For me it’s crazy to see that The Truman Show is turning 25 years old. I was graduating high school when this had come out, and television was just an entirely different landscape back then. In 1998 when this film came out, the only reality shows were pretty much COPS and then The Real World on MTV, I really don’t believe anyone could have expected just how big reality TV would become. The same year in competition for box office dollars was Ed TV. Oddly enough, Ed TV would be a little closer to the mark on what the reality TV landscape would look like, taking a regular guy and making him a star overnight because he was on TV. The Truman Show I always felt was the superior film in just about every aspect. In many ways it is what I had hoped reality TV could be, but unfortunately it seems what viewers wanted in their reality programming was something more scandalous and absurd, more akin to a Jerry Springer episode than someone living in an idyllic world that was out of an episode of Ozzie and Harriet or Leave It To Beaver.
Jim Carrey stars as Truman Burbank, an insurance salesman who lives in an idyllic white-picket-fence town and is just living his life. The only the problem is, the world he lives in is not real; it’s all manufactured, and he’s really living in the world’s largest television studio, and everyone around him is acting, all because the reality is Truman is unknowingly the star of the world’s biggest reality show. This was such a departure for Jim Carrey. At the time he was the biggest comedy star on the screen and was known for being over the top and playing larger-than-life characters, but the role of Truman required him to be toned and down and seem even boring. The result is perhaps his most enduring performance to date (or at least tied with his massively underappreciated film, The Majestic).
Truman does notice that things may not be as they seem, like a production light falling out of the sky and crashing not far from him, or on a drive to work his radio station taps into the radio frequency of the production crew. These events are quickly explained away in creative ways, either by newspaper articles or radio announcers explaining the strange broadcast interference. The show has been running for three decades, and they are doing all that they can to maintain the illusion that everything on the show is “real” for Truman. The mastermind behind the show is Christof (Ed Harris), and he does a fantastic job in the “God-like” role of director of Truman’s life. When we see Christof at work as he is orchestrating a scene to convince Truman that his life is real, we get to see the behind the scenes of work of Christof telling actors what to say and what shots to use to cuing the fog, it’s all very clever, but a bit heartbreaking when you realize just how much Truman is always being manipulated, and he doesn’t even realize it.
Laura Linney does a fantastic job as Truman’s wife, Meryl. The nuance in this performance is one you can better appreciate after repeat performances, as you can catch more of the subtleties of when she breaks character as Truman is becoming unhinged as his suspicions grow that something isn’t right in the world around him. Then there is Truman’s best friend, Marlon (Noah Emmerich); the pair have grown up together, and in my eyes he is the film’s ultimate villain, because he’s always known the truth, and he has no problem lying to his “best friend’s” face all to maintain the illusion. Frankly, it is the biggest betrayal and is the one thing I do wish the film addressed.
One of the films more charming aspects is how it will step out of the “Truman Show” and put us into the lives of the viewers. We get to see how the show is a cultural phenomenon and how people are obsessed and can’t look away. This does lead to an amusing payoff in the final act that still makes me chuckle after viewing this film numerous times. In some ways this might be one of the earliest examples of meta-filmmaking which we seem to get a lot of lately.
Then there is the heart of the film Truman’s infatuation with Lauren (Natascha McElhone), who was an extra who caught his eye and he falls for. She attempts to tell him the truth but is whisked away immediately and told she is moving to Fiji, which prompts his later obsession to want to travel to Fiji. The subtlety of how they show that true love can’t be manufactured and how you just can’t control these feelings is handled so well here. Though Truman and Lauren are barely on the screen together, this is still one of the better romances I’ve seen, and it’s a couple you can’t help but root for. It’s her sweater with the pin “How’s it going to end?” that prompts so many questions and is the crux of the film is driving toward whether it’s in Truman’s best interest, or will he be discarded for new and different star?
