"Illusion is the first of all pleasures"

- Oscar Wilde

Just so we’re clear, this is not the movie of my life. This is just a pretty cool movie that got me thinking. So, without further waiting, this week, at Sophie’s show, I introduce you to – give me a drum roll please – Truman’s Show! Starring Hollywood’s clown, Jim Carrey (sorry Jack Black, but there’s no shame in being number 2), this is a hilarious although conscious movie. And with this I mean that this is the kind of movie you’ll think about in the shower, when you’re trying to fall asleep and, of course, during those classes (let’s face it, you can try to look focused all you want, but there’s no way I’ll believe that you’re listening to a word of what’s being said).

            Truman’s Show was made to mess with your mind. This is a movie about illusion and ignorance. If you’re a paranoid fellow who believes that they are out to get you (YOU KNOW WHO THEY ARE), perhaps you should watch something lighter, maybe a musical like Mamma Mia! or a predictable romantic comedy with a worn out plot and Jennifer Aniston.

Truman Burbank lives in an island called Seahaven. He’s living the American dream, he has a nice job, a nice house, a nice wife and he lives in a nice town. But as you watch the movie, you realize that it is all too perfect. Yes, we’d all like to live in a perfect world where everybody chews with their mouth closed and you can always find the end of the duck tape. But that does not happen. And as we continue to watch the movie, we realize that Truman is living a lie. Without knowing it, he is the star of the oldest, most popular, most sick show in the world! As a baby, he was adopted by a TV network (for Christ’s sake, is that even legal?) and from then on he lived in a fake world and town, with fake friends and a fake family. If you thought that Pamela Anderson’s breasts were fake just take a look at Truman’s life.

            Eventually he finds out something’s wrong and after going through hell and high water he finally gets a one way ticket out of that freak show. But then again… he spent 30 freaking years not knowing! That kind of makes you wonder, doesn’t it? I must confess that I spent the week after watching the movie completely paranoid, looking at people as if they were all actors and I was the only one that didn’t know the truth about the world. I probably made a fool out of myself the whole week a couple times, but oh well, that wouldn’t be a first.

            Aside the fact that this movie is sort of mind shattering, it also is a social critique. Throughout the movie we can see Truman’s audience all around the world, and – damn! – they look like idiots. I confess that I am kind of an outcast when it comes to most reality shows, I don’t watch them and I have a very legitimate theory about them: They make you stupid (Did you hear that, Secret Story? Yes, I’m talking about you). I believe that as you watch these shows, you start to create new brain cells that feed of intelligent thoughts and ideas. The more of these cells you have, the more stupid you get. This is a valid theory. Trust me, I have a blog.

            So, just to conclude this week’s assignment, I have to tell you: WATCH Truman’s Show. Just do it. Make a good use of your mad piracy skills and download it of the internet, since I know for a fact you won’t rent it, you smooth criminals. And maybe when you are done watching it you can let go of some of your illusions as well, like thinking you can cook or believing that “one more drink won’t hurt” when you already threw up in your friend’s shoes. For next week, using my extremely sharp, genius and humble mind, I’ll redefine the world as we know it, so stay in touch.

The Joker,

Sophie Grey