Definitely Different but broadly entertaining

Rating: 7/10 (22 February 2005)

There is one fantastic reason to see this movie, it has broad audience appeal yet at the same it is very different from other movies and no one has ever recreated it....yet.
Truman, played by Jim Carrey (Great acting, but not really Oscar quality material) lives blissfully aware that he life is just a television program. But his journey is to discover the truth about his life and attempt to escape the illusion.
Australia director Peter Weir has often delved into the theme of isolation, in the Australian outback with "picnic at hanging rock" (I went there but I was disappointed not to disappear), on the Ocean in "Dead Calm", in the mind with a post traumatic syndrome suffering plane crash survivor "Fearless" and in an exotic community "Witness" (The Amish in the big city and Cop in the Amish community both experience this).
Often disappointing for people who love Peter Weir, the Truman show appears on the surface too light and fluffy, but we find the same themes being repeated here.
Does this movie reflect the relationship between God and humanity, children and parents or government and society...yes to all the above. However I feel the main theme is the relationship between the American people and the unreality of American TV.
Truman is trapped in a giant studio with an artificial sun and weather. He can't escape because people try and stop him and his own fears. Fears that reflect how television and movies (which appear on TV) make viewers feel about the rest of the world.
Most criticisms of this movie fail to see the truth behind the illusions. The overly constructed world that Truman lives in reflects the reality of TV but makes it harder for us to identify with Truman and his personal despair. This movie requires you to watch it with your brain turned and you must attempt to deconstruct this world. Something that is not common in a mass market appeal movie.
Sometimes criticised for not being dark enough (just because the lighting is bright and shiny and Truman is a happy and wacky guy these people say it is not dark....they need a good slapping). Sometimes criticised for being too superficial (that is the point, that is what TV is like).
Sometimes criticised for not keeping many of the incidental characters around long enough (Truman exists in a world where he is the only "real" person so it is a solo journey and only the shows producer, who represents the world and not a person, are part of).
Sometimes criticised for not showing Truman's interaction with the real world (I agree but that is a different movie and something done better many times over "Being there" for example).
What does it all mean, my own take is this. Television is not trying to keep us down, but challenging us to take on the adventure of life. Television doesn't want us to avoid reality but to go turn off the television and find the best and most exciting reality we can. If you are not brave, clever or good enough for the world, don't blame television.
I would challenge those who didn't like it the first time to revisit it. For those who haven't seen it, watch it dude, there is nothing else like so you are either going to like it or not.
Oh...and one advice for Mr Weir...people who like art-house movies are not really that intelligent. Next time use lots of spooky dark art noi lighting and they will like it too (that was irony by the way).