Simply Incredible

Rating: 10/10 (15 February 1999)

I was very disappointed to see that The Truman Show did not get a nomination for best picture. This film is, in one word, INCREDIBLE. Peter Weir's masterpiece gives us a dark, multi layered satire of a media obsessed, voyeuristic society.
Many accuse The Truman Show of being a "one trick pony," but they are wrong. Paradoxily, to really "get" The Truman Show, you have to see the big picture. If you analyze every bit of the film, it becomes repetitive. And that's the point. The majority of the people in the world DO NOT analyze films to death..what you see is what you get. And that's how you have to view The Truman Show. What makes it so amazing is that it satirizes (albeit DARKLY) so many unlikely cultural staples: gated communities, the viewing audience and media stardrom. Yet... you can't really see this unless you look at the film as a whole. Anyone understand what I mean? Jim Carrey gives us a wonderfully restrained, yet manic performance as Truman Burbank. Ed Harris' megalomanical Christof also adds greatly to the film. My one complaint? Overly saccahrine Meryl. Although I suppose that goes along with the satire. One of my favorite films ever. Period.