When The Truman Show was released in 1998, it depicted a world in which the line distinguishing real and fake is blurred. The film follows Truman Burbank (Jim Carrey), a seemingly ordinary man living an ordinary suburban life. However, unbeknownst to him, Truman’s life is the world’s biggest source of entertainment. The kitsch neighborhood that he strolls through day-to-day is a set. The sunny, picturesque sky that he longingly gazes at is a product of practical effects. As Truman experiences the many ups and downs of life, the world is right along with him, turning the intimacies of his life into something much more exposed.
The film has quite the intriguing premise, and it explores the provocative truth of reality. Whether it be reality TV back then or livestreaming on social media today, The Truman Show analyzes our natural desire as humans for voyeurism–our curiosity to see the innermost details of other people’s lives. The film also explores isolation through the struggles of Truman, as he tries to find authentic human experience in a superficial world. The Truman show is an amazing film. It will have you loudly applauding as its hero takes his final bow and the curtains close upon you.
This film, directed by Spike Jonze, takes us on a melancholic journey through a vibrant, near-future Los Angeles where technology is vastly advanced. Jonze’s imaginative world is shown to us through the eyes of Theodore (Joaquin Phoenix), a lonesome man struggling to deal with heartbreak as he goes through a painful divorce. The film follows Theodore as he copes with his emotional problems by developing a relationship with an AI companion named Samantha (Scarlet Johansson).
Her captures Theodore and Samantha’s heartwarming story, while also delving into something much deeper. It discusses themes such as the commodification of intimacy, and the alienating effects of technology on society. With the ever-growing phenomenon of AI companionship, these messages seem to resonate even more soundly today. Despite being released 12 years ago, Her manages to paint a vivid picture of a dystopian society not too far from our own–a society where technology separates us from one another, and a society where intimate moments are mass produced, rather than cultivated through real human interaction.
When Barbie was released, it gained critical acclaim for both its humorous, fun-loving plot and its powerful feminist message. The film follows Stereotypical Barbie (Margot Robbie), a perfect woman living a perfect life in Barbie land, as her ideal world suddenly begins to malfunction, a result of her owner’s overpiling negative emotions in the real world. In order to solve her newfound problem, Barbie embarks on an adventure to the real world. There, she soon discovers that women are treated as second-class citizens.
Because of its commercial success, Barbie accomplished something that no other movie had done up to that point. It gave women a powerful voice in Hollywood. Compared to the male-dominated movies of before, Barbie includes authentic women characters who aren’t just figments of a male’s imagination. More importantly however, Barbie reveals the paradoxical nature of expectations placed on women in society, as well as showing the psychological effects that these expectations have on women. While the fight for women’s rights has improved dramatically over time, Barbie reminds us that it is a constant battle. One that is sure to continue. Despite its recent release, Barbie is an instant classic, and the message it shares is one that will forever stand the test of time.
