Review of Truman Show, The

Introduction

On the air, unaware: this is the life of Truman Burbank, a man raised to be the unwitting star of the biggest show on earth. Every movement he makes is watched on TV by billions, as he lives his life in a false world he thinks is real. This story is about how he copes with his life, and his fight for freedom.

Video

A great transfer here, crisp and sharp with vivid colours. Truman’s fantasy world is really expressed well with this top-notch picture.

Audio

A good track, although this movie is not one to really use the full sonic abilities of DVD. Nonetheless, the dialogue is clear and the mix produces when called upon.

Features

Well, a rather disappointing affair, considering the movie. This is one film that is really crying out for a commentary from director Peter Weir, or at least a featurette. The director obviously has a lot to say in this movie – it would have been nice for a commentary to confirm this.
However, instead there are just two trailers, and a few static menus.

Conclusion

The Truman Show was one of the most original and charming films of 1998: Carrey really showed himself to be more than a just a comic actor. The dialogue and premise are first-class, warning against the all-powerful media and about man playing God.
Unfortunately, there are no extras worth mentioning on this disc. But Paramount have included a good transfer and mix, which is (just) enough reason to get this disc. Here’s hoping for a Special Edition…