the Truman show film review

Rating: 8/10 (11 March 2017)

The Truman Show is an American comedy-drama film directed by Peter Weir in 1998, starring Jim Carrey as Truman Burbank, a man whose life is transmitted 24/7 with a worldwide TV viewers audience. The camera techniques, the unique scenario and the themes it touches upon, makes this film to stand out from all the other films of its kind and make it one of my favorite films of the 20th century.
Briefly, Truman has lived his life without knowing that he is starring in a reality show. He is observed by millions of watchers all day and night allowing Christof, the creator of the show, to manipulate him and create the conditions of life that he lives in. He is the creator of his fake life. Seahaven, the town in which he lives is fake, the people who pretend to be the citizens of the city are just actors and generally he lives in a fake life. In order for Truman to remain in his inertia of what is happening many people try to stop him from wondering and averting him from wanting to explore more. However at the end, when Truman is 30 years old, he realizes in what lie he has been living on and he tries to escape from this town.
Some interesting things about this film are its camera techniques and its setting. To begin with, the point of view is primarily from Truman. However many's the time that we watch the film from the perspective of the viewers of the show and the producers. This enables us to understand how these people think and feel when they watch the movie, while on the other hand when we see it again through the eyes of Truman we realize how he perceives the world while he is unaware that he is the protagonist of a reality show. Some of the camera techniques the director, Peter Weir uses are the following:
1)He places the cameras in strange positions, with many close-ups and by shouting through circular frames in order to show that the constant surveillance of Truman. There are cameras everywhere.
2)In some scenes, the camera is at a medium (eye level) shot, which enables characters to look at the camera sometimes. Although generally eye contact in films is avoided, here it is used so as we can understand that everyone except Truman are aware of the existence of the cameras.
Moreover, the lighting must be examined because it is controlled by the creator of the show. He decides when to change the time of the day and when to day night and the night day. He gives us the sense of him being the God and that's what his name impels us too "Christof". Christof's name derives from Christ, and it is one more evidence that he is the "God" of Truman. In order to emphasize the fact that he is the creator of Truman's life, Christof has low lighting on account of his deceitful character.
Furthermore, the film embodies many important themes, such as the theme of advertising and the effect that media have on us. Consumerism is evident throughout the film either in a subtle or in a direct way through the product placement as an attempt to lure the consumers. Due to the fact that the show is broadcasting 24/7 they had to advertise products during the show and everyone is aware of the advertising except Truman. For example, one advertisement was for vegetable peelers. Through the use of advertisements, the director of the movie is able to criticize this tendency that companies have to advertise their products in the movies.
The effect that the media have upon us is one of the main themes in the film. The viewers of the show become so obsessed and addicted to it that they seem to forget what the real word is, ending up idealizing real world situations, shaping their own individual meaning towards it. The audience thinks that the world in which Truman lives is the ideal and they are shocked by his choice to leave from Seaheaven. This dependency on the show and the control that the media have is illustrated through Meryl. Meryl is a main character and she says that "There is no difference between private and public life. My life is the 'Truman Show'. The 'Truman Show' is a lifestyle, a noble lifestyle." She and all the viewers forget the moral values and they do not think is wrong to keep Truman on the show. However Sylvia who appeared only a few times on the show says "He's not a performer, he's a prisoner.. you're a liar and a manipulator and what you've done to Truman is sick." Despite the media's and people's denial he continues to fight for the human rights and the end for the reality show.
One quote from the movie that was thought-provoking, is when Christof, the creator of the show, says "We accept the reality with which we are presented." The way I interpret this quote is that directors and generally all the people who create a film, present us what they want, with their interpretations. Consequently, when we watch a film we have to bear in mind that everything is in the imagination of the creators of the film. We have to be aware of the devices used in order for an image for example not to influence us.
Overall, I really enjoyed watching The Truman Show. The acting is very good from all the actors, especially the one who plays Truman because he managed to capture his feelings and act as an ordinary person unaware of his role in a reality. Furthermore, the directing was clever with the camera techniques. The themes the movie touched upon are contemporary and they appeal to a wide audience, making the movie more interesting. It is a movie that I highly recommend and I would definitely watch it again.