The Truman Show

Rating:
Summary: powerful beyond full description
Review: the only thing I can say is that phrase I heard somewhere

is life imitating us?
or are we imitating it?

absolutely funny and touching movie
saw it 3 times on vhs
and have it now on dvd
if you like Jim Carrey

then see Man on the moon: he does a great impersonation of the great and deceased but not forgotten Andy Kaufman
he's also great in Batman Forever as the insane but hilarious Riddler
and breathtaking side humors in Ace Ventura movies of his

this Truman show movie will touch me more and more every time I watch it
I hope it does too for you



Rating:
Summary: One of the Great Films of the Nineties
Review: "The Truman Show" is a masterful collaboration between director Peter Weir, scriptwriter Andrew Niccol, and star Jim Carrey. Though seemingly light in tone the film makes an ominous statement about our voyeuristic society even at the most mundane. Niccol in his other projects has taken a fairly pessimistic view of society in his masterful "Gattaca" and the underrated "SIMONE" but "The Truman Show" is his most powerful indictment of human nature yet. The film concerns Truman Burbank(Carrey) a rather affable fellow who lives a blissful life in the town of Seahaven with a seemingly perfect wife(Laura Linney) until he comes to the realization that it's all been a lie. His entire life has been concocted by a television director, Christof(Ed Harris) and that his friends and relations are all paid actors. Naturally, Truman's impulse would be to escape such an existence but there is too much riding on him to stay on the air and Christof will use all of his Svengalian powers to keep him in place. Carrey gives probably his most effective screen performance to date evoking not only the comedy inherent in his role but also the pathos. Harris, in a role that probably should have won him the Oscar, nearly steals the film as Christof. His arrogance at Truman's attempts to escape from his power and the petulence he displays is masterful. Linney is also effective as Truman's wife with the perpetual smile fixed on her face knowing full well that the cameras are on. Natascha McElhone is also good as the woman who wants Truman to escape his stifling existence. Great film but Paramount shows no respect for it by packaging it with virtualy no extras no speak of.

Rating:
Summary: A relatively undiscovered gem
Review: I'll always remember the first time I saw "The Truman Show." Besides my astonishment that Jim Carrey could actually act seriously (and brilliantly, at that), I was so riveted by this film's tragic beauty that I recall sitting on the edge of my couch, frozen in the same position during the entire last hour. Years later, I regret that I can never watch "The Truman Show" for the first time again, but I can appreciate seeing new details every time I view it.

The key quote of this film, I think, comes from Christof: "We accept the reality of the world with which we are presented." Just think--just stop. Think about that. Just for a second (though preferably longer--it's not easy to wrap your head around). It hearkens back to the oldest philosophical questions known to man: why is there anything at all, and why are we here? Jim Carrey allows us to look through the eyes of someone whom we fear we are, when we stop to think in those dark moments of life.

Everything about the end of this film is hope. Sure, sometimes we feel now as Truman did when his boat finally reaches the end of the stage. We beat, pound, and rage against that which keeps us from reality. Like Truman, we struggle to the point of exhaustion and finally turn our backs, slide down the boundary, and try to reconcile ourselves to this shadow of life. But, like Truman, I think someday we'll too be given the chance to step through the door in the wall.

