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The Rewatchables ·

The Truman Show

year 1998decade 90sdirector Peter Weirgenre Comedygenre Drama
host Bill Simmonsguest Glen Powellhost Chris Ryanproducer Craig Horlbeck
All 22 categories

Most Rewatchable Scene · 38:03

Opening interview

Bill Simmons: Christof’s opening interview and its claim that the constructed show is real are nominated.

Bill Simmons: Truman’s high-school memory of Lauren is nominated for her affectionate look and lasting presence.

The Coach Finstock Award for Best Life Lesson · 1:34:30

Paranoia can be justified

Bill Simmons: The audience changing channels immediately after 35 years is framed as a lesson about attention.

The film

The Truman Show (1998)

Directed by Peter Weir · Comedy

103 minutes

IMDb Find on JustWatch Find on Rotten Tomatoes
Cast

Selected cast credits · Film reference

Jim Carrey Truman Burbank
Blair Slater young Truman
Ed Harris Christof
Laura Linney Hannah Gill
Noah Emmerich Louis Coltrane
Natascha McElhone Lauren/Sylvia; Sylvia met Truman while playing Lauren, Truman's college schoolmate
Holland Taylor Truman's mother, as portrayed by an in-universe actress
Brian Delate Truman's father, as portrayed by an in-universe actor
Paul Giamatti Simeon
Una Damon Chloe, Christof's control room assistant
Philip Baker Hall network executive
John Pleshette network executive
Peter Krause Truman's boss, as portrayed by an in-universe actor
Heidi Schanz Vivien
Harry Shearer Mike Michaelson

Everything from the episode

In the order the hosts got to it. Open a row for the discussion.

38:03

Most Rewatchable Scene

Opening interview; Lauren flashback; Truman discovers the set; escape attempts; reunion; sailboat; final exit.

Opening interview; Lauren flashback; Truman discovers the set; escape attempts; reunion; sailboat; final exit.

In the discussion (12)
Approx. transcript time · 00:38:03Read transcript
  • Christof’s opening interview and its claim that the constructed show is real are nominated. — Bill Simmons
  • Truman’s high-school memory of Lauren is nominated for her affectionate look and lasting presence. — Bill Simmons
  • The car radio frequency, hospital, Fiji ticket, makeup bib, and broken bus are nominated. — Bill Simmons
  • Truman finally driving across the water during the escape attempt is nominated. — Bill Simmons
  • Meryl’s product pitch and Truman confronting her are nominated. — Bill Simmons
  • Marlon’s heart-to-heart is praised, alongside the reveal that Christof supplies his lines. — Bill Simmons
  • Truman crying when he sees his father is read either as reunion emotion or realizing his whole life is false. — Bill Simmons
  • The basement escape and sailboat confrontation are nominated. — Bill Simmons
  • The score during the sailboat confrontation is singled out for praise. — Bill Simmons
  • The boat reaching the wall and Truman’s final goodbye are nominated as an iconic ending. — Bill Simmons
  • Truman progressively recognizing the set is selected as the most rewatchable sequence. — Glen Powell
  • The discovery sequence uses triumphant music rather than paranoid tension, encouraging the audience to root for Truman. — Glen Powell
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42:40

The most 1998 thing

Travel agents; reality television as a novel idea; young Paul Giamatti.

Travel agents; reality television as a novel idea; young Paul Giamatti.

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 00:42:40Read transcript
  • A travel agent is the first period marker.
  • Reality television still seeming like a far-fetched novelty is proposed. — Chris Ryan
  • Paul Giamatti’s 1990s “that guy” phase is proposed. — Bill Simmons
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44:02

What’s Aged the Best?

Adult actors in school flashbacks; product placement satire; poster; ending; screenplay rhythm; media prophecy.

Adult actors in school flashbacks; product placement satire; poster; ending; screenplay rhythm; media prophecy.

