The Truman Show (1998)

User Rating:

8.0/10   

Director:

Peter Weir

Writer (WGA):

Andrew Niccol (written by)

Release Date:

5 June 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

All the world's a stage...

Plot:

An insurance salesman/adjuster discovers his entire life is actually a TV show.

Plot Keywords:

Island | Hidden Camera | Infiltration | Revolving Door | Escape

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 29 wins & 34 nominations

Cast

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
Nastassja Schmiedt	...	Truman's Neighbor
Muriel Moore	...	Teacher
Mal Jones	...	News Vendor
Judson Vaughn	...	Insurance Co-Worker
Earl Hilliard Jr.	...	Ferry Worker
David Andrew Nash	...	Bus Driver / Ferry Captain
Jim Towers	...	Bus Supervisor
Savannah Swafford	...	Little Girl in Bus
Antoni Corone	...	Security Guard
Mario Ernesto Sánchez	...	Security Guard (as Mario Ernesto Sanchez)
John Roselius	...	Man at Beach
Kade Coates	...	Truman (4 years)
Marcia DeBonis	...	Nurse
Sam Kitchin	...	Surgeon
Sebastian Youngblood	...	Orderly
Dave Corey	...	Hospital Security Guard
Mark Alan Gillott	...	Policeman at Power Plant
Jay Saiter	...	Policeman at Truman's House
Tony Todd	...	Policeman at Truman's House
Marco Rubeo	...	Man in Christmas Box
Darryl Davis	...	Couple at Picnic Table
Robert Davis	...	Couple at Picnic Table
R.J. Murdock	...	Production Assistant
Matthew McDonough	...	Man at Newsstand
Larry McDowell	...	Man at Newsstand
Joseph Lucus	...	Ticket Taker
Logan Kirksey	...	TV Host
Ed Harris	...	Christof
Paul Giamatti	...	Control Room Director
Adam Tomei	...	Control Room Director
Harry Shearer	...	Mike Michaelson
Una Damon	...	Chloe
Philip Baker Hall	...	Network Executive
John Pleshette	...	Network Executive
Philip Glass	...	Keyboard Artist
John Pramik	...	Keyboard Artist
O-Lan Jones	...	Bar Waitress
Krista Lynn Landolfi	...	Bar Waitress
Joe Minjares	...	Bartender
Al Foster	...	Bar Patron
Zoaunne LeRoy	...	Bar Patron
Millie Slavin	...	Bar Patron
Terry Camilleri	...	Man in Bathtub
Donna Hardy	...	Senior Citizen (as Dona Hardy)
Jeanette Miller	...	Senior Citizen
Joel McKinnon Miller	...	Garage Attendant
Tom Simmons	...	Garage Attendant
Susan Angelo	...	Mother
Carly Smiga	...	Daughter
Yuji Okumoto	...	Japanese Family
Kiyoko Yamaguchi	...	Japanese Family
Saemi Nakamura	...	Japanese Family
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Courtney Pakiz	...	German linguist / interpreter
Jake Eberle	...	Classical Clive (uncredited)
Melissa Fitzgerald	...	Girl Dancing with Marlon (uncredited)
Marc Macaulay	...	(uncredited)
Mickalean McCormick	...	Assistant to Christof (uncredited)
Lorin Moore	...	Ticket Handler (uncredited)
Kevin D. Ross	...	Talk Show Caller (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
Peter Weir

Writing credits (WGA)
Andrew Niccol		(written by)

Produced by
Edward S. Feldman	....	producer
Andrew Niccol	....	producer
Lynn Pleshette	....	executive producer
Richard Luke Rothschild	....	co-producer
Scott Rudin	....	producer
Adam Schroeder	....	producer

Original Music by
Burkhard von Dallwitz		(as Burkhard Dallwitz)

Cinematography by
Peter Biziou		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
William M. Anderson		(as William Anderson)
Lee Smith

Casting by
Howard Feuer

Production Design by
Dennis Gassner

Art Direction by
Richard L. Johnson

Set Decoration by
Nancy Haigh

Costume Design by
Marilyn Matthews

Makeup Department
Kathleen Berkeley	....	additional makeup artist
Ron Berkeley	....	supervising makeup artist
Hazel Catmull	....	supervising hair stylist
Stephanie Eastburn	....	additional makeup artist
Bette Iverson	....	supervising hair stylist
Elizabeth F. LaVallee	....	additional hair stylist
Anne Morgan	....	hair stylist: Mr. Carrey
Sheryl Ptak	....	makeup artist: Mr. Carrey
Ron Scott	....	additional hair stylist (as Ronald Scott)
Randa Squillacote	....	additional hair stylist
Brad Wilder	....	supervising makeup artist

