The Truman Show | Movie Reaction & Filmmaking Commentary 

“We accept the reality of the world with which we are presented” is a line that has stuck with me. I think I wrote it on my bedroom wall at some point. Props to Ed Harris’ amazing performance. In the mid to late 90s there was a great influx of movies that implored you to question what god/your parents/authorities told you: The Truman Show, The Matrix, Fight Club, Dark City, all really good.

'I am the main character moment.' with the epic Philip Glass track. Philip Glass, on the piano while Truman sleeps.

At the beginning, Christoff promised that everything would be real, but it became apparent to a core group of fans that there were scripted arcs. I think the high ratings when transmission stopped was because the fandom realized it'd become real: that Truman had taken charge of his life! That's why everyone cheers when he escapes. My head canon is that the bus to Chicago is really a tour bus full of fans. I base this on the little girl. My head canon about the cop who mistakenly recognizes Truman is that he's a bit actor who'd applied to be on the show, who was home watching the show when he got a frantic call from the studio.

First thing that attracted me to the film: the poster. Carrey's face made up of an array of smaller photos. Wondering if there's a name for that, closest I can think: ASCII art.

'If you wanted something purely natural, you wouldn't be watching a tv show.' This, of course, is a pre-Survivor perspective. Mind you, orthodoxy an unnaturalness creeps in, with Probst no longer saying 'come on in, _guys_!'

Finally, an intelligent commentary! Subscribed!

One of my favorite performances in this movie was a brief one. Laura Linney's face when the officer says Truman's name was just perfect for the situation.

Fun fact: the friend is played by Noah Emmerich, who shares my birthday.

One good thing about 'stepping out' is that you are nudged to be aware and awake in those moments.

I enjoyed your commentary. You added something.

The mention of 'TV Guide' seems odd when this show is the exclusive program, and has been for decades.

I've watched this movie so many times and Michelangelo's Pieta is one of my favorite artworks but I've never noticed the parallel. Genius spotting it!

Great commentary and reaction, but I absolutely loved the discussion at the end. I didn't catch all the religious references before. Very interesting connections you made to other works and your discussion in general. This is my third video of yours that I've watched, and I've enjoyed them all so far.

Agreed. Good catch on _La Pieta_.

Great reaction

Great reaction and thoughts on the movie.

Really like your analysis! Hope you get more followers so you can go on producing great content!

You really should watch more movies directed by Peter Weir. He does only little but really unusual great movies

I'm reminded a lot of the story of Buddha (Siddartha Gautama) whose father wanted to prevent his child from having any knowledge of disease, aging, and death, thinking this would allow him to never have to experience these things?, that, even if such a thing were feasible, would benefit him somehow. I grew up with a fairly controlling, tiger parent father, and Christof definitely symbolizes paternalistic parenting and in such a way where even the parent is convinced of their own.. benevolent dictatorship. (I think a fascinating story of potential would be an exploration of what Christof's own childhood, upbringing, and life were that could possibly lead someone to thinking these sorts of things, because I feel like there was a strong streak of this amongst Boomers and particularly immigrants, people who themselves lived through and survived particularly significant traumas and major upheavals and instability in their lives. Seahaven Island very much manifests to me a kind of unfulfillable yearning for an "island of stability", a retreat to a kind of Pleasantville where everything can be controlled.) Watched lotsa youtubers reactions and I'm struck by how many younger ones find this not only horrifying but enough to classify it as a horror film to them, and also just how outraged and seething it makes some of them.. Like some have expressed wanting to reach through the screen and physically beat Christof, but they treat it like Christof knows what he's telling Truman isn't true, but I think the problem is so much larger in scope than that, because it's clear Christof genuinely believes what he's saying and is completely oblivious to his own hypocrisy (which Truman himself has no way of knowing, since his first and only direct interaction with Christof is as that disembodied god-voice-we never see him once meet or see who or what Christof even looks or sounds like as a person).