Movie Review: The Truman Show

***
“We’ve become bored with watching actors give phony emotions. We are tires of pyrotechnics and special effects. While the world he inhabits is, in some respect, counterfeit, there’s nothing fake about Truman himself. No scripts, no cue cards. It isn’t Shakespeare, but it is genuine. It’s a life.”
Peter Weirs The Truman Show is a film about a life in a television program. Unsuspecting Truman Burbank played by acclaimed comedian Jim Carrey, is the star of the world famous “Truman Show”. A show where everyone, from the people to the children to the dogs are all actors and the entire world is a giant set visible from space. Truman is the only person on the show unaware of his televised life and millions of people tune into the “Truman Show” every day, twenty four hours a day, and seven days a week just to watch what he will do. The Truman Show earns its three stars for its compelling story but it is let down by an abrupt ending. Star Jim Carrey is renowned for his comedy performances; The Mask, Dumb and Dumber and more recently Bruce Almighty and Horton Hears a Who, but he brings something a little bit different to The Truman Show. Yes, there are moments when you are tearing your hair out at his completely gay nature, drawing an alien on the bathroom mirror and his outbursts of, “if I don’t seeya, good afternoon, good evening and good night” but there is some genuine human emotion mixed in there as well. As the movie progresses Truman realises the truth about his life and Carrey’s performance truly illustrates Truman breaking free of his bonds.
For all those out there looking for a simple comedy film for a few laughs The Truman Show is not what you are looking for. It deals with the stifling issue of control which society imposes on not just actors but audiences as well. The worst let down of the entire film is the end. The movie spends all this time building up for this certain point and then, pssssst, the moment disappears in the blink of an eye and it is the end. The cinema lights go up and the film is finished and you are left thinking, is that it? After all that is that all you could give me?
Peter Weir has fulfilled his dream in creating and exploring the ultimate character faced with isolation from others and unfamiliar situations and Jim Carrey has given one of his best, and probably most meaningful performances. The Truman Show is a well rounded meaningful film. Perhaps I might just try to tune into Truman tonight.