Screenwriter and director Andrew Niccol penned the script for the film that showcased that he was one of the best writers to emerge from the late 90’s and is still working today. His first film, Gattaca (1997) is an underappreciated film that shows the man certainly had a vision of the future that he wasn’t too far off on. He’d also go on to write and direct the underperforming but great Nicolas Cage film Lord of War, which is fantastic if you haven’t seen it. But The Truman Show I feel is Niccol’s masterpiece, This is fantastic storytelling, with fantastic dialog and complex characters who just come off the screen.
That brings me to Peter Weir. This is a guy who has a remarkable track record for directing great films, who just isn’t talked about enough. Dead Poets Society, Witness, Fearless, and Gallipoli are just a few of his films, and if I had to choose, I believe The Truman Show may be his best picture over his long and impressive career. He started off with a great script, but the world he created and how he brings it to life are great. Apparently it was Weir who decided to make Truman’s world in a 50’s small-town setting rather than New York, and it was a great decision. One scene that will always stand out, aside from the bridge sequence where Marlon convinces Truman that his life is “real”, the other great sequence is Truman’s epiphany sequence where he breaks free of his routine and first tests his theory on if there is something going on in the world he lives in. It’s a sequence filled with great cinematography, excellent music choice, and just how it all plays out with Truman basically testing “the extras” in his life and how they struggle to not break character or the illusion, it’s just a fantastic moment.
Video
The Truman Show is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The ultra-high-definition image presentation is arrived at with an HEVC codec at an average of 75-80 mbps. The film was shot on 35mm, so is native 4K. The best thing to understand about this release is that it has been completely re-mastered and without all of that DNR Paramount was once so fond of that it caused them to send replacement discs for Gladiator back during that film’s Blu-ray release. The same was true for this film, but no replacement disc was offered. Back is the organic nature of film that is a huge upgrade from what came before. Colors now retain that wonderful film stock vibrance of the day, and the HDR boost only brings out more vivid detail and texture. The costumes come alive, as does the wonderful “staged” world of Truman’s “town. You really see the intended ridiculous makeup on many of the characters, and the finale offers the kind of dark levels and shadow definition that allows you to live the experience once again.
Audio
The Dolby Atmos audio presentation defaults to 7.1. The film wasn’t an aggressive surround film from its days at the box office. There is some push on the sub ranges which give us more pop during that climax storm, and it also adds some depth to the dialog, which cuts through fine. Musical cues remain rather subtle, and there’s a nice steady use of surrounds that brings out just the slightest hint of impressiveness so that you can truly appreciate the experience.
Special Features
The extras are found on the Blu-ray copy of the film.
How’s It Going To End? The Making of The Truman Show: (41:47) This is broken up into two parts with a play-all feature. The first half is mostly of cast and crew discussing their experience with making the film. This is a nice segment, but it feels strange that Jim Carrey is missing from it. The second portion is more so about the actual filming of the movie with some behind-the-scenes footage added in.
Faux Finishing, the visual effects of The Truman Show: (13:16) Kind of self-explanatory; discusses the subtle special effects in the film.
Deleted/Extended Scenes: (13:09) There are four deleted scenes in total. These are fun and worth checking out. Most of the scenes are from the perspective behind the scenes of the show and offer a different perspective of the “actors” when they are not on screen with Truman.
Trailers and TV Spots
Final Thoughts:
This is one of those films that I absolutely adore from start to finish. The cast is fantastic, and the story is compelling each and every time I watch it. For me this is my favorite Jim Carrey film, though I’ll say his best performance is still Man on the Moon. This film is charming and wholesome but does highlight the dangers of what reality TV could become. Frankly I wish reality TV was this charming, but instead we’re stuck in a world that idolizes scandal like the Kardashians and wouldn’t give a show like The Truman Show a real chance. 25 years later this movie still holds up, and I believe it will for another 25 years. Tune in and check it out.
Parts of this review were written by Gino Sassani.