In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 00:44:02Read transcript
  • The adult cast convincingly playing their younger selves is praised. — Bill Simmons
  • The product-placement economy and branded recap culture are praised as predictive, while the placements are also called too obvious.
  • The absence of cats in Seahaven is jokingly selected, with a control-room cat noted as a correction.
  • Rob Silverman’s mosaic poster is praised. — Bill Simmons
  • The ending creates a laugh-cry response: sadness that the show ends and happiness for Truman. — Glen Powell
  • The screenplay is praised for a major discovery at roughly ten-minute intervals. — Chris Ryan
  • The altered T. Rex song is praised as world-building for Truman’s controlled culture. — Chris Ryan
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57:05

The Butch’s Girlfriend Award for the Weakest Link in the Film

The father storyline; Marlon’s thin characterization; limited outside-world development.

The father storyline; Marlon’s thin characterization; limited outside-world development.

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 00:57:05Read transcript
  • The father plot is criticized as underdeveloped and potentially better with a wider casting search. — Glen Powell
  • Another participant says the film has no clear weak link but agrees the father material is least convincing. — Glen Powell
  • The friend is called one-dimensional, though deleted scenes may have shown him trying to help Truman. — Glen Powell
  • The limited depiction of the commercial and social world outside Seahaven is raised as a missed opportunity.
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1:01:48

What’s Aged the Worst?

Matt Gaetz’s childhood home as Truman’s house; surveillance ethics left largely unexamined.

Matt Gaetz’s childhood home as Truman’s house; surveillance ethics left largely unexamined.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:01:48Read transcript
  • The Florida residence used for Truman’s house is reported as Matt Gates’s childhood home. — Bill Simmons
  • The premise’s coercive surveillance and the audience’s complicity are criticized.
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1:19:58

Apex Mountain

Jim Carrey; reality-TV warning movies.

Jim Carrey; reality-TV warning movies.

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:19:58Read transcript
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1:22:06

Cruise or Hanks?

Tom Hanks.

Tom Hanks.

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:22:06Read transcript
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1:27:34

Sequel, Prequel, Limited Series, or All-Black Remake

Mostly untouchable; alternatively prestige television or a sequel about Truman rescuing his child.

Mostly untouchable; alternatively prestige television or a sequel about Truman rescuing his child.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:27:34Read transcript
  • A prequel is rejected and prestige television is considered possible.
  • A sequel in which Truman must re-enter the dome to rescue a child born there is proposed and endorsed.
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1:28:21

Is This Movie Better With…?

Jon Bernthal as the policeman; a sports-talk ecosystem around Truman.

Jon Bernthal as the policeman; a sports-talk ecosystem around Truman.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:28:21Read transcript
  • Jon Bernthal is proposed in the police role, prompting an imagined Wayne Jenkins speech.
  • The panel proposes sports-style debate shows analyzing Truman’s life to deepen the outside world.
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1:31:21

Just One Oscar

Peter Weir; alternatively Andrew Niccol.

Peter Weir; alternatively Andrew Niccol.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:31:21Read transcript
  • Weir is selected because the movie is well crafted, filmed ahead of its time, and feels years newer than 1998. — Chris Ryan
  • Andrew Nicol is proposed for the original screenplay and the many rewrites that transformed it. — Chris Ryan
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1:34:01

What Piece of Memorabilia Would You Want From This Movie?

Christof’s beret; Meryl’s kitchen tool; Truman’s ring; the original poster prototype.

Christof’s beret; Meryl’s kitchen tool; Truman’s ring; the original poster prototype.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:34:01Read transcript
  • Christof’s beret, the kitchen utensil, Truman’s ring, and the original poster are offered. — Bill Simmons
  • The artist’s original poster prototype is selected as another option. — Bill Simmons
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1:34:30

The Coach Finstock Award for Best Life Lesson

Paranoia can be justified; audiences move on quickly.

Paranoia can be justified; audiences move on quickly.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:34:30Read transcript
  • The audience changing channels immediately after 35 years is framed as a lesson about attention. — Bill Simmons
  • The maxim that paranoia does not mean nobody is pursuing you is offered. — Bill Simmons
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1:35:15

Who Won the Movie?

Jim Carrey; Peter Weir has a strong alternate case.

Jim Carrey; Peter Weir has a strong alternate case.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:35:15Read transcript
  • Jim Carrey is the repeated final choice.
  • Peter Weir is considered the strongest alternative for needing and delivering this film.
Podcast choices
Speaker not identified
Jim Carrey
Speaker not identified
Jim Carrey
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