The Truman Show (1998)
★★★★ — The Truman Show (1998)
Peter Weir directed The Truman Show in 1998, coming off a run of ambitious, quietly philosophical films including Witness (1985), Dead Poets Society (1989) and Fearless (1993). The script was written by Andrew Niccol, who had just written and directed Gattaca (1997) and was clearly preoccupied at the time with questions of manufactured reality and institutional control over individual lives. The film arrived at a curious cultural moment, just before the reality television boom that Big Brother and Survivor would kick off around 2000, which gave the satire an almost prophetic quality in retrospect. Jim Carrey, primarily known at the time for broad comedies like Ace Ventura and The Mask, took on a more restrained, grounded role here, a decision that surprised many and proved to be something of a turning point in how seriously Hollywood took him as a performer.
This film constantly makes me question whether my life is an actual TV set. I love the Truman show. Jim Carey in serious roles is so overlooked. He's a great actor and he carries this film extremely well. It's a weird one because we as the viewer know from the outset that his life is a TV set but there's still a sense of shock when he finally finds out the truth. Would definitely recommend.
Rating: ★★★★ | Year: 1998 | Watched: 2025-04-06
Where to watch (UK)
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Related on Movies With Macca
More from Peter Weir: Dead Poets Society (1989)
More with Jim Carrey: How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) · Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994) · Yes Man (2008) · The Mask (1994)
More from the 1990s: Lessons of Darkness (1992) · Shinjuku Boys (1995) · Blue (1993) · Cemetery Man (1994)
More comedy: The Eagle (1925) · The General (1926) · Americana (2023) · The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)
More drama: Viy (1967) · Wonder (2017) · A Better Tomorrow (1986) · Beautiful Boy (2018)
