Oh, wow. Oh, no. Oh, help.

Rating: 10/10 (4 March 2002)

(Possible Spoilers)
How they did it I do not know, but The Truman Show is practically perfect. From the opening credits where the members of the 'cast' discuss their 'roles', to that unforgettable scene where Truman walks across the horizon, to the very end (not telling, go see it!), it captures you. Jim Carrey is wonderful and Ed Harris is perfect, and I love all the special camera angles from unlikely places (ie. Truman's rear-view mirror and people's buttons). The amputation scene in the hospital, the scene where Truman stops the traffic (wow!) and the love scene between Truman and Sylvia are all totally captivating. In fact, the more I remember it the more things I know I'll never forget.
"What are you gonna do- grate me, slice me or dice me? There are sooo many choices!" Or how about the lines of villagers marching through the town searching for Truman? Who could forget, "Cue the sun!"? Or the scene where Truman is reunited with his father, with appropriate musical score, lighting and camera work for the viewers' benefit? What about the women's magazines and the badge with "HOW IS IT GOING TO END?" on it? Or the posters on the wall of the flight centre?
A great achievement of the movie is that it made you think. In fact, you CAN'T ignore it. As well as going around for a week thinking you're on candid camera, you'll find yourself wondering more and more about Truman. What happened to him? Did he and Sylvia find each other? How did they manage to build such a large set in the first place? Was the marriage to his wife legal? Did she audition, did she get time off? Why did Marlon's parents let him act in the Truman Show ever since he was small? How did they make him keep it secret? Did he even know right from the beginning? Did Truman's mother really love him? What if a tornado had knocked down the set? Did Truman have a chance to learn religious education? Did they ever make it rain on the day of the school picnic? What technique of discipline did his mother use as an example to the world, and did it work?
You know, that kind of thing.
The scariest part of The Truman Show, however, is that the movie is very nearly coming true. Watch it, and you'll never be able to watch Temptation Island or Flatmates or Big Brother again- unless you are absolutely beneath contempt, of course...