Jack Choo
Directed by Peter Weir
Starring : Jim Carrey,
Ed Harris, Laura Linney,
Written by Andrew Niccol
Running Time : 1hr 50mins
Rating : ***** out of *****
This Review Filed: November 2, 1998.
I remember when I was a kid, I believed that the entire world was made up of people sent down from the heavens to interact with me and make my life work in a funny kind of way. Buildings were there because I went into them on a regular basis and that everyone in the world knew what they were here for except me. Talk about a selfish impression where the world revolves around you! Ironically, other people I've talked to confirm having the same impressions in their youth, which relieves me. Chances are, writer Andrew Niccol had the same impression too and used it as the basis of THE TRUMAN SHOW.
Imagine a child raised under the shelter of a large studio set, where all his interactors are full-time thespians. He has no real friends nor real experiences as the boundary of his world is limited by the size of the studio, but he doesn't know that does he?
Truman Burbank (Carrey) is such a person. His entire persona and world are conceived by his only creator, Christof (Harris). Since the birth of Truman, Christof has televised 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, the life of Truman Burbank into the homes of billions of people living worldwide. Obviously, the concept is a hit and has become the most popular TV show ever, with a record running time. The show captures precious moments in Truman's life: when he takes his first steps as a child, the death of his `father' in a traumatic accident at sea, his first crush, and other milestones in his life.
THE TRUMAN SHOW opens in its 30th year of running. Truman is now 30 years old, married and a career man. While most people will settle for reality after a while, despite being married and having a career, Truman still have an inner suspicion that tells him that something is just not right.
Jim Carrey's usual over-the-top characters in his previous films are slightly withdrawn in this film but even so, there is no doubting this man's talent. The thing with Carrey is, after watching any of his films, you cannot imagine another actor in that same role. That is the impression he gives to most audiences. Though his performance may have been slapstick at times but always charismatic in a charming kind of way, one thing for sure is, he takes his role very seriously and seizes it as his own property. To me, he is a promising contender of various acting awards to come. Ed Harris's Christof may have very little screen time but he also made it into a very memorable role; sombre, serious and almost evil in his appearance, his Christof is a fusion of creator and destroyer.
Peter Weir, Australian born director does well in his orchestration of weird camera angles and first person perspectives to substantiate the supposedly hidden cameras to film Truman's daily life. With this perpective, audiences are made to watch THE TRUMAN SHOW as the TV show it intended to be. Still, THE TRUMAN SHOW must be one of the most refreshing and original story to come out in recent years of the Hollywood film industry. Writer Andrew Niccol, who also wrote GATTACA may have unwittingly defined a new age of Hollywood screenwriting.
On the surface, THE TRUMAN SHOW is likely to be seen as light entertainment to most, the triumph of the human spirit. Are we really what we are today because of yesterday? Or is it just because it is within you? No human can be contained, THE TRUMAN SHOW reiterates that concept.
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