Talk:The Truman Show

References to use

Please add to the list references that can be used for the film article.

• King, Mike (2008). "The Truman Show". The American Cinema of Excess: Extremes of the National Mind on Film. McFarland. pp. 206–209. ISBN 0786439882.
• Park, E.J. (2004). "Discourse on Sovereignty: The Truman Show". In Rickman, Gregg (ed.). The Science Fiction Film Reader. Limelight Editions. pp. 386–389. ISBN 0879109947.

Note 19 is misattributed to the online database that hosts the article. I am new and don't know how to edit the reference list, but the correct source is Journal of Communication Inquiry January 2000 vol. 24 no. 1 6-18. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Cultcrit (talk • contribs) 01:24, 19 September 2011 (UTC)

Plot Section

Hi, thanks for composing this. However, it seems the "Plot" section could use a little more vim, and achieve better insight. It's been awhile since I've seen the film, but I think there were about six or eight events that caused Truman to begin to doubt the reality of his surroundings. Also, it seems he was not driven to "escape", but by a yearning to know the real world. In that sense, the film is deeply symbolic of any and everyone's lives. Thanks again, BalancedScales (talk) 22:43, 7 July 2008 (UTC)

I'm a bit confused by the comparisons to Hamlet. They pretty much amount to, the main character is male, he has some friends, etc. The source seems to be some guys personal blog that is written at the skill and anlysis level of a high school student. Is this what Wiki basis its anlysis on? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.177.47.137 (talk) 02:35, 5 July 2009 (UTC)

I agree with this, it sounds like some GCSE film studies student took to wikipedia trying to make ridiculous connections between the Truman Show and Shakespeare. I strongly suggest that somebody removes the entire "themes" section from this article, because most of it seems like utter rubbish. 86.180.51.6 (talk) 22:26, 23 December 2009 (UTC)

I'm removing the Hamlet section. Not only is it poorly written with shallow comparisons, if one looks back through the history it was apparently added by the person who's blog it sites as a reference and his source, other than it being obvious to him, is that his school children agreed with him. This hardly qualifies as a valid source.75.177.47.137 (talk) 09:29, 28 December 2009 (UTC)

my change was reverted without comment (I thought you weren't supposed to do that). So I will leave it to someone else to fix this.75.177.47.137 (talk) 10:51, 28 December 2009 (UTC)

It seems to me that the Hamlet section is just a long section of original research, and while yes, there are a few similarities, I could just as easily draw comparisons with The Matrix, as far as someone questioning the nature of his reality. Just because it's a comparison to Shakespeare does not give it any extra weight. I say it could be deleted entirely without anything being lost from the article. Unless anyone can give a good reason NOT to remove it I will delete it again in a few days. WesUGAdawg (talk) 20:49, 28 December 2009 (UTC)

correction??

In the plot, it says "Despite Truman's staged relationship with his wife Meryl, he desires to meet and perhaps court the scene-extra called Sylvia, who was removed from the cast by the producers while trying to explain to Truman the true nature of his life. In the thirteenth year of his life, Truman begins to realize that he is surrounded by an "unreal" world and tries to escape Seahaven."

Shouldn't it say? In the movie, it shows Truman at 10,610 days and counting, or some number around that. That is 29.8 years - Isn't that when Truman started realizing it? He is about 30 years old in the movie... not 13. Please verify. I am not sure if maybe at 13 years old he began to realize. I understood that he just always saw some peculiar things happening and during this movie (around 30 years of age) begins to unravel it all. ~ GoldenGoose100 (talk) 01:52, 12 July 2008 (UTC)

The scene was a flashback. He was in high school studying for a test in the library while Marlon was trying to get him to party. Truman was not 30 in high school.--Loodog (talk) 02:00, 12 July 2008 (UTC)

Obviously not - but I don't see how that high school scene is related to the begin to realize sentence. Like I said, he always saw peculiar things, but it was only during the movie (when he was about 30) that he started to figure out something was amiss. So I don't think it should say 13th - that's not when he began to realize the unreal world. Maybe then the sentence needs to be changed - or the 13 needs to be changed to 30. ~ GoldenGoose100 (talk) 05:24, 12 July 2008 (UTC)

