22 years ago today The Truman Show was released in US cinemas. I'm sure by now most of you have seen this movie, but in context of my rules of the blog, no spoilers ahead.
So in the town of Seahaven Island, lives Truman Burbank (played by Jim Carrey), your average insurance salesman, who lives with his wife Meryl (played by Laura Linney). Truman is a jolly, happy guy who, when leaving for work in the mornings will use the phrase "good morning, and just in case i don't see ya: Good afternoon, good evening, and good night!" (I personally love that line). He goes to work and always stops of to pick up the paper, and a magazine for "the wife". The fact of the matter is, Truman is actually the star of a reality television show! Everyone in his life and anyone that has been in his life along with whoever lives and visits Seahaven are all actors! The show was created by Christof (played by Ed Harris), and Seahaven is in fact an enormous TV set near Hollywood. The set is so advanced that the state of the art technology is even able to stimulate day and night conditions and all the different kinds of weather conditions that you can think of too. With the show continuously being shown around the world, with every second of Truman's life being captured by over 5000 hidden cameras expertly hidden, some boasting to be the smallest camera in the World. The show has been running and entertaining people for nearly 10,000 days 24/7 showing every development of Truman's life. How has Truman not realised, and why has he never left Seahaven? Well this was thought of very early in Truman's life, when they created a massive storm while Truman and his dad were out in a boat. This was obviously staged and had the desired effect, to instill aquaphobia (fear of water) into Truman. It worked! Truman was scared to go in the water or cross it using a bridge. Despite Christof trying to map out Truman's life for all to see, his control could not help Truman failing for the wrong girl! Yes he married Meryl, but his heart belonged to Lauren/Sylvia (played by Natascha McElhone), she was just an extra in Truman's college years but had left a resounding mark on Truman. She was immediately removed from the set, never to return, with a storyline, that she was moving to Fiji, which broke Truman's heart. Something all of a sudden makes Truman very curious of his surroundings, suspecting something is wrong and wants to leave for FIJI. Will he carry on living his life in Seahaven?
I really do like this move, Jim Carrey is so right for the role of Truman. Its almost as though the writer's had written the movie with him in mind to play lead. The whole concept of enclosing one town in its self caccooned bubble is amazing too. You will see that this could actually be something that would be possible, especially now with our technologies, but back in 1998, its almost visionary to think this was thought up. its a multi Oscar nominated film, a multi Golden Globe Winner amongst many accolades. If you haven't seen this then give it a watch, you wont be disappointed.
Classic line 👆 pure genius
.... and if I don't see you, good afternoon, good evening and goodnight!