The Truman Show (1998) – 8.5/10 – Fresh film on the nature of reality
THE TRUMAN SHOW is a psychological comedy-drama movie that is innovative and intelligent. It’s one unique experience, and I don’t know of other similar films. Maybe THE MATRIX and DARK CITY, but neither are comparable beyond the theme built around questioning the experience of reality. So, this movie belongs in a category by itself. The philosophical implications are interesting and translatable to our everyday lives. What is the nature of reality? Does an external reality exist if we live in an artificial reality like THE MATRIX? How could we know if we were? And if we knew, could we enter that reality? Though the philosophical concept isn’t new, the innovative twist and original style make it appear new.
I won’t detail the plot too much to avoid spoiling the fun. An insurance salesperson, Truman Burbank (Jim Carrey), lives in the island city of Seahaven. Everything is perfect except for one fact: Seahaven is a massive reality game show set run by producer Christof (Ed Harris), and Truman is the star. Christof has cameras placed everywhere to watch Truman’s every move 24/7 for the past 30 years since Truman was a baby. Everyone around Truman is an employee or involved in the show. Only Truman remains unaware of his existence. He finds glitches and cracks in the system, deepening his suspicions of the true nature of his world and reality.
Though not a novel idea, the writer and filmmakers executed it brilliantly. It’s a fun, lighthearted movie (with sinister undertones), and it’s fresh. The best aspects are sensational acting, cinematography, visuals, direction, emotional musical score, and the timeless script. With its well-done pacing, the film keeps you engaged throughout. The atmosphere and sets are natural as if you are watching the show unfold live. Hats off to the incredible performance by Jim Carrey. This film has many ideas and nuances that may need multiple viewings. TRUMAN SHOW leaves you with questions. Did they treat Truman ethically? (no). Are humans obsessed with entertainment, even while exploiting others? (yes). What does it make the producers if they deny Truman his right to consent? (evil). In my eyes, only Truman qualifies as a hero in this movie. The irony was that television viewers prioritized a fictional program over experiencing the world around them. It took someone being trapped for 30 years to understand the value of living.
Would I recommend this? Yes, I will recommend TRUMAN SHOW as worth seeing at least once. The film intelligently presents its ideas, and I would argue that it’s about us. Our obsession with the digital world—through the internet, phones, and television—often prevents us from truly experiencing the outside world. This film belongs somewhere in my top 100 favorite movies. My rating is 8.5/10.
*Any trivia facts were obtained from IMDB’s trivia page and plot/name information from Wiki