Rating:
Summary: Another Layer most Viewers miss...
Review: Allow me to start by adding something to the previous review: a comment on the film's last shots. These shots (especially the very last one where 2 viewers wonder 'what else is on') are not just to close the film in a funny note. They're not scenes that the screenwriters just decided to include for fun. Far from that, they are a very bitter and pessimistic closure to the film, a portrayal of the reaction that the viewers (of the movie - not JUST the viewers IN the movie) will unfortunately have: after watching the movie they will just look for something else to 'consume', having missed the point they will casually look for another movie, another of what they just had: another movie to pass time. The majority will find it to be nothing but a movie about a reality tv show.
Those scenes are a bitter comment on how most people will just fail to grasp it's real message. And it actually prophesised what followed after the movie came out, which is not a big surprise, really.
Some people will actually manage to read between the lines, though. It's the same people that managed to understand the subject of movies like 'The Matrix' (not those who think it's about jesus) and 'Dark City' (not those who think it's about... aliens), the ones that understood what those movies tried to project. To those people all three of these movies talk about the same thing although adopting different storytelling methods to address it.
The Truman show is the one that deals with the subject in the most down-to-earth and accesible fashion: by looking more 'realistic'. By looking ordinary compared to the others. And yet it is so more obvious for it. Sadly, most people don't think when they watch movies unless they are told they must do so.
What is the common link between 'The Matrix', 'Dark City', and 'The Truman Show'? Could there be more than just that all three were filmed in Australia around the same time? Sadly (or perhaps not) there is absolutely no point in revealing what viewers should discover themselves - it will be no revelation they made themselves, that way - especially considering viewers that have yet to watch the film(s). Those people who watch and don't get the messages, they are simply not able or ready for them, hence those messages have absolutely no value in their present condition.

Therefore, the only thing i can do is just give some food for thought and hopefully provide some hints: Could those three movies be talking about the fabric of reality? Could they be talking about control? If so, what is that control expressed by? What is Christof in Truman's 'world' or 'reality'? Could he be God? Is there a pun intended by the choice of his name? What could the Architect be? What could the 'Strangers' symbolize? Is there a similarity between Truman's effort to cross the 'sea' confronting Cristof's will and Ulysses' journey confronting the Gods and more specifically Neptune? Could there be a connection between Truman and Ulysses? Could the sea be symbolizing something? Could there be a conection between that and the sea in 'Dark City'? What is Truman's real home? And where? How is he being kept a prisoner? By what values? Aren't those values... valuable? Could someone be abusing them? How are Anderson (Matrix) and Murdock (Dark City) kept prisoners in their cases? What makes them want to escape? If Truman's name is not an accidental choice then could there be meaning in the names Anderson (hint: no, it does not mean son of man - there is NO greek word analogy there except for those who desperately need to put one there - could it simply mean what it SOUNDS?) and Murdock (hint: who was Marduk and what did he do)? Could those names be significant in each respective movie? How? Could there be a connection between the viewers in the 'Truman Show', the ones plugged into the matrix and the citizens of 'Dark City? What could be the connection between the methods used in all three cases? Could there be a connection with the viewers/humans/citizens OUTSIDE the films? What are the means by which each 'reality' is maintained?

There are so much more (especially if one steps into the metaphysical symbolism in each film) but this is only intented to stir your interest and your thinking process...

I hope you have a good and creative time...

P.S.: As a final thought... Could there be a connection between this film and 'The Dead Poets Society' that happen to have the same director? What was THAT film REALLY about?

Rating:
Summary: In the Age of Reality Shows, This is an Eye Opener
Review: Jim Carrey's second best film, in my opinion. Strange, it's not even a comedy.

Truman Burback leads a pretty ordinary life. He gets up, goes to work, has his best friend, his wife, etc. One day, strange things start happening around him and suddenly, Truman starts to see that all isn't as it appears.

Truman's entire life....is a lie. Everything, everyone. It's all a lie. A reality show that began with his birth. He's been on television 24-7 ever since. He begins to think that there's more outside of his little town, and decides to go looking for his first love, but everyone seems intent on keeping him there, even nature itself (which is controlled by the network).

This film has it's humor, don't get me wrong, but I like it for other reasons. I think this is a picture of a possible future for television, a bad future. Everything is a reality show - why not an entire life?

