PETER WEIR

Bil’s rating (out of 5):  BBBBB.  USA, 1998.  Paramount Pictures, Scott Rudin Productions.  Screenplay by Andrew Niccol.  Cinematography by Peter Biziou.  Produced by Edward S. Feldman, Andrew Niccol, Scott Rudin, Adam Schroeder.  Music by Burkhard von Dallwitz.  Production Design by Dennis Gassner.  Costume Design by Marilyn Matthews.  Film Editing by William M. Anderson, Lee Smith.  Academy Awards 1998.  Golden Globe Awards 1998.  

Perfectly written, acted, directed and edited comedy about Truman Burbank, a morally upright young man (Jim Carrey) who has absolutely no idea that his entire life is a television show being broadcast around the world to record ratings. His entire family is a cast of hired actors who have been put together by the show’s God-like creator (Ed Harris) and are instructed as to how Truman’s life will be directed from day to day. Written by Andrew Niccol (who wrote and directed Gattaca), the film satirically instructs conservative America that the idyllic form of 1950s American life cannot be recreated under natural circumstances.  Laura Linney gives her first truly remarkable screen performance as Truman’s manipulative wife (her smile is more terrifying than anything in the scariest horror movie), and Natascha McElhone is divine as the activist who wants to free Truman from his trap. Even without her help though, Truman starts discovering things about his perfect little town that make him wonder about what else the world has to offer. There’s no end of pleasure to be gained from this wonderful film.