The Truman Show
I think I knew about the film ever since it came out. I remember “Titanic” and “You’ve got mail” as some of the first movies I saw in theaters, and I was actually interested in contemporary mainstream Hollywood flicks ever since then. By 2001, I practically saw everything that came out, it was the pinnacle of my movie theater experience with perhaps 1-2 movies per week, plus there were movies I saw on TV too. Of course it was only later that my movie addiction really took off, with the internet and Netflix and what not. But nonetheless, I have seen a whole lot of movies at the time. But for some reason, “The Truman Show” always escaped me, even though I have always had some interest in it.
Jim Carrey might be a major factor. I have always disliked him in movies, and I thought that “The Truman Show” would be no exception. In fact, I don’t think I would have paid that much attention to the film back in the day either. It might have an interesting premise, but ultimately the film is executed as very standard Hollywood fare. Without a doubt it never reaches the depth of “Pleasantville” from the same year, and for a change, Jim Carrey is not to blame. I think he goes through his role quite marvelously, but a relatively bland (albeit suspenseful) script keep the film up from being truly interesting. I agree with Jonathan Rosenbaum that the film is both smart and dumb at the same time, and the dumbness probably keeps me up from really liking the film.
It’s definitely a classic worth seeing, there is no doubt about that, but there is no reason to expect an epiphany.
Jim Carrey….is so special? I don’t think there is anyone else like him? One one hand he is like the most hyperbolic actor ever, and you couldn’t imagine him in, like, a serious role after something like Ace Ventura or The Mask? But then he randomly does things like ESOTSM.
You should watch I Love You Philip Morris (it was one of my favorite new films of that year) – it is like LMFAO-hilarious at parts, and it is like a bizarre combination of THAT kind of Jim Carrey excess and something of a weirdly touching, “classical” love story? And LMAO Ewan McGregor and him have – again! – ODDLY great chemistry together. To me this is like a crazy batshit film that shouldn’t even work, but does!
(and thanks to whoever genius that had the balls to have Jim Carrey actually scream – in the most grotesque and hilarious scene like EVER – “I WANT TO BE A FAG!!!!”. like seriously, go watch it!
Ohhh yes I have been meaning to watch I Love You Philip Morris. I agree that Jim Carrey is very unique, but somehow his films still fail to please me most of the time. Well “The Truman Show” was actually not so bad, so I would definitely give his other films a chance :)