Wikipedia

The Truman Show: Difference between revisions

Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
Line 45:
'''''The Truman Show''''' is a 1998 American [[Psychological drama|psychological]] [[comedy drama]] film<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/the-truman-show-v161628|title=The Truman Show (1998) - Peter Weir {{!}} Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related|website=[[AllMovie]]|language=en-us|access-date=February 1, 2021|archive-date=April 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420010157/https://www.allmovie.com/movie/the-truman-show-v161628|url-status=live}}</ref> written and co-produced by [[Andrew Niccol]], and directed by [[Peter Weir]].
 
The film's staris characterthe isstory of Truman Burbank (played by [[Jim Carrey]] as Truman Burbank), a man who growsis upunaware that he is living anhis ordinaryentire life that—unbeknownston toa him—takescolossal place[[soundstage]], onand athat largeit setis populatedbeing byfilmed actorsand forbroadcast as a [[reality television]] show aboutwhich himhas a huge international following. Its supportingAll castof includeshis [[Laurafriends Linney]],and [[Edfamily Harris]],and [[Noahmembers Emmerich]],of [[Nataschahis McElhone]],community [[Hollandare Taylor]],paid [[Paulactors Giamatti]],whose job it is sustain the illusion and Briankeep DelateTruman in the dark about the fiction he is living.
 
The movie's supporting cast includes [[Laura Linney]], [[Ed Harris]], [[Noah Emmerich]], [[Natascha McElhone]], [[Holland Taylor]], [[Paul Giamatti]], and Brian Delate.
Unlike the finished product, Niccol's [[spec script]] was more of a [[science-fiction]] [[thriller (genre)|thriller]], with the story set in [[New York City]]. One of the producers [[Scott Rudin]] purchased the script and set up production at [[Paramount Pictures]]. [[Brian De Palma]] was to direct before Weir signed as director, making the film for $60 million—$20 million less than the original estimate. Niccol rewrote the script while the crew was waiting for Carrey to sign. The majority of filming took place at [[Seaside, Florida]], a master-[[planned community]] located in the [[Florida Panhandle]].▼
 
▲Unlike the finished product, Niccol's original [[spec script]] was more of a [[science-fiction]] [[thriller (genre)|thriller]], with the story set in [[New York City]]. One of the producersProducer [[Scott Rudin]] purchased the script and set up production at [[Paramount Pictures]]. [[Brian De Palma]] was to direct before Weir signed as director, making the film for $60 million—$20 million less than the original estimate. Niccol rewrote the script while the crew was waiting for Carrey to sign. The majority of filming took place at [[Seaside, Florida]], a master-[[planned community]] located in the [[Florida Panhandle]].
 
''The Truman Show'' held its world premiere in Los Angeles on June 1, 1998, and was released in North America on June 5. The film was a financial success, grossing $264 million worldwide, debuting to critical acclaim, and earned numerous nominations at the [[71st Academy Awards]], [[56th Golden Globe Awards]], [[52nd British Academy Film Awards]], and [[25th Saturn Awards]]. ''The Truman Show'' has been analyzed as an exploration of [[simulated reality]], [[existentialism]], [[surveillance]], [[metaphilosophy]], [[privacy]], and [[reality television]], and described as a [[Hybrid genre|genre-blending]] work that features elements of [[Utopian and dystopian fiction|dystopian fiction]], [[meta fiction]], [[psychological drama]], [[romantic comedy]], [[satire]], and [[social science fiction]].
 
== Plot ==
Selected fromat birth and officiallylegally adopted by a television studio following an [[unwanted pregnancy]], Truman Burbank is the unsuspecting star of ''The Truman Show'', a [[reality television]] program filmed 24/7 through approximately five thousand hidden cameras and broadcast worldwide. Christof, the show's creator and [[executive producer]], seeks to capture Truman's authentic emotions and give audiences a relatable everyman.
 
Truman's hometown, Seahaven Island, is set inside an enormous soundstage. The immense and elaborate set allows Christof to control almost every aspect of Truman's life, including the weather. Truman's world is populated by actors and crew members who serve both as Truman's community and carefully keep him from discovering the truth. They also earn revenue for the show by cleverly-disguised [[product placement]]. To prevent Truman from escaping his fictional world, Christof has placed Truman's town on an island and has orchestrated scenarios to instill [[thalassophobia]] (a fear of the sea) such as the "death" of his father in a boating disaster. The rest of the cast steadily reinforces Truman's anxieties by messages about the dangers of traveling and the virtues of staying home.
 
