Review of The Truman Show (1998) by Jamey D — 10 May 2016

My thoughts on The Truman Show are varied. This is one of THE movies that guarantees a mixed love-it-or-hate it response; I can't really say whether or not you're going to like the concept of this film unless you sit through it. This is also a very atypical Jim Carrey film because it's not a comedy. It's a drama.

So the whole idea is the title character, Truman Burbank, lives in a town that he does not realize is actually a reality show set. The entire show is his life story without his knowledge. There are things that can tip it off such as odd effects like rain, coincidences, and slipping plug-ins happening all the time.

One of the things that is meant to serve as conflict is the "girlfriend" trying to tell Truman he's in a show. Standard. What really starts the dominoes falling is the radio on Truman's car shorting out and transmitting directions from the stage's control room.

One of my problems is Truman starts to realize that he's in a show too early. That should be a revelation at the halfway point.

There is a bit of awkwardness in some of the scenes such as the first trip to the boat dock. Carrey looks like he's having a seizure. But he is solid in this movie. And it does have a rather epic climax.

There are parts of the film I liked, but the move to make this a low-key "reality show" may have worked too well. I like the idea behind this film. I just don't think this is the best execution of it. I can see why people love this movie, but I don't think I'm one of them.