Production Management
Rosemary Dority	....	post-production supervisor
Joseph P. Kane	....	unit production manager
Richard Luke Rothschild	....	unit production manager
Philip Steuer	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
David M. Bernstein	....	second second assistant director (as David Bernstein)
Susan Carpenter	....	additional assistant director (as Susan L. Carpenter)
Alan B. Curtiss	....	first assistant director
Robert Huberman	....	assistant director: second unit
Michael J. McAlister	....	second unit director (as Micheal J. McAlister)
Jill Southern	....	additional assistant director (as Jill Musser)
Jonathan Watson	....	second assistant director
Scott Andrew Robertson	....	second second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Donald R. Abblett	....	production painter (as Don Abblett)
Richard F. Anderson	....	assistant set dresser (as Richard Anderson)
Paige Augustine	....	assistant set decorator
Keith David Bragg	....	greens foreperson (as Keith D. Bragg)
Thomas E. Brown	....	paint supervisor
Melanie S. Chretin	....	assistant property master
James M. Davis	....	construction foreperson
Guillaume DeLouche	....	assistant property person (as Guillaume Delouche)
Scott Getzinger	....	assistant property master
Daniel J. Gillooly	....	greens coordinator (as Dan Gillooly)
Joe Griffith	....	storyboard illustrator
Doug Harlocker	....	property master (as Douglas Harlocker)
Gail Laskowski	....	art department coordinator
Larry Laurent	....	paint foreperson (as Laurence Laurent)
John Leone	....	labor foreperson
Leslie 'Tinker' Linville	....	set dresser
James P. Meehan	....	set dresser
Thomas Minton	....	set designer
Odin Oldenburg	....	set designer (as Odin R. Oldenburg)
Jeff Passanante	....	construction coordinator (as Jeffrey J. Passanante)
Eric Rosenberg	....	graphic designer
Marco Rubeo	....	assistant art director
Dan Schulz	....	assistant set dresser
Andrew M. Scudier	....	paint foreperson (as Andy Scudier)
Brian Shupper	....	assistant set dresser
Patrick R. Siembieda	....	construction auditor
Mark Sparks	....	lead carpenter
Mark Weissenfluh	....	leadman
Pedro Barquin	....	greensman (uncredited)
Sean Bernard	....	painter (uncredited)
William F. Gambill	....	scenic artist (uncredited)
Michael J. Hall	....	construction foreman (uncredited)
Robert Loring Jr.	....	stand-by greens (uncredited)
John W. Morgan	....	plasterer (uncredited)
Michael Mosley	....	art department assistant: Florida (uncredited)
Dan Stewart	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Michael A. Wells	....	construction foreman (uncredited)

Sound Department
Bob Baron	....	adr mixer
Rodney Berling	....	sound apprentice
Nick Breslin	....	assistant sound editor (as Nicholas Breslin)
Mark C. Grech	....	cable person (as Mark Grech)
Phil Heywood	....	sound re-recording mixer
Randall L. Johnson	....	boom operator (as Randy Johnson)
Tim Jordan	....	dialogue editor
Rick Lisle	....	sound effects editor
Linda Murphy	....	boom operator
Steve Murphy	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Martin Oswin	....	sound re-recording mixer
Julie Pearce	....	foley recordist
Andrew Plain	....	dialogue editor
Art Rochester	....	production sound
Maureen Rodbard-Bean	....	assistant sound editor
John Simpson	....	foley walker
Lee Smith	....	sound designer
Peter Townend	....	sound effects editor
Karin Whittington	....	supervising adr editor

