill never forget how it made me feel in theaters juxtaposed against post 9-11. It was a feel good movie that perhaps would have worked decades before

[@prilljazzatlanta5070]

@@TheAwardsContender it is fun seeing Frank Darabont do Capra and the cinematography is lovely. A lot of comedies skimp on cinematography and therefore seem less cinematic. I still think hes magnificent in Cable Guy

[@jonathanvelazquezph.d.2719]

I've liked him since Once Bitten. He was so funny and handsome at the same time. I think this is one of those cases where people don't take him seriously because the impression is Jim himself doesn't take himself seriously or doesn't seem to care. And, that's just heartbreaking if you ask me.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Yes, he's one of my favorites. Thanks for watching!

[@gidgitvonlarue9972]

I LOVE The Majestic so so much - critics and the general audience missed the boat on that one! BEAUTIFUL film with great performances from everyone!

[@ceciliarenteria7614]

I hate that good comedy isn’t awarded as much, but I too hope we see more great work fro JC

[@TheAwardsContender]

Here’s hoping!

[@cesarabrahamcastanedavalen3788]

Indeed, we love, admire and worship #JimCarrey, since the #Mask, #AceVentura, #iloveyouphilipmorris, Truman's show, spotlight.... Wow, he's being so prolific

[@TheAwardsContender]

Thanks for watching!

[@arontamas5639]

My favourite dramatic performance from Jim is Andy Kaufman in Man on the moon...... Criminally snubbed at the Oscars...

[@bradredford4846]

Dude should at least have one for sure!!

[@TheAwardsContender]

Yes!!

[@samuelbarber6177]

Fun fact: Jim Carrey was considered by Christopher Nolan to star in a biopic of Howard Hughes, which Nolan shelved when he learned that Martin Scorsese was developing The Aviator.

[@peteradaniel]

Tbh I wasn’t initially a fan of the channel. Now I just can’t stop watching. Very nice video essays.

[@TheAwardsContender]

So happy you changed your mind, haha! Thanks for watching!

[@MrHootiedean]

The first time I remember seeing Jim Carrey was in the Kathleen Turner/Nic Cage film Peggy She Got Married. It was the first time I had seen someone do that kind of physical comedy. He's Legend.

[@renan.csmaia]

Make a video about Glenn Close's 8 nominations without winning...

[@TheAwardsContender]

Haha, yep, I'll probably have to do that one at some point...

[@darrylreilly3915]

This magnificent appreciation appeared as suggested viewing, leading me to watch it, go to your channel and subscribe. You deftly detail that for each of the three possible Oscar nominations, the competition was tough. Jim Carrey eventually gave up on being the next Tom Hanks and went off in other directions. We hope he comes back…

[@TheAwardsContender]

I am so happy to hear you enjoyed my video about Jim Carrey! Thanks for subscribing and for watching!!

[@cxap]

It is hard to express how wonderful this video is. Great work!

[@TheAwardsContender]

Oh yay, thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@AtlasBlizzard]

It's always so bizarre when Golden Globe winners don't even get nominated for the Oscar. Same happened to Madonna for Evita, which was her hour of glory in the acting world.

[@arontamas5639]

Have you ever thought about making and elusive Oscar video of Cameron Diaz? She starred in several Oscar nominated movie, one of her movies was even nominated for best picture, Gangs of new york, plus for Being John Malkovich she was literally nominated for any other major award (GG, SAG, Bafta) except for the Oscars.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Would be a fun one!

[@eliemenasche6350]

Jim Carrey is the best actor almost of all time and hilarious. Kid friendly and yet never been nominated. Next Oscar should bring back classics like ace ventura or even mask Batman etc bringing him in number one. He earned it. (They would rather nominate best streaming movies that are over seas and not even American movies in an American Oscar nomination. Just like our jobs, Oscar’s are even going overseas

[@KennethofTroy]

i liked jim best in his eeeeeeaaaarly tv movie "DOING TIME ON MAPLE DRIVE"!! now THAT blew me away!! :D

[@TheAwardsContender]

Yes!! Love the shout-out to that early TV movie!

[@francescotamburella6673]

Hope He will get back ❤️❤️❤️ this video is a masterpiece ❤️❤️❤️ Thanks a lot. Hope he will get what he deserves❤️

[@tekkieman]

His impersonations could be amusing for a second, and then it becomes grating. I was a tween in the mid 90s and if I found him annoying, no doubt the academy was there with me. He was too low-brow for them to later take seriously. Not to mention, once you start complaining about not having a nomination-you’ll definitely be passed over.

[@bev9708]

VERY nicely made video bravo!!! I went to see the Majestic at the cinema and really enjoyed it and couldn't at all understand why the cinema was mostly empty!! Even more so for I Love You Phillip Morris, which I tried to get everyone to see after I saw it, but people just didn't show any interest.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Thank you so much!! Yes, I Love You Phillip Morris deserves more love. Thanks for watching!

