THE TRUMAN SHOW1998
A film review by Timothy Voon
Copyright 1998 Timothy Voon
3 :-) :-) :-) out of 4 for Truman
Cast: Jim Carrey, Laura Linney, Ed Harris, Noah Emmerich, Natascha McElhone, Holland Taylor, Ted Raymond Director: Peter Weir Screenplay: Andrew Niccol Cinematography: Peter Biziou
In one of the most original and critically acclaimed movies this year, we have a non-hysterical Jim Carrey in his most thought provoking, intelligent role to date. This is the way I like Carrey - away from pets and cable. Peter Weir has mixed a nice cocktail of comedy and drama that will keep you engrossed throughout the film. The question is whether in reality, mankind would stoop to this lowest form of entertainment, watching another man's life fully played out on the TV screen like a soap opera. It is an obvious invasion of privacy, but highlights our voyeuristic tendencies and curiosity about the private lives of others.
If this movie carried a theme, it would be the marked abuse of human rights. In this claustrophobic world a man called Truman is raised in front of television, under the scrutiny of the producer/director Christof (Ed Harris) and the world. Truman does not know that his life has been recorded on camera since birth, but begins to gravely suspect the possibilities, when his father returns from the dead, a light prop drops out of the sky and when he is unable to leave town.
Wonderful aspects include how delightfully this movie is filmed, from a camera like view. It also highlights how blatant advertising has become, when products are engineered into a ‘live' television show. However, the story is probably what makes this movie. It is the journey of one man in search of himself and the need to discover the meaning of the world around him. His search for true love and need to explore, drives him to escape the lunacy of his man-imposed prison. It displays the uniqueness of the human spirit, where no barriers can stop a man from overcoming the adverse forces that wish to contain him. It is people like Truman who dream of walking on the moon, flying to the stars, or in Truman's case – sailing to Fiji.
A well made movie, wonderfully directed by Peter Weir, ingeniously written by Andrew Niccol and sensitively portrayed by Jim Carrey. Certainly an Oscar contender for 1999.
Timothy Voon
e-mail: stirling@netlink.com.au
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