Religious Analogy section

Right now it seems like a bunch of random unrelated sentences, some of which have nothing to do with religion. 75.170.52.201 (talk) 04:46, 17 August 2008 (UTC)

Sounds to me like extremely careful satire.--PlatoCantRepent (talk) 00:24, 9 January 2010 (UTC)

Newsweek

I just read a Newsweek article about how an increasing number of schizophrenics have been found to believe that they are part of a Truman-like reality show and everyone is in on it but them. They're calling it "Truman Show syndrome" or something like that. Thought it might be a good add. Wrad (talk) 23:42, 19 August 2008 (UTC)

Found and incorporated. Alientraveller (talk) 09:36, 20 August 2008 (UTC)

Real names

The list of characters names Natascha McElhone's persona as "Sylvia / Lauren Garland". But later the article states that "Truman and Sylvia are the only characters who use their real names on the show, which is to say their real names are also stage names." So which is it? Also, what is the relevance of making the latter observation under "Religous analogy"? —Preceding unsigned comment added by BroMonque (talk • contribs) 12:37, 26 November 2008 (UTC)

Fantasy?

Why would this be considered fantasy? I'm changing the opening sentence to science fiction, unless anyone has a compelling reason not to. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.197.166.162 (talk) 02:59, 9 January 2009 (UTC)

I have changed it BACK to science fiction several times, and will continue to do so unless anyone can give better justification than "It doesn't have spaceships." It has a completely controlled reality broadcast 24/7 from a dome that can be seen from space. As This very website states: "Science fiction (abbreviated SF or sci-fi with varying punctuation and capitalization) is a broad genre of fiction that often involves speculations based on current or future science or technology. " This film IS science fiction. The only reason to claim otherwise is some manner of insecurity. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.197.166.162 (talk) 18:19, 13 April 2009 (UTC)

I would argue this movie is not science fiction because we have none of the elements traditionally associated with science fiction. If Christoff turned out to an alien, for example, this would be science fiction. Or if The Truman Show turned out to be a simulation of the late 20th century designed by humans living in the 30th century. Or if the stage of Truman's reality turned out to be in orbit around Jupiter. These all push the imagination to a world expanded beyond present. The Truman show is completely possible on today's technology and those of the past (they mention the technology to film the show evolving alongside the show itself) and involves no speculation other than "someone actually realized the idea".--Loodog (talk) 22:40, 13 April 2009 (UTC)

Great point. The genre can almost be ambiguous, but it's still definitely a comedy drama. Wildroot (talk) 00:23, 14 April 2009 (UTC)

Well, those may be the elements traditionally associated with science fiction, but they're not needed. Think of 1984, or Fahrenheit 451. And is it really possible under today's technology? Can we control the weather over an area of that size? There is no way that stage could be built today. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.197.166.162 (talk) 13:01, 17 April 2009 (UTC)

Even if something is possible under today's technology doesn't mean that it's not SF. For example, the story Space (novel) telling of a fictional Apollo 18 mission to the far side of the moon that was clearly possible under the technology of the Apollo program. Just one example out of many which could be found. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Gorillatheape (talk • contribs) 01:18, 3 June 2009 (UTC)

In external links of this film not written,that this film is science fiction film. Bendybit (talk 10:24, 3 July 2016 (UTC)

As usual, you did not actually bother to read the external links. The first of them is the Internet Movie Database, which lists the genres of the film as: "Comedy", "Drama", and "Sci-Fi". Dimadick (talk) 17:58, 4 July 2016 (UTC)

"Marketing similar to Forrest Gump"

This comes up twice in the article, references to the movie being marketed in a similar fashion to another famous movie. However, nowhere here or in the Forrest Gump article is there any actual references to a marketing campaign, which means there's no way of establishing exactly what this marketing method actually was. Does anybody know? Is there any reference to this that can be used here or on the FG page? Otherwise it's cross-referencing that goes nowhere. Damage (talk) 22:40, 3 February 2009 (UTC)

It's mentioned in the cited newspaper publication. Bear in mind the Forrest Gump article is at B-class status, while The Truman Show is a certified Good Article, therefore I would likely trust this article better. It's also noteworthy that both film trailers for Gump and Truman showcase the same song from Randy Edelman's score for Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story. Both films were also done by Paramount Pictures, thus the marketing strategies would probably be the same. That's my 2 cent rant. Wildroot (talk) 02:33, 18 February 2009 (UTC)

Chosen out of five/six unwanted babies

These two statements contradict each other: Plot: "Truman was chosen out of six unwanted babies to be a TV star..." Cast: "Truman Burbank: Chosen out of five unwanted pregnancies..." --User101010 (talk) 23:23, 20 April 2009 (UTC)

I remember it as 'ahead of five other unwanted babies', which would mean there were six.--MartinUK (talk) 23:33, 20 April 2009 (UTC)

Drama-Comedy?

