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The Truman Show (1998)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writer (WGA):
Andrew Niccol (written by)
Release Date:
5 June 1998 (USA)
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Tagline:
All the world's a stage... more
Plot:
An insurance salesman/adjuster discovers his entire life is actually a TV show. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Nominated for 3 Oscars.
Another 29 wins
&
34 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(133 articles)
I'm digging The Prisoner
(From AOL - TVSquad. 19 November 2009, 8:02 AM, PST)
Blu-Ray Review: Stunning ‘The Prisoner’ Still Holds Viewer Interest Captive
(From HollywoodChicago.com. 13 November 2009, 10:09 AM, PST)
(From AOL - TVSquad. 19 November 2009, 8:02 AM, PST)
Blu-Ray Review: Stunning ‘The Prisoner’ Still Holds Viewer Interest Captive
(From HollywoodChicago.com. 13 November 2009, 10:09 AM, PST)
User Comments:
camera lucida
more (707 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Jim Carrey | ... | Truman Burbank | |
| Laura Linney | ... | Meryl Burbank / Hannah Gill | |
| Noah Emmerich | ... | Marlon | |
| Natascha McElhone | ... | Lauren / Sylvia | |
| Holland Taylor | ... | Truman's Mother | |
| Brian Delate | ... | Truman's Father | |
| Blair Slater | ... | Young Truman | |
| Peter Krause | ... | Lawrence | |
| Heidi Schanz | ... | Vivien | |
| Ron Taylor | ... | Ron | |
| Don Taylor | ... | Don | |
| Ted Raymond | ... | Spencer | |
| Judy Clayton | ... | Travel Agent | |
| Fritz Dominique | ... | Truman's Neighbor | |
| Angel Schmiedt | ... | Truman's Neighbor |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated PG for thematic elements and mild language.
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
103 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Brazil:Livre (DVD rating) |
Philippines:PG-13 |
South Korea:12 |
USA:PG (certificate #34959) |
Argentina:13 |
Australia:PG |
Belgium:KT |
Brazil:12 |
Chile:TE |
Denmark:11 |
Finland:K-12/9 |
France:U |
Germany:12 (bw) |
Hong Kong:I |
Iceland:L |
Ireland:PG |
Mexico:A |
Netherlands:12 |
Peru:PT |
Portugal:M/12 |
Singapore:PG |
Spain:T |
Sweden:11 |
Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) |
Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) |
UK:PG
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
The film is shot with an aspect ratio of 1.85:1. This is close to the 1.78:1 ratio of HDTV, but way below normal 2.25:1 for standard modern movies. So the aspect ratio is more cinematic than HDTV, but only just. This makes the movie look more like TV than film.
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Goofs:
Miscellaneous: When Truman is sailing the yacht, in shots taken with him from the cabin camera, there is no apparent wake behind the yacht.
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Quotes:
[first lines]
Christof: We've become bored with watching actors give us phony emotions. We are tired of pyrotechnics and special effects. While the world he inhabits is, in some respects, counterfeit, there's nothing fake about Truman himself. No scripts, no cue cards. It isn't always Shakespeare, but it's genuine. It's a life.
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Christof: We've become bored with watching actors give us phony emotions. We are tired of pyrotechnics and special effects. While the world he inhabits is, in some respects, counterfeit, there's nothing fake about Truman himself. No scripts, no cue cards. It isn't always Shakespeare, but it's genuine. It's a life.
more
Movie Connections:
Spoofed in "Family Guy: Fore, Father (#2.21)" (2000)
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Soundtrack:
Wiegenlied (Lullaby)
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FAQ
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Truman Burbank (Jim Carrey) is the most famous man in the world, and he doesn't even know it. Raised entirely 'within' a television show which comprises his entire world, Truman is an Everyman for the post-television age. Truman's world, "Seahaven", is an Eisenhower-era model of American bliss, recalling the prison-like Port Meirion and the moral certainty of Bedford Falls (Its a Wonderful Life). Surreptitiously filmed around the clock by 5000 hidden cameras, the show exists inside an enormous geodesic dome with simulated weather and even its own ocean. Through a series of production blunders Truman slowly realises that he is being controlled and that perhaps all in his world is not as it seems. His surrogate father by proxy, 'Christof' the producer/director, goes from being benevolent social scientist to evil genius as his attempts to frustrate Truman's wanderlust become more and more deadly. Will he escape?
The film raises some interesting points about our fascination with life as seen through the magnifying lens of tv, and the morality of real lives viewed as so much entertainment. But like most soaps the scenes from "The Truman Show" that appear within the movie are variously dull, mawkish and sentimental. At points the film has a problem deciding on whether it is going to be a straight escape-chase movie or a philosophical piece about morality and technology. The t.v. show's inherent blandess also lends little to the pace or our sense that there are characters worth caring about.
Carrey is good. This in itself is gratifying, and a tribute to a script that walks the tightrope of imitating bad t.v. in tandem with the metaphysical angst of Truman's unique situation. If it isn't quite the film it could have been, The Truman Show is still pretty much unique in the recent crop from our cultural overlords in Hollywood. No arthouse here, this is a watchable, big-budget think piece, with well-executed and stylish direction. Its too early to say but this film may have given some execs at NBC, ABC et al. one very bad idea...