Two amazing sci-fi films of personal discovery.
The Truman Show (1998; free on Pluto)
An insurance salesman who has lived all his life in a sunny, seaside village starts to wonder if something is amiss when a mechanical light falls from the sky. This incredibly unique and memorable film is timeless. There aren’t many mystery movies that are worth rewatching: once you know the answer, the mystery is over. This one is different, because it’s not about the mystery. It’s about the man. And it’s about us.
Jim Carrey’s acting in a dramatic role is top-notch. He excels in the levity, of course, but he also gets to show his full range of acting across the full range of human emotion. The special effects are flawless. The costuming and set design are remarkable. The music is memorable and triumphant. It’s a true classic.
I was surprised but not shocked when I learned that the writer went on to write Spielberg’s The Terminal. Both movies have a (non-violent) anarchist heart for the homeless and imprisoned. And last time I watched Truman, I couldn’t shake the feeling that its seaside village was a nod to that unrivalled anarchist pioneer of artistic television drama, The Prisoner (1967-1968), which has long been one of my favorite TV shows. (The entirety of which is currently on Internet Archive!) But none of that is essential to enjoying this film. What’s important is the heart with which this philosophical social parable treats each and every one of its characters, from our hero to the bored policemen drinking coffee to the young romantic bartenders to the elderly ladies sleeping on their couch. We’re all in this together.
Happy birthday, Mom. 💚
For sensitive viewers: Occasional sad or dangerous situations. A baby´s bare bottom. A plot point about a character being in love with someone other than his spouse. About thirteen swear words, most of them worse than mild. See the IMDb Parents Guide for full information.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977; check your interlibrary loan)
A dad starts to question his broken life when he has a wondrous encounter on a mountain—with unidentified flying objects. This is Spielberg’s most family-friendly film, and arguably his best. He weaves a world where there is not just one central character. When aliens come to visit, it’s not just to our backdoor (ET notwithstanding). He takes us to deserts in India and South America and Wyoming. The world itself is awe-inspiring. You need a map.
The main characters are that map, for the heart. A harried single mom; a dad stressed out by his loud children. These characters need a map, too. They need something transcendent to bring wonder and wishing back into their lives. And then, they’re chosen.
This sci-fi film is one-of-a-kind. It doesn’t fit in a box. The filming locations and special effects are all over the place. I think my favorite effect is when all the papers in his car fly up. The movie almost feels like it’s scattered, like these locations and these papers and the main character’s brain, until everything comes together on the final mountain. There is something spiritual about this, like Moses on Mount Sinai, particularly from this Jewish director. It’s not a religious movie. But it’s still beautiful.
For sensitive viewers: The same note about language as for our previous film. A suspenseful situation where a mother tries to keep her small child from being kidnapped. A dad yells at his kids and his kids yell at him. His wife leaves and he kisses someone else. Um, other than that, it’s a beautiful movie!
A note on versions: I am familiar with the Director’s Cut of this film, released in the late 1990s. Like Star Wars, this movie was released multiple times in multiple cuts: (1) the original theatrical edition, (2) the extended TV edition, and (3) the director’s cut.
Nathan’s Writing Update
While we’re on the subject of sci-fi, I just posted a video essay about the films of Brad Bird (The Incredibles, Ratatouille, Tomorrowland). It mentions politics more than most things I write, but one point of the video is to appreciate the good things in conservatism. In the process, I criticize the current obsession with artificial intelligence, because old-fashioned human intelligence is much more creative!
Speaking of which, come back next week for two more films of discovery!
P.S.: When I went to post this blog, I saw the following two options: “Create with AI (Beta)” or “Create from scratch.” I choose the latter. Or as Doctor McCoy says, I choose the danger!