Truman is intended by the producers to fall in love with and marry fellow student Meryl, but during his college years he develops feelings for Sylvia, an [[Extra (acting)|extra]]. Sylvia sympathizes with Truman's surreal plight and tries to tell him his life is a fiction, but she is fired from the show and forcibly removed from the set before she can convince him. Truman marries Meryl as "written," but his marriage is stilted and passionless, and he secretly continues to imagine a life with Sylvia, and dreams of traveling to [[Fiji]], where he has been told she moved. Meanwhile, in the real world, Sylvia joins "Free Truman", an activist group that wants to liberate the unwitting TV star from what they think is a show-business prison.
Truman's hometown, Seahaven Island, is set inside an enormous dome, populated by crew members and actors who [[Product placement|advertise products to both Truman and the audience]] to generate revenue for the show. The elaborate set allows Christof to control almost every aspect of Truman's life, including the weather. To prevent Truman from discovering the truth, Christof orchestrates scenarios that curtail his desire for exploration, such as the "death" of his father in a sea storm to instill [[thalassophobia]], and constantly broadcasts messages about the dangers of traveling and the virtues of staying home.
 
As the show approaches its 30th anniversary, Truman begins to notice unusual occurrences: arounda him,stage suchlight which serves as a brokenstar spotlightin (labelledthe [[Sirius]])night fallingsky falls from theits sky,position aand nearly hits him; an isolated columnpatch of rain followingfalls only on him,; ahe malfunctioningaccidentally overhears the crew's radio channeltransmissions precisely describing his movements, through town; and finally the reappearance of his supposedly drowned father (who is rushed away by crew members before Truman can confront him). Truman suspects realizes that the city somehow revolves around him, and he begins openly questioning his life and realizesasking thathis theclosest cityconfidants somehow(all revolvesactors) aroundto help him solve the mystery.▼
During his college years, Truman, though written to fall in love with and marry fellow student Meryl, develops feelings for Sylvia, an [[Extra (acting)|extra]]. Although Sylvia is fired from the show before she can disclose the truth to Truman, he secretly continues to dream of a life with her outside of his marriage to Meryl and hopes to travel to [[Fiji]], where he is led to believe Sylvia moved. In the real world, Sylvia joins "Free Truman", an activist group that aims to cancel the show and have Truman released.
 
Truman's suspicions lead him to spontaneously drive off of Seahaven Island with Merylculminate in tow. After a series of improbable disasters, hespontaneous attemptsattemopt to continueescape onthe footisland, after whichbut he is subduedcaught byand peoplereturned inhome protectiveunder gear.a Backflimsy atpretext. home, TrumanThere openlyhe questionsconfronts Meryl's feelingsand forchallenges himthe assincerity wellof asthe hermarriages. attempt Panicking, Meryl tries to change the topicsubject by advertisingperforming a product placement. In the ensuing confrontation, Meryl [[breaking character|breaks character]] and is removed from the show shortly afterward.▼
▲As the show approaches its 30th anniversary, Truman begins to notice unusual occurrences around him, such as a broken spotlight (labelled [[Sirius]]) falling from the sky, a column of rain following only him, a malfunctioning radio channel precisely describing his movements, and the reappearance of his father (who is rushed away by crew members before Truman can confront him). Truman begins questioning his life and realizes that the city somehow revolves around him.
 
Hoping to bring Truman back to a controllable state, Christof properly reintroduces his father to the show under the guise of him having developed amnesia after the boating accident. The show regains its ratings, and Truman seems to return to his routines. OneBut one night, Christof discovers that Truman has begun sleeping in his basement. Disturbed by this change in behavior, Christof sends Truman's best friend Marlon to visit and discovers that Truman has secretly disappeared through a makeshift tunnel in the basement. Christof temporarily suspends the broadcast for the first time in its history, leading to record viewing numbers.▼
▲Truman's suspicions lead him to spontaneously drive off of Seahaven Island with Meryl in tow. After a series of improbable disasters, he attempts to continue on foot, after which he is subdued by people in protective gear. Back at home, Truman openly questions Meryl's feelings for him as well as her attempt to change the topic by advertising a product. In the ensuing confrontation, Meryl [[breaking character|breaks character]] and is removed from the show shortly afterward.
 
