the 1998 summer movie season is still in its infancy .
but after diasappointing films such as " godzilla " and " fear and loathing in las vegas " , it would be nice to see a really good film .
but i doubt you could have expected this .
the truman show is one of the most unique films i have ever seen , and it deserves a spot on the " decade 's best " list .
there is no way to isolate any single component of this picture and proclaim ,
" yes , that 's what makes this film great .
"
the blend of peter weir 's masterful ( and in many ways brilliant ) direction , peter biziou 's stunning photography and jim carrey 's performance is what makes this film work so fantastically
.
there is something strangely beautiful about every shot in the truman show .
it may be the use of color or the placement of characters in the frame , but everything about this film looks intentional and perfect .
carrey has made a very wise choice .
by playing mild - mannered truman burbank , he allows himself enough room to be comical , and therefore not alienating his true fans , while still showing a vulnerable and human side .
that is a side which has been missing from nearly every major character he has played in his numerous commercial successes .
truman burbank was born to an audience of millions .
he was chosen before birth to be the focus of a 24 hour television show .
everything in his environment is controlled by a team of technicians , led by the show 's director , christof ( played by ed harris ) .
everyone in truman 's life is an actor or an extra .
they are all being watched by millions of people around the globe , people who can tune in at any time of the day to see what is happening in truman 's life .
but he is the only person that is not aware of it .
the classification of the truman show may be tricky .
the audience reacted to many of truman 's revelations with laughter .
i did not laugh much during the film because i was so emotionally wrapped up with the character .
the things that made the audience laugh gave me glassy eyes , because what was happening to him , indeed what had been done to him his whole life was wrong .
so is this going to end up labeled as a comedy ?
a drama ?
it really depends on the audience .
but to me , the truman show was a touching , sad tale about the extents to which a corporation will go to exploit human life for the entertainment of others .
but above all else , the truman show was a stunningly beautiful picture with humor , heart and scary realism .
oscar predictions in june are pointless , but if the truman show had been released on schedule in late fall or winter of 1997 , as originally planned , james cameron would be oscar - less .
everything about this film looks intentional and perfect masterful ( and in many ways brilliant ) direction has made a very wise choice one of the most unique films i have ever seen , and it deserves a spot on the " decade 's best " list this film work so fantastically a stunningly beautiful picture with humor , heart and scary realism stunning photography was a touching , sad tale