Certifiably Jonathan (2007) Reviews

• The less one knows about this film going in, the better, so stop reading now!

  PKazee2011-02-20

  This film is a piece of performance art that intentionally confuses the line between fiction and reality, much as Andy Kaufman was once famous for. On the surface, this is a documentary about the desire of comedian Jonathan Winters to have his work as a painter taken seriously. Winters once spent some time in a mental hospital, so when his sanity begins to break under pressure to produce new work for a promised MoMA exhibit, viewers are left to wonder how much of his breakdown is real, and how much is a put on, as his behavior straddles a line between the frightening and ridiculous. Sadly, I fear that knowing it is all a put on prior to seeing the movie spoils much of the experience, since the film is not nearly as clever as a mere "mockumentary", as it is as an "Is He? or Isn't He?" piece of performance art.

• Rest in Peace, J. Winters!

  gavin69422013-04-15

  A famous comedian and artist wants to display his work at an art museum. Just when he thinks he has lost his touch, a series of famous comedians drop by to help him rekindle his artistic and comedic spark. Following his recent death, watching this film is my way of getting to know Jonathan. I think it worked! Robin Williams does his hackneyed, humorless bit (and Winters makes a nice remark about how Williams has overshadowed him), and Jim Carrey even shows up. In fat, Carrey's few moments on screen are quite funny to me -- which is odd, given that I am not a huge Carrey fan. He has a quick wit, and I wish we saw more of that and less of his physical comedy in films.