Christof orders a citywide search for Truman and is soon forced to break the production's day-night cycle to optimize the search. Truman is found sailing away from Seahaven, having apparently conquered his fear of water. Christof resumes the transmission and creates a violent storm in an attempt to capsize Truman's boat. Truman nearly drowns, but his spirit remains unbroken, and he continues to sail until his boat strikes the wall of the dome.▼
▲Hoping to bring Truman back to a controllable state, Christof properly reintroduces his father to the show under the guise of him having developed amnesia after the boating accident. The show regains its ratings, and Truman seems to return to his routines. One night, Christof discovers that Truman has begun sleeping in his basement. Disturbed by this change in behavior, Christof sends Truman's best friend Marlon to visit and discovers that Truman has secretly disappeared through a makeshift tunnel in the basement. Christof temporarily suspends the broadcast for the first time in its history, leading to record viewing numbers.
 
Initially horrified, Truman looks around and finds a staircase leading to an exit door. As he contemplates leaving, Christof speaks to him directly throughin aGod-like speakerfashion systemfrom asthe if"sky," hetells washim [[God]]the truth about the show, encouragingand encourages him to stay by- claiming that there is no more truth in the real world than hisTruman's artificial one. After a moment of reflection, Truman utters his catchphrase: "In case I don't see you... good afternoon, good evening, and good night", bows to the audience, and exits. ViewersSurprisingly, viewers around the world celebrate Truman's escape, and Sylvia races to greet him. ChristofThe show's supervisorsexecutive producers end the program with a shot of the open exit door, leaving Christof devastated. After the broadcast ends, Truman’s viewers look for something else to watch.▼
▲Christof orders a citywide search for Truman and is soon forced to break the production's day-night cycle to optimize the search. Truman is found sailing away from Seahaven, having conquered his fear of water. Christof resumes the transmission and creates a violent storm in an attempt to capsize Truman's boat. Truman nearly drowns, but his spirit remains unbroken, and he continues to sail until his boat strikes the wall of the dome.
 
After the broadcast ends, Truman’s viewers calmly look for something else to watch.
▲Initially horrified, Truman looks around and finds a staircase leading to an exit door. As he contemplates leaving, Christof speaks to him directly through a speaker system as if he was [[God]], encouraging him to stay by claiming that there is no more truth in the real world than his artificial one. After a moment of reflection, Truman utters his catchphrase: "In case I don't see you... good afternoon, good evening, and good night", bows to the audience, and exits. Viewers around the world celebrate Truman's escape, and Sylvia races to greet him. Christof's supervisors end the program with a shot of the open exit door, leaving Christof devastated. After the broadcast ends, Truman’s viewers look for something else to watch.
 
==Cast==
Line 75 ⟶ 79:
:Linney studied [[Sears, Roebuck and Company|Sears]] catalogs from the 1950s to develop her character's poses.<ref name="part1" />
* [[Ed Harris]] as Christof.
:[[Dennis Hopper]] was originally cast in the role, but he left in April 1997 (duringsoon after filming) over "creative differences". Harris was a last-minute replacement for himbegan.<ref name="12mil" /> Hopper later stated that he was fired after two days because Weir and producer [[Scott Rudin]] had made a deal that if they did not both approve of Hopper's performance, they would replace him.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://sabotagetimes.com/tv-film/at-home-with-dennis-hopper | title=Farewell then Dennis Hopper | access-date=August 5, 2019 | archive-date=August 5, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190805071652/https://sabotagetimes.com/tv-film/at-home-with-dennis-hopper | url-status=live }}</ref> A number of other actors turned down the role after Hopper's departure, until Harris agreed to step in.<ref name="part2" /> Harris considered making Christof a [[Kyphosis|hunchback]], but Weir did not like the idea.<ref name="pro" />
* [[Noah Emmerich]] as Louis Coltrane, playing Marlon, Truman's best friend.
:Emmerich has said, "My character is in a lot of pain. He feels really guilty about deceiving Truman. He's had a serious drug addiction for many years. Been in and out of rehab." Very little of this is shown in the finished film, but several deleted scenes depict Louis actively expressing guilt over Truman's situation, and in one sequence, he spots Truman during his escape and purposely says nothing. His name is an [[Amalgamation (names)|amalgamation]] of two jazz musicians, [[Louis Armstrong]] and [[John Coltrane]].
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Truman_Show"