Well the magical mystical "Coen Sister" decided to share her female thought patterns upon Peter Weir and Jim Carrey's upcoming film, THE TRUMAN SHOW. She seems to be a character with a finger on the know, but you never can be sure. Remember, this is a test screening so the print she saw may or may not be tampered with, we'll see later. Absorb the info from the Coen Sister. BEWARE OF SPOILERS READ AT OWN RISK.
I was scheduled to go to a screening of "Kiss the Girls" when I received a pass to another screening on the same night. When I asked the lady what the movie was, she mysteriously replied: "I'm sorry, we're not allowed to say". What?!? All she could reveal was that it was "a black comedy" with a "major motion picture star". A woman standing next to me groaned: "Just tell me it isn't Jim Carrey".
My friend and I decided to attend, on the off chance it might be Carrey's latest, "The Truman Show". When we arrived at the Paramount lot, they wouldn't let us through the gates until we had given our names and ages. They were actually turning people away before they even had a chance to park! Then we all had to sign releases, stating we would not discuss the movie in print or on the internet. When I asked someone about this, they said: "Oh, it's because of that Harry guy who keeps sneaking into screenings." (Congrats on your infamy, Harry). We waited in line for a little over an hour, asking everyone who went by if they knew what the movie was. They all just smiled secretively and said they couldn't say. I was starting to worry I was getting my hopes up. There's nothing like thinking you're going to see a coup like "The Truman Show" and then finding out you're horribly wrong. My biggest fear was the presenter would get up on stage and say: "If you liked Pauly Shore's last movie, you'll love this one!"
As it turns out, there was no cause for concern. The presenter informed us that it was, indeed, "The Truman Show" and that we would get to see "Jim Carrey in a role like you've never seen before". For those of you who don't already know, "The Truman Show" is about an ordinary man, Truman Burbank, who discovers that his entire life has been broadcasted to the world as entertainment. Everyone and everything he has ever known in his life, from his parents to his wife, is a fraud--they're all in on the joke, just actors reading lines fed to them by the show's creator/director, Kristof. As played by Ed Harris, Kristof is a meglamaniacal control freak with the biggest God complex since Alec Baldwin in "Malice".
"The Truman Show" looks awesome--the idyllic town Truman lives in reminded me of a cross between "Edward Scissorhands" and "The Stepford Wives". Peter Weir, always a compelling director, reins in Carrey's performance much like he did for Robin Williams in "Dead Poet's Society". Which is not to say that Carrey doesn't get to do a lot of goofy mugging and loveable schtick. There's the traditional Weir moment where the hero makes a startling discovery and the screen goes absolutely silent, save for a rousing soundtrack, while he wanders into a realization. (Think Jeff Bridges in "Fearless" or Harrison Ford in "Witness".)
I guess the most I can say about "The Truman Show" is that I wasn't disappointed. The plot is actually not all that original--there was an episode of "Amazing Stories" a few years back that dealt with a woman who discovered her entire life was a series of movies made for everyone but her. Her ex-fiancee approached her on the street one day and told her: "it was great working with you". "The Truman Show" takes the premise a lot further, dealing with both the comedic and dramatic implications of the situation.
That doesn't mean, by any stretch of the imagination, that it is a perfect film. The beginning is slow and the end doesn't quite pack the emotional wallop it should. The audience catches onto the joke very early in the film, and it starts to get a bit repetitive. Most of all, there really weren't that many laughs. I know that since Jim Carrey is the star, they have to market this as a comedy. But it's actually a very serious drama and I think the filmmakers are doing it a disservice by pushing it as a wacky, lighthearted romp. The performances are great all-around--Ed Harris is quietly gripping, Laura Linney (as Truman's wife) will erase any thoughts of "Congo" and Jim Carrey...well, I LOVE Jim Carrey, have ever since "The Duck Factory". I've always known that one day he'll win an Academy Award and my years of adoration will be justified. I was told he actually snuck into our audience during the screening to gauge our reactions. I don't know if this is true or not, but if it is, I think he would've been pleased to see how readily everyone accepted him in this dramatic role. A lot of people, present company included, appluaded and cheered at the end. I think you will, too.
