Double Feature

May 2005 - Before we get to the actual movie reviews, you should know my qualifications as a movie reviewer. Firstly, I have seen movies. In fact, I have seen many movies. I can't put an actual number to the number of movies I've seen but, take it from me, I've seen more movies than some people but fewer movies than others.

Secondly, I have opinions about the movies I see. Without getting too technical, those opinions generally break down as follows: Loved it; Liked it; Ehhh, it was OK; and Hated it. There's also the So Bad Its Good movie, but those don't seem to happen very often.

Now for the reviews. Let's start with Anchorman, a 2004 comedy written by and starring Will Ferrell. Christina Applegate, who made her name on the FOX show Married with Children, also stars. Tim Robbins, Luke Wilson and Ben Stiller have cameos.

Ferrell plays Ron Burgundy, a TV news anchor in 1970's San Diego. He and his good ol' boy news team are on top of the ratings world. Then Veronica Corningstone (Applegate) shows up. The station has hired her as a reporter to add "diversity."

After that, it's hard to describe what this movie focuses on, mostly because there isn’t much of a focus. We see competition with other news stations played out as gang fights in the street. The main characters are little more than stereotypical caricatures (although the casting of Robbins as a PBS guy is inspired).

Overall review: Hated it. The film does have its moments but not enough to save it from being ridiculous, nonsensical and unfunny.

Anchorman is rated PG-13. It's currently out on DVD.

For a better movie about television, try 1998's The Truman Show. Jim Carrey plays Truman, an insurance salesman living in the idyllic world of Sea Haven Island. Laura Linney plays his wife. Thing is, Sea Haven Island is a giant biosphere of a TV studio run by a producer named Christof (Ed Harris). Starting with his birth 30 years ago, Truman's every move has been watched by millions of people around the world.

Everyone in Truman's life is an actor, even his parents, his wife and his best friend. Everyone is in on the secret except Truman. He has no idea that his life is being controlled until strange things start happening. A studio light falls from the sky; he hears control room chatter on the car radio; he starts noticing that the same car passes the same point at the same time every day.

So, Truman decides to see what lies beyond Sea Haven. The producers try to thwart his attempts to find the truth but, ultimately, Truman proves that a person's desire to control his own life is very strong.

Overall review: Liked it. The film raises very interesting questions about human nature and about our own lives. The thing I wonder, though, is would Truman be better off in the real world? He's the ultimate reality TV star, so he'll still be watched by millions. The only difference is, this time, he'll know he's being watched. Is that better, or is ignorance really bliss?

The Truman Show is rated PG. I saw it on TNT, but you should be able to find it on DVD.