The Truman show was one of those films that divided audiences right down the middle, you either loved it or hated it. There never seemed to be any inbetweeners. I loved it, even though I'd be prepared to admit it perhaps hasn't endured quite as well as it might have done. It felt, at the time, like it, together with Carrey's excellent performance at its heart, had a timeless quality, but I now think it has been tarnished a little by the passing of time. That's surprising because, in this Big Brother obsessed world filled with 'reality tv', Truman is a very relevant film. And although it hasn't aged brilliantly, it remains a very very good film with some splendid performances anchoring it throughout. I couldn't believe Carrey wasn't Oscar-nominated. He proved he could not just act but act brilliantly and he gives a show-stopping performance here as the naive, charming, Truman, who becomes increasingly damaged and overwhelmed by his perplexing situation.
There are some great scenes - Ed Harris' "cue the sun" moment still gets me to this day - but this is the highlight. It is just a mesmerising moment, as Truman stands in the middle of traffic, his arms outstretched, with Burkhard Dallwitz's score ripping your nerves to shreds. It's the look in Truman's eye which makes it. Try and imagine how difficult it is to convey the look of a guy who has just realised he has been living his entire life as the star of his own television show. Not easy is it? Carrey unleashes an astonishing amount of empathy on the audience in this brief moment and Truman's pain, uncertainty and anguish are there for all too see. It's a stunningly effective result. The kind of scene you are waiting for all film if you're doing a re-watch. And I really love the music here, it is quite simple, almost like a heartbeat, or maybe a heartache, perfectly tuned in to the film's rhythm. A great moment well worthy of its place in a list remembering the greatest scenes in film history.
1 comment:
Even though I liked the film, I don't think the moment when he bumped into the horizon was really as momentous as it should have been. I mean, you'd be pretty surprised wouldn't you? Exactly.
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