Comic actor Jim Carrey plays it (mostly) straight for this smart satire from director Peter Weir (DEAD POETS SOCIETY). The life of Truman Burbank (Carrey) has been broadcast around the world with tremendous success since the day he was born. A star for the mere fact that he exists, Truman has no idea that there are cameras in every corner of his world. But soon, cracks begin to show in the constructed world, and Truman questions his existence while everyone around him is in on the joke. Weir directs a fine cast, including Laura Linney as Truman's wife and Ed Harris as the show's director. Screenwriter Andrew Niccol also added interesting twists to the scripts for S1M0NE and GATTACA.
Review 1:
"...[Carrey's] performance is simply spellbinding..." -- 5 out of 5 stars
Source: Total Film
p.104 10/01/1999
Review 2:
"...Niccol's witty script tunes into our hunger..." -- Rating: A
Source: Entertainment Weekly
pp.64-5 01/15/1999
Review 3:
"...Adventurous, provocative, even daring, THE TRUMAN SHOW has been directed with enviable grace and restraint by Peter Weir..."
Source: Los Angeles Times
Review 4:
"...Poignant and haunting....A moving exploration of creation-anxiety..."
Source: Sight and Sound
p.36-58 10/01/1998
Review 5:
"...Carrey triumphs in a hilarious and heartfelt performance that reveals an uncommon sensitivity and grace..."
Source: Rolling Stone
p.99-100 06/25/1998
Review 6:
4 stars out of 5 -- "1998's ingenious THE TRUMAN SHOW is a remarkable exercise in pre-emptively satirizing the reality TV phenomenon that it surely helped to inspire."
Source: Uncut
p.150 05/01/2006