Movie Guys: ‘Truman’ triumphs by blending comedy and commentary

Friday, June 5, 1998 | 9:41 a.m.

* Grades: Jeff A; Dave A.

* Starring: Jim Carrey, Ed Harris, Laura Linney, Noah Emmerich and Natascha McElhone.

* Director: Peter Weir.

* Screenplay: Andrew Niccol.

* Rated: PG for adult themes and situations.

* Running Time: 100 minutes.

* Playing at: Las Vegas Drive-In, Rancho Santa Fe 16, Century Orleans 12, Century Desert, Cinedome 12 Henderson, ACT III Sunset Station, ACT III Village Square.

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* Synopsis: Truman Burbank has the feeling that he's being watched. Every second of every day, from the moment he was born, for the last 30 years, Truman has been the unwitting star of the longest-running, most popular documentary/soap opera in history. Welcome to "The Truman Show" -- the whole world is watching.

* Dave: As soon as the film starts, the audience becomes the viewers to the most popular cult television series in "The Truman Show." We witness the daily routine of Truman Burbank (Jim Carrey) as he stares at himself in the bathroom mirror, unaware that he is the star of the show. He says his morning goodbyes to his neighbors; makes his usual rounds before he goes to work; and listens to his regular radio program in the car, all without a care in the world -- his world, that is. But in the outside world, and in our world as the audience, he is pure entertainment.

* Jeff:

We follow Truman's every move and pry into his personal life via 5,000 carefully hidden cameras, placed strategically around his hometown of Seahaven, which mirrors a retro seaside Florida community stuck in the 1950s. A town which, in reality, is the world's largest soundstage, complete with changing weather, townspeople, cityscapes and a seemingly endless ocean. Truman's show is a success because truth is stranger than fiction. Life is unpredictable and that is what captivates its worldwide audience. What will happen next? If you don't watch, you may miss it. Director Peter Weir waits well into the film to give us the reaction of the "real world" and the viewers who are so addicted to Truman and his daily routine.

* Dave: Weir, whose impressive filmography includes "Witness" and "Dead Poets Society" (for which he received Academy Award nominations for direction), has created an incredible, thought-provoking comedy-drama. How would the world react to a 24-hour television program that literally followed the life of a young man from his birth, yet he remains oblivious to his worldwide attention? Well, Weir paints a pretty bleak picture. The film really does not say much for our society, but that humanity has lost its morals. At the same time, however, it inspires hope that humanity has not completely gone astray, that a minority exists which will no doubt prevail. Life is filled with contradictions, as this film exploits.

* Jeff: You hit it, Dave. We are all nothing but a country of voyeurs who blame the media for giving us what we want -- the power of television feeds and controls our lives. In the film, "The Truman Show" does have its critics who feel that Truman should be set free and that he is nothing more than a slave. His life is planned and executed by the show's creator and director, Christof, played hauntingly by Ed Harris. Christof, who during the 30-year span of the show becomes obsessed with ratings and has God-like delusions of the perfect universe he has created for Truman, and cannot cope with Truman's desire to follow his own destiny. Truman discovers that all is not right: A stage light falls from the sky; the same townspeople circle his home over and over; his radio picks up the director's cues. He wants out and that's the drama. How will it end?

* Dave: Another credit to Weir is the ability to tame Carrey's patented smirks and physical humor. Carrey's comical idiosyncrasies still make their way into the film by way of delivery. The film's dialogue, masterfully scripted by Andrew Niccol ("Gattaca"), allows Carrey to make use of his true nature for comedy. When he exclaims, "Good morning. And, if I don't see you later, good afternoon, good evening, and good night," you're reminded that this is the Jim Carrey of "Ace Ventura" and "Dumb and Dumber." But there is a unique essence to his performance: he brings a sweetness that is equal to his dramatic sincerity. This is truly his movie. Excuse me, his film.

* Jeff: I don't think Weir did anything to tame Carrey's mugs and smirks, Dave. This isn't the type of character that we expect of Carrey.

* Dave: You're right. But Carrey fans might, and should know that this is nothing like his previous movies after his tenure on "In Living Color."

