August 20th 2024.
Have you ever imagined seeing Jim Carrey in a completely unrecognizable role? Well, that's exactly what you get in the star-studded 2016 Western dystopia, The Bad Batch. This mind-bending, under-the-radar thriller, now available on Netflix, is directed by the talented Iranian-American filmmaker Ana Lily Amirpour and features an all-star cast including Jason Momoa, Keanu Reeves, and Suki Waterhouse.
The synopsis of the film reads: "Banished to a wasteland of undesirables, a young woman named Arlen struggles to find her place in a drug-soaked desert society and an enclave of cannibals." But nestled within this unflinching social commentary is a surprising appearance from the beloved 62-year-old Hollywood legend, Jim Carrey. Known for his iconic comedic roles in films like The Grinch Who Stole Christmas and The Mask, Jim has also showcased his dramatic talents in movies such as The Truman Show, for which he won a Golden Globe, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, for which he received a BAFTA nomination.
With such a diverse and impressive cinematic history, it's hard to imagine that there's anything Jim hasn't tried his hand at. But in The Bad Batch, he takes on a role like no other, making it his wildest and most unexpected yet. Interestingly, he didn't do much promotion for the film, which may have caused his character to go unnoticed by some viewers.
In the film, Jim plays a minor and easy-to-overlook character known only as the Hermit. He silently wanders the desert with an empty shopping trolley, his rugged and subdued appearance belying the larger-than-life persona we all know and love. In fact, if you're not specifically looking for him, his cameo could easily be missed.
According to director Ana Lily Amirpour, offering Jim the role was a no-brainer. She told LA Weekly, "When he opened the door, he had this full beard like the character, and I had goosebumps." And his performance didn't go unnoticed. IndieWire praised his transformation, writing, "The role stands out as one of the most exciting actor transformations in ages, in part because it's a reminder of what can happen when he pushes beyond his default mode." The publication also noted that Jim once again ventured into fresh terrain, portraying a wizened and world-weary figure in a way he's never done before.
However, the film itself has received mixed reviews over the years, currently holding a 45% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Some critics have criticized the lackluster plot and direction of the post-apocalyptic tale, with Slash Film stating, "Despite a promising start, The Bad Batch runs out of gas about halfway through, and spends the rest of its time meandering through a halfhearted narrative." Meanwhile, TheWrap described it as a "confusing saga" that feels more like a pastiche than a coherent film.
But there are also those who were impressed by the film. The New York Times called it a "messy, sunbaked pop-culture cobbler" that is both "a bummer and a blast." The reviewer adds, "You may wonder what the heck you're looking at, but that's kind of the point." The Globe and Mail echoed the praise, describing the film as "a trippy, sun-scorched apocalyptic horror with a rom-com finish that gets as bloody, visceral, and cannibalistic as its U.S. R rating will allow."
Whether you fall on the side of critics or fans, make sure to keep a lookout for Jim in this unconventional role. And while you're at it, why not check out his latest appearance as Dr. Robotnik in the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, with the third film set to release later this year? But for now, you can catch Jim in The Bad Batch, available to watch on Netflix.
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