Movie Review: The Truman Show

The proliferation of reality TV shows is a plague that makes 1998's comedy/drama The Truman Show more profound than ever. This well done and very entertaining movie stars Jim Carrey as Truman Burbank, who's unaware that he's the star of his own reality soap opera. Since before birth, Burbank's life has been broadcast around the world 24 hours a day. The world has marveled at his first steps, his first lost tooth, his education, first kisses, romances and mundane daily activities such as brushing his teeth. The TV show is a blockbuster, but then things start to go wrong during Truman's 30th year. A light from the studio set crashes down into the middle of the street and Burbank's dead (written out of the script) father sneaks onto the set to see his TV son. Then Burbank's car radio accidentally picks up the frequency of the show's technical directors and he stumbles upon a back lot where actors are getting ready. Truman's fight for independence is the heart of the movie. Pulling the strings in this mammoth undertaking is Ed Harris in a terrific performance as Christof, the show's director. Written by Andrew Niccol and directed by Peter Weir, The Truman Show is a delightful, sad and poignant film.