Special Effects by
Larz Anderson	....	special effects
Michael Arbogast	....	special effects crew: Florida (as Mike Arbogast)
Chad Baalbergen	....	special effects crew: Los Angeles
Peter Chesney	....	boat effects designer
Blaine Converse	....	image engineering coordinator
James Fredburg	....	special effects crew: Los Angeles (as Jim Fredburg)
Thomas Kittle	....	special effects crew: Florida
Roland Loew	....	special effects crew: Los Angeles (as Roland Lowe)
Durk Tyndall	....	special effects crew: Florida
Thomas R. Ward	....	special effects crew: Los Angeles (as Tom Ward)
Paul Corbo	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
G. Peter King	....	special effects (uncredited)
Leone Marucci	....	special effects assistant (uncredited)
Leone Marucci	....	special effects crew: Los Angeles (uncredited)
Karl Nettmann	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Daren Rouse	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Tim Walkey	....	special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Ted Andre	....	digital artist: Cinesite
Craig Barron	....	visual effects supervisor: Matte World
Travis Baumann	....	digital compositor: CFC
Richard A. Benoit	....	digital effects associate producer: Cinesite
Stella Bogh	....	digital compositor: CFC
Bruce Bullock	....	digital imaging schedular: Cinesite
Dylan Carter	....	digital compositor: CFC
Krystyna Demkowicz	....	executive in charge of production: Matte World
Christopher Evans	....	chief digital matte artist: Matte World (as Chris Evans)
David Fuhrer	....	digital artist: CFC
Caroleen Green	....	digital matte artist: Matte World
Laura Hanigan	....	digital artist: Cinesite
Gokhan Kisacikoglu	....	CGI animator: Cinesite
Karen Klein	....	rotoscope supervisor: Cinesite
Richard Klein	....	CGI animator: Cinesite
Brad Kuehn	....	digital visual effects supervisor: Cinesite
Roger Kupelian	....	concept matte artist: Cinesite
Mark Tait Lewis	....	rotoscope artist: Cinesite (as Mark Lewis)
Ariana Lingenfelser	....	digital visual effects producer: Cinesite
David Lingenfelser	....	digital compositor: Cinesite
Kevin Lingenfelser	....	digital effects supervisor: Cinesite
Patrick Lin	....	motion control photographer: Matte World
Martin Matzinger	....	visual effects producer: Matte World
Michael J. McAlister	....	visual effects supervisor (as Micheal J. McAlister)
Brett Northcutt	....	digital matte artist: Matte World
Joe Pasquale	....	3D supervisor: Cinesite
Eric Pender	....	CGI animator: Cinesite
Paul Rivera	....	digital composite supervisor: Matte World
Ken Rogerson	....	effects editor: Matte World
Tony Sgueglia	....	digital technician supervisor: Cinesite
Todd Siechen	....	3D models and textures: Matte World
Eduardo Silva	....	CGI animator: Cinesite
Janek Sirrs	....	digital compositor: CFC
Todd R. Smith	....	digital compositor: Matte World
Morgan Trotter	....	3D modeler: Matte World
Jason Wardle	....	CGI animator: Cinesite
Eric Weinschenk	....	digital compositor: CFC
Juliette Yager	....	visual effects producer
Janet Yale	....	digital compositor: CFC
Mieko Yoshida	....	CGI animator: Cinesite
Jonathan Alvord	....	Avid editor (uncredited)
Jeff Chung	....	CGI animator: Cinesite (uncredited)
Erin M. Cullen	....	roto artist (uncredited)
Charles Darby	....	matte paintings (uncredited)
Matt Dessero	....	digital artist (uncredited)
Mark Gutterud	....	visual effects cameraman (uncredited)
Christopher Horvath	....	digital compositor: Matte World Digital (uncredited)
Tim Ketzer	....	computer graphics animator: Cinesite (uncredited)
Michael Kory	....	CG supervisor (uncredited)
Kevin LaNeave	....	digital runner (uncredited)
Vincent Lavares	....	technical assistant supervisor (uncredited)
Richard Lund	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Cristin Pescosolido	....	match move supervisor (uncredited)
Tristan Tom	....	technical support: Cinesite (uncredited)
James Valentine	....	rotoscope (uncredited)
Susumu Yukuhiro	....	visual effects production assistant (uncredited)

