Surprisingly strong message...

Rating: 9/10 (13 January 1999)

This clever film from the director of WITNESS and THE MOSQUITO COAST is surprisingly effective in presenting a pretty important message. By now, everyone knows the premise of the story (young man's entire life captured on live television without his knowledge). Of course, cracks begin to show, especially when a lamp from the top of the huge dome that represents Truman's fictional world falls to the street. (It's later revealed to Truman on his car radio that a plane has been shedding its parts in flight) I found myself thinking of celebrities, even of Jim Carrey himself, who are constantly harassed with cameras and TV exposure. This is the hidden message of the movie, because Truman is the victim of television exploitation without approval, which is wrong.
Don't expect an over-the-top performance by Carrey, who does a good job of balancing the character's mildness and his insanity while discovering the weirdness that surrounds him. One question remains unanswered throughout the film: Does Truman actually have sex with the "Co-star" who plays his "wife" ?