The Truman Show

[LeahLo519]

Okay, sorry if you haven't seen this movie, but if you have: Don't you think that if you were going to do that to someone (put them in a big dome from the day they are born, fill them full of bullshit and make their entire life a gigantic parody) don't you think you would be original about it? Like instead of having him be an Average Joe with a completely normal (as normal as someone's entire existence can be) life, wouldn't you spice it up a little? Just wondering if I'm the only person that wouldn't half ass a perfectly decent opporunity to pull a brilliant mind fuck. (Not that I would ever do that to someone, it's horrible and I wouldn't...but still.)

 

[Telafio]

Okay, sorry if you haven't seen this movie, but if you have: Don't you think that if you were going to do that to someone (put them in a big dome from the day they are born, fill them full of bullshit and make their entire life a gigantic parody) don't you think you would be original about it? Like instead of having him be an Average Joe with a completely normal (as normal as someone's entire existence can be) life, wouldn't you spice it up a little? Just wondering if I'm the only person that wouldn't half ass a perfectly decent opporunity to pull a brilliant mind fuck. (Not that I would ever do that to someone, it's horrible and I wouldn't...but still.)

By the response it would seem that most people saw him as a higher average Joe than themselves.

 

[Guest]

I would give him/her a sibling that had Tourette's or a sister or mother who was a nympho.

 

[LeahLo519]

By the response it would seem that most people saw him as a higher average Joe than themselves.

LoL Well I tried to get an original thought out of everyone tonight. *shrug*

 

[Gringao]

LoL Well I tried to get an original thought out of everyone tonight. *shrug*

Given the membership here on the GB, that is just horrifying. My blood ran cold reading it.

 

[hydrex]

You're right. Trumans life was probably very boring. I think they wanted people to see an idyllic life because that's what most people wish for even though their idea of idyllic is different.

 

[LeahLo519]

Given the membership here on the GB, that is just horrifying. My blood ran cold reading it.

Ya know, I think a lot of them have potential. Tough crowd though.

 

[Telafio]

LoL Well I tried to get an original thought out of everyone tonight. *shrug*

You cant be serious.
I thought mad cow disease had not reached the US.

 

[LeahLo519]

You're right. Trumans life was probably very boring. I think they wanted people to see an idyllic life because that's what most people wish for even though their idea of idyllic is different.

Good point...but I thought the idea of shows and movies was to introduce a little variety and drama into the lives of the boring fuckers at home. I don't wanna see mediocrity.

 

[LeahLo519]

I would give him/her a sibling that had Tourette's or a sister or mother who was a nympho.

Haha, I was actually thinking something about aliens...or maybe a completely different idea about society in general...get rid of some norms and make some shit up.

 

[Wrong Element]

I really liked the movie, but I have to admit that the weakest part of it was having to swallow the idea that Truman's life was a national obsession. The movie came out before the current reality TV craze, but we can now see that even popular reality shows have a limited ability to turn their "stars" into true household names.

 

[kiba]

i think the idea was that he was so normal that it made him strange in a weird way sort of too far from the edge made it creepy to me.

 

[LeahLo519]

I really liked the movie, but I have to admit that the weakest part of it was having to swallow the idea that Truman's life was a national obsession. The movie came out before the current reality TV craze, but we can now see that even popular reality shows have a limited ability to turn their "stars" into true household names.

Agreed...the entire scheme is far fetched, but you're right when you say especially the obcession everyone in the world seems to have. But then you have to ask yourself how you would react if there were actually a show like that. Half of the viewers of The Truman Show in the movie seem sympathetic and a little disgusted with what is being done to him...but they still watch.

 

[KRCummings]

Good point...but I thought the idea of shows and movies was to introduce a little variety and drama into the lives of the boring fuckers at home. I don't wanna see mediocrity.

I think it's just the idea of watching someones life 24/7. Everything they do and say. It wouldn't matter whether they were average or not. I do believe it would be a monstrous hit and that slogan they had throughout the movie, "how will it end?" is another reason people would continue to watch.
I absolutely love that movie and I'm not a huge Jim Carrey fan. I like some of his stuff and hate others but The Truman show is fine filmmaking. The fact that a great director like Peter Weir did it doesn't hurt either.

 

[KRCummings]

I almost forgot. I would have ended it immediately after he walked through the door. I don't like those couple minutes afterwards.

 

[kiba]

that is the truth in the movie whether we admit it or not we love to watch others to use them to judge ourselves by.

 

[LeahLo519]

I think it's just the idea of watching someones life 24/7. Everything they do and say. It wouldn't matter whether they were average or not. I do believe it would be a monstrous hit and that slogan they had throughout the movie, "how will it end?" is another reason people would continue to watch.
I absolutely love that movie and I'm not a huge Jim Carrey fan. I like some of his stuff and hate others but The Truman show is fine filmmaking. The fact that a great director like Peter Weir did it doesn't hurt either.

You're right. It's something that has never been done before and it would be a big milestone in reality TV...which people love. I would watch it regularly just out of curiosity.

 

[RoryN]

You're right. It's something that has never been done before and it would be a big milestone in reality TV...which people love. I would watch it regularly just out of curiosity.

*cough*

PM box. Full.

 

[LeahLo519]

*cough*

PM box. Full.

Well how bout that...oops.

 

[Wrong Element]

Agreed...the entire scheme is far fetched, but you're right when you say especially the obcession everyone in the world seems to have. But then you have to ask yourself how you would react if there were actually a show like that. Half of the viewers of The Truman Show in the movie seem sympathetic and a little disgusted with what is being done to him...but they still watch.

How would I react? I don't even watch people fucking on webcam--well, hardly ever--so I doubt I'd be engrossed by Jim Carrey mowing the lawn.

The idea of The Truman Show is played out to some extent on Big Brother, and that is quite popular in many countries (not so much here). But there are 2 big differences: Big Brother is on for a finite time, and there's a contest element attached to it. Take away the game show part of Big Brother and I doubt anyone would care about it.

 

[KRCummings]

How would I react? I don't even watch people fucking on webcam--well, hardly ever--so I doubt I'd be engrossed by Jim Carrey mowing the lawn.

The idea of The Truman Show is played out to some extent on Big Brother, and that is quite popular in many countries (not so much here). But there are 2 big differences: Big Brother is on for a finite time, and there's a contest element attached to it. Take away the game show part of Big Brother and I doubt anyone would care about it.

But what sets Truman apart is that he doesn't know he's on camera. People act differently when they know someone is watching. A Truman would be infinitely more watchable simply because his actions would be normal.

 

[LeahLo519]

But what sets Truman apart is that he doesn't know he's on camera. People act differently when they know someone is watching. A Truman would be infinitely more watchable simply because his actions would be normal.

Exactly...with reality TV as it is, there is ALWAYS that chance that it's rehearsed, no matter how much they try to play it off as real. With Truman it's all up in the air.

 

[hydrex]

Good point...but I thought the idea of shows and movies was to introduce a little variety and drama into the lives of the boring fuckers at home. I don't wanna see mediocrity.

But you see it isn't a movie about Truman, it's a movie about a movie about Truman. It is fairly interesting.

In reality I'm sure Trumans life wouldn't be so boring.

 

[LeahLo519]

But you see it isn't a movie about Truman, it's a movie about a movie about Truman. It is fairly interesting.

In reality I'm sure Trumans life wouldn't be so boring.

Well in either case it's on right now and I'm enjoying it...he's about to run the boat into the side of the dome...that's my favorite part...

 

[Ricwilly]

Yup. The ole boys life would be one big practical joke. He'd be a nervous wreck, poor bastard.