#6: Christof

“You are mine, forever and always….”

This is one of those selections where I have to use the word “villain” loosely.  Clearly Christof is the antagonist of the underrated “The Truman Show” — he’s the guy who created the sensational reality show “scrutinizing” the entire life of an unsuspecting Jim Carrey, moving heavens (quite literally) to prevent him from discovering the truth.  But there’s enough humanity within Christof to make you think twice about his cruelty.

He doesn’t show up until the last half of the film, but what a punch he packs in the short screen time he receives.

Observe the way he places his hand tenderly on the TV image of Truman Burbank, Carrey’s character, as his “child” sleeps.  The camera lingers on the shot for a long moment.  We feel the pride he has in what he perceives is his creation, and regardless of the questionable ethics of the entire venture, he has a genuine emotional connection to Truman that is honest and actually pretty moving.

We also shudder when, in his passion, Christof makes the soul-crushing decision to allow his child to die than to lose him to the outside world — again, very real, raw emotions.

Finally, there’s the understated performance by Ed Harris that keeps the character grounded in reality despite a wholly ridiculous premise and comic tone.

Christof owns one of the final shots of the film (the camera returns to him even after we’ve seen the last of Truman Burbank), because his emotions in those final moments are as powerful as the ones we feel for Truman.  I don’t know I single person who’s viewed the film who didn’t wish it lasted just a little longer….

….Just one more scene….

One more!