STARRING: Jim Carrey, Danny DeVito, Paul Giamatti, Courtney Love

"Hello, my name is Andy and this my movie review."

That's how this review would have started if it was written by Andy Kaufman or to be more specific, Jim Carrey's interpretation of the late comedian in "Man on the Moon," the latest from Director Milos Forman ("One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest") and writers Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski ("Ed Wood."). Kaufman was a bizarre entertainer -- one, it seemed at times, more interested in provoking an audience than entertaining one -- and this movie stays true to his spirit while trying to examine his life and career. Like Kaufman himself, this movie will not appeal to everyone, but it is an entertaining look at a man that was so good at manipulating the public that his own death was suspected to be a publicity stunt.

"Man on the Moon" is Director Forman's latest look at a playful malcontent doing battle with the status quo. From McMurphy in "Cuckoo's Nest" to Mozart in "Amadeus" to Larry Flynt in "The People vs. Larry Flynt," Forman has delighted in showcasing those standing on the outside looking in and enjoying the view. Andy Kaufman is a fitting successor to this long list of cinematic rebels. "Man on the Moon" follows Kaufman from his career beginnings as a stand-up comic through his success as Latka on the TV series "Taxi" to his infamous media stunts, such as wrestling women or performing as offensive lounge singer Tony Clifton. Along the way, we gain insight into a performer who was always trying to redefine entertainment, whether the audience liked it or not.

Andy Kaufman was always trying to redefine entertainment, whether the audience liked it or not.

At the center of this movie is an extraordinary performance by Jim Carrey as Kaufman. It is rare nowadays that an actor will disappear completely into a role. Even with great actors, you'll still aware that you're watching someone playing a part. Carrey becomes Andy Kaufman. You forget that you're watching the same guy that talked through his butt in those Ace Ventura movies. He appears to be channeling Kaufman rather than portraying him. I'm not the biggest fan of Carrey's comedy, but I always knew he was good actor. He first caught my eye when he played the alcoholic son in an early-nineties TV movie called "Doing Time on Maple Drive." He gives a career-defining turn in "Man on the Moon." As far as I'm concerned, just give the guy his Oscar now.

There is some good work by the rest of the cast, too. Danny DeVito ("Throw Mama From the Train" and Kaufman's co-star on "Taxi.") invests his role as Kaufman's manager with great warmth and sensitivity. You can tell he truly cares about his client and is both amazed and dismayed by Kaufman's genius. Paul Giamatti (Pig Vomit from "Private Parts") plays Kaufman's writing partner and best friend, Bob Zmuda. Giamatti has an everyguy charm that makes you like Zmuda even as he and Kaufman assault audiences with their creations, especially the loutish Tony Clifton. Rocker/Actress Courtney Love ("200 Cigarettes") does a good job in the quiet role of Kaufman's girlfriend. It's nice to see that she can tone down her flamboyant persona to play such a sweet, low-key character.

It's nice to see that Courtney Love can play such a sweet, low-key character.

The film takes an interesting turn toward the end when Kaufman contracts a rare form of lung cancer. Since his career has consisted of one outrageous stunt after another, people start to wonder if his illness is just another joke. There is a great scene where Kaufman's family isn't even sure if he's serious after they learn his diagnosis. Writers Alexander and Karaszewski weave the events of Kaufman's life into a strong, entertaining narrative. "Man on the Moon" is their third biography of an iconoclastic entertainment figure, following "Ed Wood" and "The People vs. Larry Flynt," which was also directed by Forman.

While Andy Kaufman's genius often made you question what you saw, there's no questioning that "Man on the Moon" is an unusual, funny and compelling cinematic experience.

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