Date: Fri 26-Jun-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: DONNAM

Quick Words:

Truman-Carrey-Weir-Playing

Full Text:

NOW PLAYING: "Truman" Is Among The Year's Best; Star & Director Both Deserve

Credit

By Trey Paul Alexander III

Truman Burbank (Jim Carrey) lives such an ordinary life that it seems almost

extraordinary. He lives in the same community in which he grew up; is married

to his high school sweetheart (Laura Linney); remains best friends with his

childhood buddy (Noah Emmerich); and holds a solid 9 to 5 job as an insurance

salesman. It's all so idyllic, but that's life in a town of 5,000.

Five-thousand cameras, that is!

The Capra-esque life of Truman Burbank is broadcast to the world 24 hours a

day from a massive, enclosed set. Every one of its inhabitants, except Truman

himself, is an actor, playing a role and doing their part to keep the secret

of Truman's scripted existence from him. Far above the community of Seahaven,

nested in a studio within "the moon," sits the watching eye of Christof (Ed

Harris), the creator, producer (and god?) of Truman's world.

The Truman Show is an absolute joy and currently sits with The Spanish

Prisoner atop the list for cinematic best of the year thus far. The film is

rich with layers of metaphors (my classes at film school would have had a

blast with this one) -- Truman Burbank stands alone in his world as the only

"True Man," TV has become the religion of today's masses, what is truly real?,

etc -- but also can be enjoyed simply for its clean, crisp storytelling style

and visual kick.

Since the release of The Truman Show , critics and fans alike have been

falling over themselves to praise the Plastic Man, Jim Carrey, who ventures

once again onto the road less travelled in his career... drama. With the scars

of The Cable Guy still fairly fresh, it was understandably questionable

whether the rubber-faced comedian could suitably tune down his shtick for a

more serious role. To be sure, Carrey answers all skeptics here by navigating

his way quite admirably, but for all the accolades tossed Carrey's way (could

an Oscar nomination be in his future?), a heaping helping of commendation must

be given to director Peter Weir.

Weir has to be in consideration now as one of the best directors working in

cinema today. There can be little doubt as to his ability to take major

big-screen stars, especially those with an established persona, and seamlessly

integrate them into the fabric of his celluloid canvas. We need look no

further than his filmography.

Weir introduced French star Gerard Depardieu to the masses in Green Card ; Mel

Gibson shed his Mad Max role for leads in Gallipoli and The Year of Living

Dangerously ; Weir took Harrison Ford, known then only as Han Solo and Indiana

Jones, and got him his one and only Oscar nomination for Witness and cast him

in The Mosquito Coast , which remains Ford's most offbeat leading role; and

most significantly, in the context of Carrey's transformation, Weir took

another hyper-active comic, Robin Williams ( Dead Poets Society ), and

harnessed his atomic energies to ironically unleash worlds of potential for

future roles.

That all of this is seemingly done with the greatest of ease is only further

evidence of Weir's skill with actors and bringing them in focus with the

vision of his films. Carrey commands respect in The Truman Show , but is aided

capably by strong performances from Harris as the enigmatic Christof (is he

benevolent or malevolent?), Linney as Truman's sunny wife (with a

conspicuously lacquered-on smile) and Natascha McElhone as a mysterious woman

from Truman's past.

The Truman Show is rated PG for mild profanity and its complex theme. From its

opening scene to its crowd-pleasing finale, it rewards its audience with an

intelligence that ranges from performance of its star to the thoughtful (and

often hilarious) details of the background itself. The Truman Show triumphs as

a true original and comes highly recommended.