[@bev9708]

@@TheAwardsContender I've been binging your videos a bit and enjoying them very much, so of course I subscribed!!

[@ToonLogicStudios]

If you haven’t done it already,Roger Deacon’s long road till finally winning Best Cinematography.

[@TheAwardsContender]

A great idea. Thanks for watching!

[@gstone8255]

I actually like Mr Poppers penguins. Although my favorite part is Angela Lansbury not Carry himself.

[@isaaclopez-eb6yg]

I just want to understand how is it that career comedians (because they are mostly know for comedy) don't get any respect from the academy. Just also look at Adam Sandler who has given some great dramatic performances but no nominations.

[@TheAwardsContender]

So true! Thanks for watching!

[@jhhone]

Your videos are top quality like others who have produced professional content here you are going to go on to major success with a broadcaster and not have time for KZbin anymore. Let's enjoy while we still can! Cheers!

[@TheAwardsContender]

Oh my gosh, thank you so much!! Glad you're enjoying the videos!

[@monicamerle1417]

I love Jim so much. It wasn't always like that. Hated "Ace Ventura", "Dumb and dumber" & "Batman forever". I started to appreciated him with "The cable guy" & " Liar Liar" and he won my heart and loyalty with "The Truman show". I own like a dozen of his movies including "I love you Philip Morris" - highly underrated but understandably not for everyone - & "Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind" - one of my favorite movies of all time. He should have been nominated and even awarded, but most comedy actors (especially when they come out from SNL and shows like that) are never taking seriusly by the Academy. Take Will Ferrell: he took a similar risk like Jim when he did "Stranger than fiction", an excellent comedy/drama sharing the screen with Oscar winners Emma Thompson & Dustin Hoffman. Was Ferrell overlooked? Obviously dah! Paul Rudd will never win an Oscar either nor will Robert Downey Jr, who has done plenty of dramatic movies before Iron Man. He lost his one shot with Chaplin. How that happened? 🤷‍♀️ Robin Williams (God bless him, I still have a hard time re-watching his movies) was the exception to the rule..

[@TheAwardsContender]

So true!! Thanks for watching!

[@monicamerle1417]

@@TheAwardsContender it's funny how this reasoning doesn't apply to female actresses who started their careers in comedies, later moved to dramatic roles and won Oscars. Examples are: Helen Hunt, Reese Witherspoon, Sandra Bullock. The Academy seems to be more forgiving with comedy actresses than comedy actors. Conclusion: they are dumb 😁

[@AtlasBlizzard]

Robert Downey Jr. has now won an Oscar!

[@monicamerle1417]

@@AtlasBlizzard and very well deserved. Two years ago when I wrote this, Oppenheimer didn't exist dah!

[@gracegreen1859]

@@monicamerle1417nonetheless it was a dumb assumption. Glad he finally won and continues to work.

[@allissondiego1989]

What a beautiful video

[@florenciabalori3625]

I would consider myself a winner for life if Jack Nicholson did one of my gags while accepting a speech!

[@therealangelosettler]

I liked him in yes man

[@bruh_hahaha]

comedy is much harder to perform convincingly than drama. For some reason we’ve all been brainwashed to think otherwise.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Agreed! Thanks for watching!

[@derekwetherington1221]

He should have won for The Truman Show

[@rustincohle2135]

I don't know if you still check comments on older videos but I did some research some time back and discovered some interesting stats about Jim Carrey and the Oscars, which I then submitted to Carrey's IMDb trivia page. One, Jim Carrey is the only actor (male or female) to win a Golden Globe for Best Lead Actor/Actress (in a motion picture) in BOTH the drama and comedy/musical categories without being nominated for an Oscar. But more interestingly, Carrey is also the only actor (male or female) to win the Golden Globe for a lead performance in the drama category (motion picture) without ever being nominated for an acting Oscar. The only one. You can check it yourself. Every person who has ever won the Golden Globe for Best Actor (Drama) or Best Actress (Drama) has been nominated for an acting Oscar at some point (except for Jim Carrey), even if the actor in question wasn't nominated for the Oscar that they won their Golden Globe for. For example, Omar Sharif won the Globe for Best Actor (Drama) for _Dr. Zhivago,_ however he wasn't nominated by the Academy for that same performance. Although, he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for _Lawrence of Arabia._ Another example, Spencer Tracy won the Globe for Best Actor (Drama) for _The Actress_ (1953) however he wasn't nominated for the Oscar that year. BUT he does have two Best Actor Oscars. Or Kate Winslet who won Best Actress (Drama) for _Revolutionary Road,_ wasn't nominated for the Oscar for it but she still has an acting Oscar. Or Shirley MacLaine who won Best Actress (Drama) for _Madame Sousatzka_ (1988), wasn't nominated for the Oscar but she has won an Oscar (for _Terms of Endearment)._ So, yea, Jim Carrey is the ONLY one. I thought that was a very interesting stat.

