The Truman Show (A- or 3.5/4 stars)
Truman Burbank (Jim Carrey) is unknowingly adopted as a baby by the powerful OmniCam Corportation, grows up, & becomes the star of the most popular TV show of all-time in 'The Truman Show' (directed by Peter Weir, Witness, Dead Poets Society). For exactly 10,909 days, the show has been 'on air' in a huge studio, using 5,000 hidden cameras to show every single moment in every single day of the life of Truman. The public adores it - there are even Truman addicts who fall asleep sleep with the television on & who have tv sets installed in their own bathrooms so that they won't miss anything when they're using the facilities. Every individual in Truman's show is actually a paid actor with one important exception: Truman, himself. Even his best pal (Noah Emmerich) knows the truth.
While everyone around him is playing a 'part', he is cheerfully ignorant about the truth (jokes on him, so to speak). He wakes up, does his usual shtick, kisses his "wife" (a stellar Laura Linney) goodbye, goes to work as an insurance salesman/adjuster, comes home, etc. Everyone & everything is in its place. He has no reason to think that his life is anything but real, & his obliviousness to the situation gives the TV program its main appeal - that Truman is "real". One fateful day, however, when a former cast member sneaks back on the set with a warning for the star, Truman starts to suspect that a deception is being played against him.
What the film does (thanks to astute direction from Weir & an original concept by Andrew Niccol) is give us two things at once: 1) an endearing drama about Truman's search for the meaning of life. And 2) a darkly humorous cautionary tale about the power that media has over us. Stylistically, 'The Truman Show' uses a cool approach, intercutting real-life footage of the director of the Truman Show program (a fantastic Ed Harris), the behind-the-scenes TV crew, and mockumentary interviews with those tuning in to watch the show. The film takes a satirical crack at today's current entertainment trends. And the fact that everything seems so very cheery & sunny throughout the proceedings only goes to amplify how very dark the underbelly of entertainment/media can be. This film speaks heavily about the negative nature of "reality TV", just as it's starting to boom in real life. So, as you can see, this film is more provocative & ambitious than your normal fare.
I liked 'The Truman Show' in the same vein (though not nearly as much) as Forrest Gump - both movies show a good, honest man who is easy to sympathize with. We're used to seeing Jim Carrey's antics in such comedies as The Mask or Ace Ventura. But it's great to know that he can channel that energy into a dark comedic role with serious dramatic implications. Reigned-in, Carrey actually gives a subtle & effective Oscar-worthy performance. We need to like Carrey's Truman in order for the premise to work. And Carrey brings more than enough likability & charisma to the table.
Now, I would like to have seen the filmmakers take the daring concept a little further. The film is 100 minutes long. It all ends satisfactorily. But more could have been explored; particularly about the indictment of reality TV. We, the public, are inherent Peeping Toms. So the exploration of the pros & cons of humanity as they involve themselves with programs like Truman's is left a tad stunted. Here's another question. Did Truman ever have sex? If so, it had to have been with the character played by Laura Linney - who was being paid to be his wife. Makes ya think about the personal pressures of those hired to be on the show, right? Oh, but I'm nitpicking. On the whole, 'The Truman Show' offers an intriguing social commentary with great performances & beautiful design. Films like this are a rarity.
While everyone around him is playing a 'part', he is cheerfully ignorant about the truth (jokes on him, so to speak). He wakes up, does his usual shtick, kisses his "wife" (a stellar Laura Linney) goodbye, goes to work as an insurance salesman/adjuster, comes home, etc. Everyone & everything is in its place. He has no reason to think that his life is anything but real, & his obliviousness to the situation gives the TV program its main appeal - that Truman is "real". One fateful day, however, when a former cast member sneaks back on the set with a warning for the star, Truman starts to suspect that a deception is being played against him.
What the film does (thanks to astute direction from Weir & an original concept by Andrew Niccol) is give us two things at once: 1) an endearing drama about Truman's search for the meaning of life. And 2) a darkly humorous cautionary tale about the power that media has over us. Stylistically, 'The Truman Show' uses a cool approach, intercutting real-life footage of the director of the Truman Show program (a fantastic Ed Harris), the behind-the-scenes TV crew, and mockumentary interviews with those tuning in to watch the show. The film takes a satirical crack at today's current entertainment trends. And the fact that everything seems so very cheery & sunny throughout the proceedings only goes to amplify how very dark the underbelly of entertainment/media can be. This film speaks heavily about the negative nature of "reality TV", just as it's starting to boom in real life. So, as you can see, this film is more provocative & ambitious than your normal fare.
I liked 'The Truman Show' in the same vein (though not nearly as much) as Forrest Gump - both movies show a good, honest man who is easy to sympathize with. We're used to seeing Jim Carrey's antics in such comedies as The Mask or Ace Ventura. But it's great to know that he can channel that energy into a dark comedic role with serious dramatic implications. Reigned-in, Carrey actually gives a subtle & effective Oscar-worthy performance. We need to like Carrey's Truman in order for the premise to work. And Carrey brings more than enough likability & charisma to the table.
Now, I would like to have seen the filmmakers take the daring concept a little further. The film is 100 minutes long. It all ends satisfactorily. But more could have been explored; particularly about the indictment of reality TV. We, the public, are inherent Peeping Toms. So the exploration of the pros & cons of humanity as they involve themselves with programs like Truman's is left a tad stunted. Here's another question. Did Truman ever have sex? If so, it had to have been with the character played by Laura Linney - who was being paid to be his wife. Makes ya think about the personal pressures of those hired to be on the show, right? Oh, but I'm nitpicking. On the whole, 'The Truman Show' offers an intriguing social commentary with great performances & beautiful design. Films like this are a rarity.