"We accept the reality of the world with which we're presented".

Rating: 8/10 (19 November 2011)

I recently read about a syndrome that involves people who come to believe that they are the star of their own reality TV show. They believe that they alone are the center of the universe and everyone and everything that comes in contact with them exist for their own personal benefit and enjoyment. This isn't exactly the idea behind "The Truman Show", but it was close, as Truman Burbank (Jim Carrey) was born and raised as a corporate entity and marketed to the world as the central character of a thirty year old, twenty four hour a day living soap opera. I guess the picture did the best job it could of providing the viewer with the rationale needed to make this concept work, like throwing up roadblocks in Truman's youth to steer him to certain conclusions about life and it's limitations. On closer examination however, some of those foundations begin to crumble. One of the biggest plot holes for me involved Truman's marriage to Meryl (Laura Linney). Even though presented with a simulated wedding photo showing Meryl's fingers crossed, my thoughts proceeded to the honeymoon and the consummation of their marriage. How did Truman rationalize beyond that point to where the story picks up for us?
Still, in an age of realty TV and celebrity 'This and That With the Stars', it was probably only a matter of time before a subject like this was tackled for a provocative film treatment. I wouldn't put it past any large corporation on the scale, say of Exxon Mobil or General Electric, to jump the shark and participate in something as totally over the top as The Truman Show. And sadly, I see no small amount of willing participants eager to sell their souls for a brief moment of fame, glory and wealth. Why I'll bet there's someone out there who would be willing to stage an elaborate high profile courtship, plan a big expensive wedding, and then get divorced after only seventy two days. I'm just saying.