Wolff rating: GOOD
Plot summary: Man's life is a carefully constructed TV show, and he's catching on.
Biased, pithy comments: Clearly, this is a fable. It's a fable about. . .well, I'm not sure, and thus we have the flaw at the heart of the diamond. This is a great movie at so many levels, from Harris's psycho-artist to Linney's walking advertisement to Emmerich's smarmy-sincere best friend's charm. What works the best, though, is the falseness of the world Truman lives in, from the scripted life and goofy travel posters to the fake moon high in the sky. But what does it mean? Weir could have commented on God and free will, but instead makes a statement that is essentially populist and harmless. Definitely clever, definitely worth seeing, but troublesome at the end.
Other Notes: Golly, I didn't mention Jim Carrey at all. Hollywood whispered at his total snub at the Oscars (not even a nomination), but frankly, that's probably right. Truman is great, but it's the part, not Jim Carrey, that makes it all happen. He *was* the movie, he didn't play any role in it. How can one pull apart the acting from the role?
How many times I have seen it: x1
Starring: Jim Carrey, Ed Harris, Laura Linney, Noah Emmerich, Natascha McElhone.
Directed by: Peter Weir