The Truman Show (1998)
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95% of critics liked it
(99 reviews) -
82% of users liked it
(497,768 ratings)
Peter Weir directed this comedy-drama, a commentary on all-pervasive media manipulation. Scripted by Andrew M. Niccol (Gattaca), the film plays like a combination of the British TV series The Prisoner and Paul Bartel's The Secret Cinema. Truman Burbank (Jim Carrey) is unaware that his entire… More Peter Weir directed this comedy-drama, a commentary on all-pervasive media manipulation. Scripted by Andrew M. Niccol (Gattaca), the film plays like a combination of the British TV series The Prisoner and Paul Bartel's The Secret Cinema. Truman Burbank (Jim Carrey) is unaware that his entire life is a hugely popular 24-hour-a-day TV series. In this real-time documentary, every moment of Truman's existence is captured by concealed cameras and telecast to a giant global audience. His friends and family are actors who smile pleasantly at Truman's familiar catchphrase greeting, "In case I don't see you later, good afternoon, good evening, and good night!" Employed at an insurance company, Truman is married to merry Meryl (Laura Linney), and they live in the cheerful community of Seahaven, an island "paradise" where the weather is always mild and no unpleasantness intrudes. This is the basic situation of the series, which has grown over the years into a billion-dollar franchise for the TV network. As an unwanted pregnancy, Truman was adopted by the network and raised in the zoolike environment of a TV soundstage. Thus, the TV audience became hooked when Truman was very young. Now, at age 30, he still doesn't know he's a prisoner on an immense domed city-size soundstage, simulating Seahaven. Both the illusion and the ratings will collapse if Truman ever leaves Seahaven. In addition to elaborate events staged to make sure he stays put, Truman is given constant reminders of how wonderful Seahaven is compared to dangers in other parts of the world. However, his growing suspicions make him curious enough to try to leave, and the show's director and master manipulator Christof (Ed Harris) must constantly devise ways to thwart Truman's escape attempts. To enter the harbor, Truman must overcome his fear of water, intentionally instilled in him when his father "died" in a boating accident and was written out of the script. Exteriors were filmed in the Victorian-styled upscale community of Seaside, Florida. In addition to the Burkhard Dallwitz score, original music by Philip Glass and classical excerpts are also featured. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi
- Directed By
- Peter Weir
- Written By
- Andrew Niccol
- Genres
- Drama, Comedy
- In Theaters
- Jun 5, 1998 Wide
- Studio
- Paramount Pictures
Critic Reviews
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Andrew Sarris, New York Observer
A good, intelligent, insightful movie...
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Geoff Andrew, Time Out
One movie you can pronounce a modern classic with absolute confidence.
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Peter Rainer, New York Magazine
This is a profound movie for people who don't like to think, or perhaps for people who are in the media and of the media, and can't imagine any life outside it.
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, Globe and Mail
The result is a rarity on any screen: intelligent fun.
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Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
Adventurous, provocative, even daring
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Jim Carrey
as Truman Burbank
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Laura Linney
as Meryl
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Ed Harris
as Christof
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Noah Emmerich
as Marlon
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Natascha McElhone
as Lauren/Sylvia
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Holland Taylor
as Truman's Mother
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Brian Delate
as Truman's Father
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Una Damon
as Chloe
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Paul Giamatti
as Control Room Director
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Philip Baker Hall
as Network Executive
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Peter Krause
as Lawrence
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John Pleshette
as Network Executive
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Heidi Schanz
as Vivien
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Blair Slater
as Young Truman