Stunts
Reese Banta	....	stunts
Ann Bellinger	....	stunts
Jake Brake	....	stunts
Charlie Brewer	....	stunts
Mike Christopher	....	stunts (as Michael Christopher)
Shane Dixon	....	stunts
Tim Gilbert	....	stunts
Sandra Lee Gimpel	....	stunts (as Sandra Gimpel)
Martin Grace	....	stunts
Al Jones	....	stunts
Lee Nashold	....	stunts (as Byron Lee Nashold Jr.)
Larry Nicholas	....	stunts
Pee Wee Piemonte	....	stunts (as Peewee Piemonte)
Steve Santosusso	....	stunts
Jimmy Waitman	....	stunts
John Zimmerman	....	stunts
Pat Banta	....	stunt double: Jim Carrey (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Patric J. Abaravich	....	assistant chief lighting technician (as Patric Abaravich)
Tim Barry	....	assistant camera: "b" camera
Roy Bean	....	video technician
Shaun Breedlove	....	chief rigging lighting technician
Branch M. Brunson	....	assistant chief rigging lighting technician
Bill Byers	....	video assist operator (as William S. Byers Jr.)
Chris Centrella	....	first company grip (as Christopher Centrella)
Bill Coe	....	assistant camera: "b" camera
Roy Gittens	....	electrician
David Golia	....	camera operator: "b" camera (as David John Golia)
Oscar Gomez	....	second company rigging grip
Raymond Gonzalez	....	electrician (as Ray Gonzalez)
Melinda Sue Gordon	....	still photographer
Michael Grady	....	second company rigging grip (as Michael L. Grady)
Mark Gutterud	....	assistant camera: second unit
Blake Hill	....	electrician
Gordy Jorian	....	electrician
Dean M. King	....	dolly grip (as Dean King)
Jeff Kluttz	....	first company rigging grip
Robert LaBonge	....	camera operator: "b" camera (as Robert La Bonge)
Dennis J. Lootens	....	chief rigging lighting technician (as Dennis 'DJ' Lootens)
Hugh McCallum	....	second company grip
Bill McConnell Jr.	....	second assistant camera
William McConnell	....	first assistant camera (as William M. McConnell)
Kevin Murphy	....	chief lighting technician
Jay Nefcy	....	camera operator: video camera
Ron Newburn	....	electrician
Katie Nilson	....	electrician
Jacqueline J. Nivens	....	camera loader (as Jacqueline Nivens)
Greg Patterson	....	electrician
Don Reddy	....	camera operator
Chris Regan	....	digital imaging technician: Cinesite
Thomas L. Rowe	....	camera operator: video camera
Van Scarboro	....	video assist operator
Tom Schurke	....	video technician
Paul Siegel	....	first company grip: Matte World
Brian Skilton	....	electrician
Rick Talmadge	....	video technician
Mike Thomas	....	underwater camera operator
Suzanne Trucks	....	camera loader
Mark Vollmer	....	grip
Peter Walts	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Maryan Zurek	....	underwater assistant camera
Kelly Diehl	....	remote head technician (uncredited)
Richard Falk Jr.	....	assistant chief rigging lighting technician (uncredited)
Daniel Galiardi	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Raymond Gonzales	....	electrician (uncredited)
Albert Hood	....	electrician (uncredited)
David Norris	....	camera operator: Wescam camera, Florida (uncredited)
John Trapman	....	camera operator: Wescam camera (uncredited)
Michael J. Walsh	....	electrician (uncredited)
Steven J. Winslow	....	assistant camera: Wescam camera (uncredited)
Steven J. Winslow	....	camera technician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Sande Alessi	....	extras casting (as Sandy Alessi)
Barbara Harris	....	voice casting
Ellen Jacoby	....	location casting
Dana McFadden	....	casting associate: Florida
Meredith Tucker	....	casting associate: Los Angeles

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Fran Allgood	....	costumer
Cheryl Beasley Blackwell	....	set costumer
Mary C. Lane	....	costume supervisor
Robert Mata	....	costumer: Mr. Carrey
Linda Pierce	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Liam Anderson	....	apprentice editor
Todd Fulkerson	....	apprentice editor
John Lee	....	lightworks assistant
Paula Lourie	....	assistant film editor
Padraic McKinley	....	lightworks assistant
Mike Milliken	....	color timer
Basia Ozerski	....	assistant film editor
Marie-Pierre Renaud	....	assistant film editor
Theresa Repola Mohammed	....	negative cutter
Kevin D. Ross	....	additional film editor
Jim Sevin	....	editor: video
Phil Voss	....	telecine operator
Noelleen Westcombe	....	assistant film editor
Jeff Consiglio	....	editor: main titles, TruTalk open sequence (uncredited)

Music Department
Bunny Andrews	....	music editor
Philip Glass	....	composer: additional music
Kurt Munkacsi	....	music producer: Philip Glass music
Robin Gray	....	music scoring engineer (uncredited)
Daryl McKenzie	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Steve Brodsky	....	transportation coordinator
Randy Peterson	....	transportation captain (as Randall Peterson)
Kevin C. Scott	....	transportation captain
Steve Brill	....	transportation dispatcher (uncredited)
John H. Stephens	....	local transportation captain (uncredited)
Timothy Stephens	....	driver (uncredited)
Robert Van Apeldoorn	....	transportation: Florida (uncredited)

