Movie research paper "The Truman Show".

Movie Research Paper

“The Truman Show”

Benjamin Gehring

American Literature and Composition, 6th Period

Ms. D. Isaac

December 12, 2002

“The Truman Show is founded on an enormous secret that all of the studio's advertising has been determined to reveal. I didn't know the secret when I saw the film, and was able to enjoy the little doubts and wonderings that the filmmakers so carefully planted. (…) Those fortunate audience members (…) will be able to appreciate the meticulous way director Peter Weir and writer Andrew Niccol have constructed a jigsaw plot around their central character, who doesn't suspect that he's living his entire life on live television.” (Ebert 1)

This film by director Peter Weir and writer Andrew Niccol tells about a man (Truman Burbank) who who finds out that his whole life is actually TV show. The movie has an incredible influence on America and the international community. What maybe no one would expect, this movie inspired some producers especially a famous European producer, John De Mol, to produce a reality TV show called “Big Brother”. He is also very famous for his produced TV shows “Fear Factor” and “Who wants to be a Millionaire?” (DooYoo 1). The Truman Show is not only famous because it is a typical 20th century movie, it also includes one of the today’s best actors. Jim Carrey , Ed Harris , and Laura Linney are only three of many actors of this movie who performance their role in a perfect way. Also the strange storyline makes the movie to special in its genre. The “storyline is deceptive, almost maliciously so“ (Myers 1), and is based on several movies like Edtv (1999), “which is also about a man whose life is broadcast live 24 hours a day on television, he plays a similar character” (IMDB 2). It is also very famous because it contains never before seen technical aspects like the director’s office of the TV show. The many camera shots from every position, like garbage cans, behind car radios, and billboards, make it very individual.

Truman Burbank, played by Jim Carrey, is living in a suburban setting and works as a salesman. He doesn’t realize that he is living in a fake world with actors all around him. His lifestyle is like an “ordinary Joe whose life seems to be pretty idyllic. He has a good job, a nice house, and a beautiful wife” (Jardine 1); he goes to work everyday and is totally satisfied with his life.

Only one day, when he his on his way to work, a camera light, from the film producers falls down from the “sky” and lands close to ...