In which way was this movie anything even resembling a comedy? I saw it as drama all the way. If there was supposed be comedy in it, it was lost on me. Xavius, the Satyr Lord (talk) 12:03, 28 May 2009 (UTC)

Should I remove it? I too didn't see any humor in this movie. In my eyes, it was drama to the max, which led me not wanting to watch it.--Shadow6Wolf66 (talk) 10:47, 6 July 2009 (UTC)

It definitely has more dramatic elements compared to Jim Carrey's other work. Director Peter Weir defined the film as a comedy-drama in the DVD special features because he believed the previous script, which was written more like a psychological thriller, was too dark. It's definitely a comedy-drama. Wildroot (talk) 22:36, 6 July 2009 (UTC)

Any examples? I just don't see how this film could be funny, unless it is known for its dark humor.--Shadow6Wolf66 (talk) 13:35, 7 July 2009 (UTC)

The way the general public responds to The Truman Show can be considered at least somewhat satirical and funny, especially with the advent of reality television. I could go on and on. Basically, the first 2/3 of the movie are in the form of a comedy-drama, while the last third is tense (Truman escaping, primarily the scene with the sailboat). I'm too tired to continue on, but yes, there's a lot of morbid humor in the movie. Wildroot (talk) 22:45, 7 July 2009 (UTC)

Ah yes, I think I get i now..Thanks for clarifying.--Shadow6Wolf66 (talk) 11:08, 14 July 2009 (UTC)

• I personally do not see any way this is a comedy-drama or even a drama-comedy. Perhaps at a pinch it could be a drama/black comedy. 00:07, 27 December 2009 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.134.13.103 (talk)

It was far more drama than comedy.--Craigboy (talk) 08:25, 7 May 2010 (UTC)

Based off a Twilight Zone episode?

This movie seems to be highly based (if not the story stolen completely) from a Twilight Zone episode in 1989 named Special Service.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Service_(The_Twilight_Zone)

Reading all of the critical reception that the Truman Show was ahead of its time makes me :/ —Preceding unsigned comment added by 204.34.199.252 (talk) 14:12, 29 July 2009 (UTC)

I think this is a valid addition - why don't you add it? Not phrased quite as harshly as "stolen completely" perhaps, but nevertheless... I note that the Special service link also mentions the Truman Show, so reciprocation would make sense. -- a_man_alone (talk) 17:30, 30 July 2009 (UTC)

I have added a short notation of this in the Fictional Antecedants section. WesUGAdawg (talk) 22:59, 9 September 2009 (UTC)

I always thought it was based on "Time out of Joint" by Philip K. Dick. The plot similarities are patent and the bit with the radio a direct ripoff in almost every respect. It makes me :/ too. I'll be checking out the Twilight Zone episode mentioned above! 81.101.243.67 (talk) 20:39, 15 July 2010 (UTC)

There was another SF story, about 1956, about a man whose life was like a stage set - he accidently saw telephone poles being set in place as he walked down a street. anyone have that story name? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 130.76.64.18 (talk) 23:56, 28 March 2011 (UTC)

The basic concept of the film (that the "real world" is, in effect, staged to fool one person) is a common enough form of paranoia and grandiose delusions. It is likely the ultimate source of this movie and all of the fictional references listed so far. Without a reliable source saying that this movie was "based on" anything, though, we have nothing to say. - SummerPhD (talk) 00:51, 29 March 2011 (UTC)

Fictional antecdents

I've restored the section "Fictional antecedents" that was deleted by Kollision. I note that it is extremely common for Wikipedia pages on movies and TV shows to include such sections, often without sourcing. Some examples: Bewitched; Alien; Jacob's Ladder etc. etc. This is not "original research"; anyone who has read the Knight story would immediately see the parallels. (Have you read it?) If you delete this section again, please add text on this page justifying why you are singling out The Truman Show for special treatment. Thanks, LyleHoward (talk) 01:10, 7 September 2009 (UTC)

