The Truman Show - 10 stars out of 10

The Truman Show - 10 stars out of 10

“The Truman Show” is one of the most interesting films that you will ever watch.  It tells the story of a man who has spent his entire life starring in a tv show without knowing it.  After a television network adopts him as a baby, he grows up in a world that is composed of actors on an elaborate set.  This is the only world that he has ever known and the film is essentially a sociological study of how a person accepts the circumstances in which he lives.  Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this film is its accurate prediction of America’s obsession with reality tv.  At the time of “The Truman Show’s” release in 1998, Americans had not been introduced to shows like “Big Brother” and “Survivor.”  And yet, the connection that the home audience forms with Truman is precisely what draws crowds to reality television today.  The script is fantastic, taking the perspective of the show producers and showing how they have introduced certain events into Truman’s life to keep him from exploring beyond the climate controlled world that they have created.  It accounts for the funding of the show through product placement, the crazy fans who have tried to sneak onto the set, and even the girl that loves Truman and wants to reveal the truth to him.  Most importantly, it paints Truman to be a lovable character that everybody can relate to and root for.  I’m glad to see that the script was acknowledged with an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay.  The acting is also great, with Jim Carrey playing this dramatic role to perfection as he adds a few goofy quirks to make him more relatable.  Laura Linney isn’t always my favorite actress but I love to watch her play this role within a role.  Add in Ed Harris whose two incredible emotional moments earned him an Oscar nomination and Paul Giamatti is so great that his very presence makes any movie better, even in a small role.  There really isn’t anything bad to be said about “The Truman Show.”  From the interesting minimalist score by Philip Glass to the many clever ideas throughout the show’s “production,” this film will leave you wondering if you were actually watching real life unfold within a television show that existed in real life and was rebroadcasted as a movie.