Other crew
Noah Ackerman	....	assistant: Mr. Weir
J.M. Bascom	....	assistant production coordinator: Los Angeles
Tammy Blackburn	....	animal trainer
Dotan Bonen	....	security officer
Mary Brunner	....	production assistant
Briana Burke	....	assistant location manager: Florida
Daniel Carb	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin
Richard E. Chapla Jr.	....	assistant production coordinator: Florida (as Richard Chapla)
Aloura Melissa Charles	....	production assistant (as Aloura Charles)
Neil Clark	....	computer displays
Jennifer Cook	....	production assistant
Bradley Cramp	....	assistant: Mr. Niccol
Amy Dean	....	production assistant
Jennifer Dunne	....	assistant location manager: Los Angeles
Tim Dutrow	....	production assistant
Linda Fields	....	assistant: Mr. Carrey
Beth Folta	....	seaside liaison
Wilma Garscadden-Gahret	....	script supervisor
J.J. Geary	....	craft service (as John James Geary)
Gene Gillespie	....	production assistant
Craig Glaser	....	craft service (as Craig Glasser)
Edward Goemans	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin
AnaMarie C. Gonzaga	....	first assistant production auditor (as Anamarie C. Gonzaga)
Jeff Gross	....	production assistant
Cheryl Harris	....	animal trainer
Crystal Hawkins	....	production auditor (as Crystal A. Hawkins)
Philip Kingry	....	marine coordinator (as Phil Kingry)
Linaia Light	....	massage therapist: Mr. Carrey
Ian McGloin	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin
Helen Medrano	....	auditing assistant (as Helena M. Ruiz)
Nolan B. Medrano	....	auditing assistant
Joshua Milne	....	production assistant
Michael Moseley	....	assistant production auditor (as Michael J. Mosley)
Sandy O'Neill	....	unit publicist
Jackson Peel	....	production assistant
Andrew Piccone	....	production assistant: Matte World
Judith Pritchard	....	production coordinator (as Judy Pritchard)
Antonia Proscia	....	payroll
Brian Ringseis	....	production assistant: Matte World
Mark Roybal	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin
Deborah Simmrin	....	unit publicist
Wanda Joyce Stephens	....	assistant production auditor
Wendy Stites	....	special design consultant
Mike Triplett	....	production assistant
Christopher W. Trott	....	location manager: Los Angeles (as Christopher Trott)
Andrew L. Ullman	....	location manager: Florida (as Andrew Ullman)
Adrienne Vergos	....	travel coordinator
Mark Walbaum	....	production assistant
Valerie Waters	....	personal trainer: Mr. Carrey
Rick Whitfield	....	video producer
Susana R. Zepeda	....	assistant: Mr. Feldman
Joan Zulfer	....	auditing assistant
Michael Barnes	....	financial legal services (uncredited)
Karen Bosma	....	production assistant: construction (uncredited)
Abby Callahan	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Barclay Crenshaw	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Tamela D'Amico	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Brent Davis	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Chadbyrne R. Dickens	....	assistant to producer (uncredited)
Karin Fong	....	title designer: main titles, TruTalk open sequence (uncredited)
Joachim Hellenes	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Erika Herzog	....	office production assistant: Scott Rudin Productions (uncredited)
Nicki La Rosa	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Michael Mosley	....	assistant production auditor: Los Angeles (uncredited)
Fred Moyse	....	key paramedic (uncredited)
Marie Nashold	....	medic (uncredited)
Drew Smith	....	craft service (uncredited)
Eric Smith	....	title designer: main titles, TruTalk open sequence (uncredited)
Kent D. Smith	....	set production assistant (uncredited)
Will Sweeney	....	production intern (uncredited)
Regina Whitcomb	....	choreographer (uncredited)

Thanks
Daryl Davis	....	appreciation to
Robert Davis	....	appreciation to

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures
• Scott Rudin Productions

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1998) (USA) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (2001) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Paramount Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (1999) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (1999) (Argentina) (VHS)
• CIC Vídeo (199?) (Brazil) (VHS)
• CIC-Taft Home Video (Australia) (VHS)
• Filmes Lusomundo (Portugal)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2001) (Brazil) (DVD)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (Argentina)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (Germany)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (Spain)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (UK)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (Italy)

Special Effects

• Available Light Productions
• Bolan Jet Air (atmospheric effects)
• Cinesite (Hollywood)
• Computer Film Company, The (CFC) (digital compositing)
• EDS Digital Studios
• Matte World Digital (3-D matte paintings)
• Stirber Visual Effects Network

Other Companies

• American High Definition  video projection
• Bill Dance Casting  extras casting
• Birds & Animals Unlimited  animals
• Cinema Research  titles
• Imaginary Forces  tru-talk title sequence
• Inter Video  computer and video playback
• Michelson Food Services  catering
• Milan Records  soundtrack published by
• Movie Movers  school room trailer
• Movie Movers  star trailers
• Pacific Title  opticals
• Riverside Community College Marching Band  special thanks
• Soundfirm  sound mixing facilities
• Spectrum Films International  post-production facilities
• Wescam USA  wescam provided by

MPAA:

Rated PG for thematic elements and mild language.