Rating:
Summary: On the Air. Unaware.
Review: The Truman Show challenges the way you view life in a compelling, powerful way; a movie that vividly illustrates how the worldview of an individual affects the way he lives out his life. The Truman Show is a powerful illustration of the fact that every individual has a worldview, a way of viewing ultimate reality that fits into and is compatible with their personal experience.
Truman Burbank (Jim Carrey) is a man whose entire life has been documented by a secret group of expert filmmakers. This secret community of filmmakers also constructed the world Truman Burbank lives in. His world is a giant movie studio, so huge it can be seen from outer space. The filmmakers have been filming, from birth, the life of Truman Burbank. On the air unaware, Truman is the ultimate reality show project.
But then Truman Burbank begins to question the authenticity of his world. Strange events are happening all around him. Machinery falls from the sky, he discovers radio frequencies that track him wherever he drives, he finds that one elevator entrance leads into a secret room, and other strange happenings as well. As Truman Burbank searches for authenticity and ultimate reality in an artificial and lying world, he finally discovers the real world.
What he does with his discovery is the pivotal scene of the entire movie; everything builds up to it, yet at the same time this movie is not predictable in any way. Jim Carrey's performance is top notch; he plays his role to perfection, as do all the other actors. The storyline is compelling and changes the way you view your life. It is among my most favorite films, and I highly recommend The Truman Show to anyone. 5 stars.

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic Movie
Review: Truman Burbank seemingly has it all, a loving wife, a nice home, nice car,and a good job. What he doesn't realize is that his whole life is scripted and filmed, it has been since his birth. Everyone in his life is an actor, including his wife, mother, and best friend. Even the drowning death of his father was scripted. Little things start to happen that make Truman question what is going on: a light falls from the sky, his car radio picks up someone directing the action, people he's never met know his name. He even sees his "dead" father. Truman gradually realizes what is happening, but will he be able to escape?

This is one of my favorite movies. Peter Weir does an excellent job of directing, getting fine performances from his cast, especially Jim Carrey as the unknowing Truman, Laura Linney as his "wife" and Ed Harris as Christoff, the creator of The Truman Show who seems to have forgotten that his "creation" is human. The way the actors work product placements into The Truman Show is very clever, as is the way certain scenes are shown through
the hidden cameras. The movie does bog down a bit in the middle when it pulls away from Truman's life and into an interview with Christoff, necessary to set Truman's background and to remind us that it's a TV show, but it's still a bit awkward. But the ending is very exciting.

I love this movie and recommend it to everyone.






Rating:
Summary: One of my all time favorites
Review: A truly great satire on the ultimate reality show with one of the all time best roles for Jim Carrey since "Doing Time on Maple Drive." I haven't seen "The Majestic," or "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," but Carrey does have the ability to act given the right material. Laura Linney and Natascha McElhone are wonderful too.

Rating:
Summary: Ok to begin with, but the ending is the worst, ever
Review: This movie was nothing i've thought of Jim Carrey to star in, i mean i watched this in 1999 but the review comes back to it. Jim plays a normal man living in a fake world created by tycoons greedy for money, so they air his life from when he was born till the day he actually finds out there is a real world out there. The funny thing about this movie is when he tries to escape and explore the world, or find his high school love in Fiji, but seems to be in traffic jams, and various characters stops him, like the stupid bus driver, turning the gear to rear and busting the bus. It's funny to see a man living in a world he thinks is real but is surrounded by pro actors, all his life.

It was funny, and sad but it is something to watch. I wouldn't call it the best, but it's a movie you should take a look at, because it has never ever been done in the movie business back then and now.

Rating:
Summary: What if they made a movie of my life...?
Review: "The Truman Show" is a film I often come back to, occasionally, because its premise is so unique and compelling. Certainly, it's a parable and a fantasy; Peter Weir has quite simply added another brilliant film to his awesome filmography. Jim Carrey was expected to be insanely funny because everyone thought he was nuts to begin with. As a previous reviewer said, that's what we expected from Robin Williams, too, and Adam Sandler ("Punch-Drunk Love"). Carrey's performance is so very complete, a wonderful display of sensitivity and focus. I was impressed. Mr. Weir's vision I'm sure had a lot to do with it all, and Laura Linney's performance was much under-rated. Ed Harris was customarily over-reactive. This is a fantasy to be enjoyed and not analyzed at first glance; let it take you in, and question your own mortality. This is a film about self-esteem. For that reason alone, Jim Carrey flies beyond his reputation.