[@gracegreen1859]

Katie Winslet was a lead in both of her movies that year. So she is an exception. The globes went with revolution and the reader and the Oscar’s just picked one.

[@Kituchxy]

Is it just me that thinks Jim Carrey is at his complete best in Grinch?

[@BrownsBacker]

The Truman Show was brilliant....but the Oscars doesn't respect comedy talents....they didn't nominate Steve Martin in All of Me either.... both were brilliant performances, in my opinion.

[@TheAwardsContender]

100% agreed!! Thanks for watching!

[@melisagalvalizi6982]

robin williams was a trained dramatic actor first, he studied at julliard

[@TheAwardsContender]

Yes!

[@lexkanyima2195]

He was forced to play drama

[@melisagalvalizi6982]

@@lexkanyima2195 ??

[@lexkanyima2195]

@@melisagalvalizi6982 he's a comedian

[@theeksfiles9359]

Can u make a video about "Why Madonna wasn't nominated for Best Actress for her Golden Globe winning performance as Eva Perron in Evita"

[@TheAwardsContender]

Yes, I would love that!! Stay tuned, and thanks for watching!

[@cezartigno]

And what about laura linney?

[@nitsugazemag]

I agree with his nomination snubs, but I feel his refuge in the safety of lackluster comedies and lesser movie roles dampened his prominence in Academy voters. Perhaps, even his antics outside and around other award circles rubbed many the wrong way. Recently, much to my dismay, he decided cast a stone at Will Smith for the infamous slap when he himself has exhibited problematic behavior at past MTV movie award ceremonies such as an attempted forced kiss on Will Smith, and kissing Alicia Silverstone without consent accepting his award. Also, being apart of anti-vaxxer movement with his ex-wife Jenny McCarthy, I find it difficult to see him reemerge to prestige. His strongest performance was Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and should have been his Oscar nomination. I don’t think that it’s out of the realm of possibility that he could be ignored if the right role comes along, but it’s still an upward battle. Some people say that you should separate the art from the artist, but it’s difficult to do that when their behavior doesn’t reflect the prestige the Academy typically goes for. This is not to say the Academy hasn’t been hypocritical when awarding/nominating disgraced figures such as Roman Polanski, Mel Gibson and Woody Allen. Who knows? Carrey can always have a comeback 🤷‍♂️.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Excellent analysis, thanks for watching!

[@user-lb6ch3ns7g]

Think Art Carney winning for Harry and Tonto. I also think Phillip Morris is a great performance by Carey.

[@oc2538]

I think he still has time. Yet I don't think he cares about showbiz and cashing an Oscar. He's beloved as a comedian and he can act in dramatic roles. I however don't think he can act in any role and every role.

[@TheAwardsContender]

I still hope for a late career nom.

[@ThatsJustMyBabyDaddy]

Just like diamonds, the Oscars only mean something because a lot of people have agreed that it does. It's a football trophy at the end of the day. 😂

[@TheAwardsContender]

Haha, but they sure are fun to talk about and analyze. Thanks for watching!

[@dasturlarniorganamiz6277]

is he retired?

[@slc2466]

Steve Martin has also sat on the sidelines for far too long.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Yes! Should have been nominated for acting and screenwriting. Thanks for watching!

[@robervar1097]

Help ! What are the 2 movies where he won an award againt himself ? Funny speach

[@BestTreadCarefully]

Liar Liar, The Truman Show, The Majestic.

[@lsimon343]

Andy Kaufman was really annoying in retro spect. No one cared about him and that movie. When u look back at his “ comedy” it just wasn’t funny. Jim took himself way too seriously w that role and it wasn’t his “ gump” or Philadelphia

[@TheAwardsContender]

Yeah, I would say he deserved an Oscar nom more for The Truman Show or Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind simply because they are better films. Thanks for watching!

[@adelaflores2027]

I think the difference between him and Williams is that William's would bounce from drama and comedy and so that just kept it always fresh in the Academy that Williams could be taken seriously as a dramatic actor. I think because Carey has never consistently done drama after The Eternal and The Number 23 being a box office/critics bomb, the Academy has just never been able to shae off his comedy persona.

[@manjulgautam801]

i dont care about the oscars anymore cause jim hasnt won any .whats the point of an oscar if the actor as great as jim carry haven t even been nominated..fking bs

[@TheAwardsContender]

He should have been nominated for something by now for sure!

[@kermitdfrogz]

Because his acting isn't that great. He's the same dude in every movie just like Jeff Goldblum or Gary Shandling or Norm McDonald. There seems to be four kinds of actors: personality actors, range actors, actors with connections, and actors who sleep their way to the top/attractive actors. Jim's a personality actor, like Nicolas Cage or Jack Nicholson, to give you a higher range of actors in his genre.

[@gstone8255]

One thing I don’t like about Carry is that he is an anti-vaxer 😡👎