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

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:

Florida, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Every streetname in Seahaven refers to a movie actor, e.g. "Lancaster Square" or "Barrymore Road."

Goofs:

Errors in geography: The 'set' is supposed to be right behind the Hollywood sign/hills, but in the satellite view, the set is in the southeast LA region, 20 miles from the Hollywood sign.

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.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Faux Finishing: The Visual Effects of 'The Truman Show' (2005) (V)

Soundtrack:

The Beginning

An unassuming film that is thought provoking on so many levels, well acted and thoroughly enjoyable however you come to it

Truman Burbank is an ordinary guy in an ordinary little seaside town of Seahaven Island where nothing really happens. Everything is clean, everything is perfect, he knows people but never really connects to anyone. The one woman he ever really loved is not his wife and has long since left for the other side of the world where he longs to visit but feels he can never go. Paralysed by his fear of water since seeing his father die on a boating accident, Truman still feels he is missing something. A strange light falling from the sky, a man who reminds him of his dead father, a strange radio broadcast and the feeling that the world really stops when he shuts his eyes all combine to make him feel something is wrong – but what is it that he seeks but feels he cannot find?

When I first saw this film it was with my girlfriend (who would then become my wife, then ex-wife!) and I remember how she and our friends felt a little bit cheated by the film that they had expected to be yet another wacky Jim Carrey comedy. In fairness to her and the others, it was easy to do this at the time – who would have thought that Jim Carrey would be able to act – certainly not the marketing department that sold this film on the basis of it being a hilarious film as opposed to the thoughtful and rewarding film it turned out to be. The plot can be viewed on so many levels that it is honestly easier to leave it to each viewer to take what they will from it. On the most obvious level it satirises the media, the emotional façade of television and (the increasingly relevant) look at reality shows. To others it will say as much about God, the empty drone of life and the things that we all desire. Of course to others it will just be a comedy with general comments to make – and there is nothing wrong with that whatsoever; in fact the multi-level approach works to make it appeal to many audiences.

Starting as a comedy, I am always taken by how well the film moves to become more and more interesting but yet never loses sight of those audience members who have come for the basic story. Hence it delivers an enjoyable and engaging central narrative that, plainly put, makes for a comic and involving yarn – we grow to care for Truman and this makes the ending an emotional and satisfying one even if some viewers will bemoan the fact that (to them) it appears 'open ended'. That it is also a very thought-provoking affair is only a bonus, with the satire working on many levels. Of course by seeming to tackle so many subjects and issues in such a short running time, the film never really gets its teeth deep into any one of them but this is not a major problem because it leaves us to do that in our heads after the film finishes.

The cast is roundly superb even if the majority of them are in minor roles. Of course it is easy now to look back at Carrey and accept that he can act straight but at the time it seemed so unlikely and few felt it was a good casting choice. Of course, seeing the end result it is clear that he can and he delivers such a great performance that he really makes the film work.

He is comic but yet serious, sympathetic but not worthy of pity – it is a great delivery and one that basically meant that I now look at his Ace Ventura stuff as the 'other' category and see his acting as his real work (6 years ago that was vice versa). Carrey carries the film, being on screen for almost the entire film but he has good support from Linney, Emmerich, Krause and others who play it well despite being stuck in the necessary stiff and unreal roles. The controller etc roles are all well played and feature a collection of well known faces including a great support role from Harris through to roles for Giamatti, Shearer, Baker Hall and a few others. It may be Carrey's show but the support certainly helps.

Overall this is a great film that can be appreciated as much for what it is on the surface (a great little comic story) as it can for the issues that it hints at all the time. There was a time when some viewers may have looked to a Carrey film to be a load of mugging an crude, basic laughs but this was the film that saw that change. Thought provoking, funny, entertaining, short, enjoyable and well acted throughout – well worth seeing and well worth coming back to several times.