The Truman Show (1998) Review

"In case I don't see you; good afternoon, good evening, and goodnight."
-Truman Burbank



Truman Burbank (Jim Carrey) is a perfectly normal guy; he has a house, a wife, and good job.  He's also the star of the number one reality show in the world, but has no idea.  Truman's entire world is directed and controlled by showrunner, Christof (Ed Harris).  As Truman starts to figure out the truth, Christof is willing to do anything to keep the show on the air.


What Works:

I don't know if anyone other than Jim Carrey could have pulled off the role of Truman Burbank.  I simply can't imagine anyone else in the role.  He is extraordinarily likable and easy to root for, but manages to keep the Jim Carrey comedy we know and love.  He has some wonderfully dramatic moments and we really get to feel what he feels.  It's an outstanding performance and it's a shame that Carrey was not nominated for Best Actor.

This story is brilliant and perfectly executed.  The world of The Truman Show is fascinating and seeing it operate never gets old.  I love getting the peaks behind the scenes and how the various actors react to Truman's actions.

My favorite parts of the film are when Truman manages to get a glimpse of the break in reality.  When he notices the unusual movements of vehicles and pedestrians, seeing a break area for the actors, his road rage attempts to escape.  All of these moments are a ton of fun, especially his drive across the bridge with his eyes closed.

The product placement both Meryl (Laura Linney) and Marlon (Noah Emmerich) do is blatantly hilarious.  It's especially funny on the rewatch.  Linney, in general, is fantastic and nails her performance in every scene.

It's really cool to see the behind the scenes aspect of the facade.  Christof and the control room characters are all extremely interesting to watch.  Seeing the amount of control they have over Truman's world is fascinating and I would love to see more.

Finally, the climax of the movie where Truman leaves Christof's world is absolutely wonderful.  It's an utter triumph and Truman's catchphrase, though quaint, is still badass.  It's an excellent way to end an excellent film.


What Sucks:

I got nothing for you.


Verdict:

The Truman Show is a rare movie that I would consider perfect.  Everything functions to excellence.  Jim Carrey, Ed Harris, and Laura Linney are all fantastic, the story is incredibly engaging, and the ending is exactly what it needs to be.  I can't think of any faults with this film.  It's one of my all time favorites and it has absolutely got it going on.

 10/10: Amazing   

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