was well ahead of it's time in relation to the whole televised aspect. I thought Jim Carey was a perfect choice for the part and I felt real sympathy for him as the hoodwinked and gullible Truman. On a parallel with the character of Forest Gump as the dumb man controlled by the media I thought Jim Carrey gave a fine dramatic performance in a film which was somewhat disturbing in its context. It is a really thought provoking film on so many levels. The meaning of life, the media hypocrisy, the natural inbuilt trust of fellow man; the questioning of God as a force. The Truman Show highlights the power of the media. By effect the viewer's lives are enriched and controlled by Truman's life which is an interesting way of looking at the brainwashing aspects of selling and the media.

The Truman show is a film that will appeal to a diverse audience on many levels. As we get into the film you begin to really care about Truman and want him to escape his insular existence. Having no-one that really cares for him makes him seem so alone and vulnerable. I thought Jim Carey was outstanding in the role of Truman. He virtually carried the film and I can't think of another actor who would have been so perfect in the role. He played it with a real sincerity leaving his natural comic instincts at home. Others were considered for the role, Robin Williams for one, who I think would have been so wrong. He would have been playing for laughs the whole way through. Jim Carey is a master of the adlib and he was allowed to do just this within the film and which brought some great moments. Also Ed Harris was brilliant in his portrayal of the creator of the Truman Show. You are never quite sure if he feels any compassion for the character of Truman or in fact sees him as a monster that he has created and therefore ultimately will need to destroy.

The soundtrack is fantastic with use of classical music prominently the works of Frederic Chopin, and original work from Burkhard Dallwitz and Philip Glass. This is a clever little film which embodies many issues. With the running time being short though, it doesn't really allow us but to scratch the surface of all of them. I came away from The Truman Show very reflective. There were definitely a lot of messages being pitched at us throughout the film and I was left pondering as to what sort of film I had just viewed. Truman Show is a drama, but it also has some comedy to it. I like the use of the 60's theme where everything looked picture postcard perfect in colouring and visuals. I know that the art of Norman Rockwell was studied as a blueprint for the look and backdrop of the film. I was also very impressed with the cinematography with its use of silent-era cinematic technique in making the centre of the image sharper and more prominent that the periphery of the frame. A technique used at the time in commercial filming when someone leans into the lens with eyes wide. The message that Weir was trying to put across with this was that everything and everybody "Is for sale!"

This is definitely a very clever and thought provoking film and one that in my opinion is definitely worth viewing. -

"The Truman Show has been analysed as a thesis on Christianity, simulated reality and existentialism. Many have noted the film predicted the rise of reality television".

-Starring-
Jim Carrey
Laura Linney
Noah Emmerich
Ed Harris
Natascha McElhone

Directed by
Peter Weir
Written by
Andrew Niccol
Music by
Burkhard Dallwitz
Phillip Glass
Cinematography
Peter Biziou

Learn more about this author, Christianna Garrett-Martin.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

• << previous page
• 1
• 2

---

Add your voice

Know something about Movie analysis: The Truman Show and our perception of reality?
We want to hear your view. Write now!