* Jeff: This was his most complex role to date, and illustrated a soft, emotional side of the comic genius. Truman is a good person struggling with this inner turmoil about his childhood and losing his father in a thunderstorm. He wants to escape to the Fiji Islands to find his true love (Natascha McElhone) instead of staying in his dead-end marriage. Truman's wife, Meryl (Laura Linney), never listens to him, and in between arguments she holds up various cocoa mixes and utensils (product placements) to help pay for the show's expensive overhead. Carrey has a variety of material to work with and molds his presence into the performance of the year. "The Truman Show" builds with such tension in its conclusion: We are dying to know, how will it end? The ending will go down in cinematic history as one of the movie's greatest moments. You want an original movie? Here it is, everyone. "The Truman Show" is the movie of the '90s.

* Dave:

I couldn't agree with you more, Jeffrey. Is it as groundbreaking as "Jurassic Park"? Does it break the rules of linear storytelling like "Pulp Fiction" did? Is it as innovative as "Forrest Gump"? As far as originality, it stands on its own. We predict that "The Truman Show" will find major success at the box office this summer, and moviegoers will have to decide for themselves whether or not to free Truman. And, who knows? Maybe at next year's Oscar ceremonies, Truman just may have the last laugh. To find out, you'll have to stay tuned like the rest of us.

MOVIE BUZZ

* Lucas stomps on "Godzilla":

Hard to believe, but the usually reserved Lusacfilm people took a rather nasty potshot at the flailing film about the larger-than-life lizard! Last week, the official "Star Wars" website (starwars.com), featured a parody of the original "Godzilla: Size Does Matter" teaser poster. It read: "PLOT DOES MATTER -- MAY 1999 -- 'STAR WARS: EPISODE ONE.' " The phony ad was on the site for only a day before it was removed, but the point was well made. You go, George!

* Cruise a super hero?:

Hollywood trade paper Variety has reported that Tom Cruise is considering taking on the role of Marvel Comics hero Iron Man. Cruise and co. are looking at the feasibility of working "Iron Man" into Cruise's already-heavy schedule, as well as the usual budget considerations that have derailed previous attempts to bring other Marvel properties to the silver screen. As reported months ago in this column, Nicolas Cage was originally rumored to star as the Armored Avenger for the 20th Century Fox production.

* Schwarzenegger goes on a "Crusade"?:

The long-awaited project 'Crusade', which has been kicked around Hollywood for almost a decade (and is considered one of the greatest unproduced scripts out there), may live again, according to director Paul Verhoven ("Showgirls," "Starship Troopers"). "Crusade," about a feudal serf fighting in the name of Christianity in the Middle Ages, is also a project that Arnold Schwarzenegger has been attached to for several years. Verhoeven told Variety, "I think we're reviving the project. We've never lost interest in it and are all committed, if the financial and political obstacles of shooting it can be overcome."

* WB to animate "The King And I" Morgan Creek Productions and Warner Bros. are working to bring an animated version of the classic Broadway musical "The King and I" to the big screen in the spring of 1999. No word yet on who will provide the voices of the lead characters. Our guess: It won't be Yul Brenner.

* From "Godzilla" to "Gadget": Former "Ferris Bueller" and current "Godzilla" star Matthew Broderick will portray the bumbling cyborg cartoon detective "Inspector Gadget." Broderick's character will match wits against the evil Dr. Claw (played by Rupert Everett of "My Best Friend's Wedding"), while Cameron Diaz (also of "Wedding") has been offered the plum role of Gadget's love interest/creator Brenda, who bionically re-assembles the disaster-prone hero when he's blown up by one of Claw's bombs.

NAME THAT FLICK

Chris Derringer did it again. She was the first to call and identify last week's quote: "I'm simply saying that life, uh, finds a way," from "Jurassic Park," spoken by Jeff Goldblum. We had lots of calls this week, but Chris beat you all again. Go for three in a row, Chris! Here we go:

For this week, who said this and in what film: "The land is so big, the choices so infinite. Where shall we go, Los Angeles or New York?" Does it sound familiar? If you think you know, call The Movie Guys' hotline at 225-9026, or e-mail us at movieguys5@aol.com (America's favorite movie reviewers for more than 100 years!). Be sure to spell your name and leave your daytime phone number, and if you're the first correct caller/e-mailer, we will print your name right here in our column (now approved by Consumer Reports as the most safe and economical movie review article in Nevada) for the entire Vegas Valley to read.

See you next week.

THE MOVIE GUYS, starring Jeff Howard and Dave Neil, appears every Friday in the Sun (additional material provided by Thomas Feeney). You can also read their capsule reviews of movies in Scope magazine and watch their reviews every Friday on Channel 3's 11 p.m. newscast. Plus, check them out online at: www.lasvegassun.com/sun/sunlife/movies.