Review of The Truman Show (1998) by Kelvin W — 07 Jan 2016

I almost forgot how wonderfully crafted this project was. Thank you Netflix!

I love the themes presented in this film. The idea of obssessive parental control and its detrimental factors on the victim's free will and growth intrigues me. Truman's psyche is analyzed forward and back, and his existential crisis is presented masterfully with the simplicity in film direction. Of course, hats off to Andrew Niccol, as his screenplay was apparently his very first feature. The final product was nothing short of brilliance, with camera shots as pertinent and creative as the bold and curious plotline. When technical qualities match the ingenious vision, quality art ensues and remains as one-of-a-kind.

Oh, and there's also Jim Carrey, the titular character. What a performance. I got the sense that real life Jim is drawing from his past, one of confinement and voids that can only be escaped and filled, respectively, through his performances. We are drawn to vulnerability, and Jim attracts us into his inner world with pure determination and against all odds, even if it's a world inside another world.