Plot Similarities

The film Pleasantville and The Truman Show to me have a lot of plot similarities —Preceding unsigned comment added by 219.89.30.7 (talk) 04:32, 14 November 2009 (UTC)

It's like a cross between Pleasantville, Westworld and Stepford Wives. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.134.13.103 (talk) 00:05, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

The Perennial Philosophy

The Truman Show strikes me as an allegory of the Perennial Philosophy, and similar to the currently popular neo-Advaita teaching of people like Eckhardt Tolle,or unAsleep.

In the basic mystical tradition, the world is seen to be fictitious, a 3D movie. True reality is outside that movie, and it is fear of the unknown that keeps us in. Various metaphors exist for that true reality - Now, Oneness, All That Is. But they refer to the same thing, which is said to be ungraspable by the mind. It can only be discovered, in the way Truman sailed to discover the doorway out.

--Jim (talk) 07:37, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

Please DO NOT Remove The Section The Truman Show!

The Section The Truman Show Is Very Useful To This Article. --S1312 (talk) 13:36, 21 July 2010 (UTC)

The content in the section you have been adding [1] is trivial. While the content, I assume, is drawn from the movie and is likely correct, the content added (number of episodes, etc.) is not a meaningful addition to an understanding of the movie. As a general test for this type of material, check to see if any independent reliable sources have discussed the information. For example, consider the fictional character Lois Lane. While she is not the subject of the stories she is in (comic books, movies, etc.), she is discussed independent of those stories by reliable sources. The fictional "The Truman Show", however, is not (to my knowledge) discussed anywhere when not specifically discussing this movie. Yes, some information about the show is scattered throughout the article (as needed to understand various aspects of the film). A seperate section, however, is not needed. - SummerPhD (talk) 14:12, 21 July 2010 (UTC)

(edit conflict) It might seem useful, but all it really is is duplication of info that's already present in the main article. Just stating that it's "useful to this article" is not a reason to keep - why is it useful to the article? Convince us. a_man_alone (talk) 14:15, 21 July 2010 (UTC)

Harry Shearer banned from premiere show.

There is an interview with Harry Shearer in which he states that Scott Rudin the Executive Producer of The Truman Show banned him from the film's premiere in Hollywood because of a magazine article that Shearer wrote for in which he stated that he never worked with Jim Carrey during the production of the Truman Show only Ed Harris and Laura Linney and apparently the magazine blew this fact out of proportion in the headline which apparently upset Rudin to the point that he threaten Shearer that if he showed up at the premiere he would shut it completely down. What I'd like to know is this too trivial to be included as part of the article? I'd thought I asked first before actually making any edits. TheGoofyGolfer (talk) 00:04, 2 May 2012 (UTC)

Plot changes

A determined IP-hopping editor has repeatedly reverted to a rewrite of the plot, but has never offered an explanation for these changes. The matter should be discussed here, and a consensus reached, before any further changes are made to the plot. ---The Old Jacobite_{The '45} 03:22, 5 May 2013 (UTC)

wow

this movie confused me i caught the gist of it around the end when he walks through the door and then the movie ends i was like wtf wanted to see what happened next.--RileyFreemanCripMember (talk) 05:38, 18 July 2013 (UTC)

Truman Show is similar to...

An episode from the show called "Eerie Indiana", the episode name is called "Reality Takes a Holiday" (Episode #18). The description of this episode is as follows: In this self-referential episode, Marshall finds a television script in the mail and suddenly finds himself behind the scenes of Eerie, Indiana where his friends and family are the actors and actresses on the show and everyone refers to him as Omri Katz. Link: Eerie Indiana Episodes List --U8iuui11 (talk) 19:20, 18 August 2015 (UTC)

a comment

"Every time she sleeps with Truman she gets an extra $10.000." there are more significant purposes for that amount of money to had gone instead of just sleeping damn it!

"....developing a more mature...." unfortunately nowadays the putrescence is considered "maturity"!

"....leaving his child-self behind...." if everyone could remain a child the planet would have been as a paradise

"....and becoming a True-man." didn't seem to become so "true"