Truman

Critics Consensus

Well-written, well-acted, and patiently crafted, Truman takes an affecting look at a long friendship separated by distance but undimmed by time.

80%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 2,131

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Truman Videos

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Truman: Trailer 1

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Movie Info

Childhood friends Julián (Ricardo Darín) and Tomás (Javier Cámara) were once inseparable. Eventually, the two have lost sight of their friendship. While the divorced Julián remained in Spain where he has lived through the highs and lows of an acting career, the teacher Tomás emigrated to Canada, where he has built up a peaceful existence together with his job, his wife and his children. After a reunion one day in Madrid, their friendship survived once again, as if it had never fallen asleep. Together the two spend a few wonderful days in the city full of nostalgic memories and unforgettable experiences -knowing that this will probably be their last reunion because Julián has been diagnosed terminally ill with cancer.

Rating:

NR
Genre:

Art House & International, Comedy, Drama
Directed By:

Cesc Gay
Written By:

Tomás Aragay, Cesc Gay
In Theaters:

Apr 7, 2017 limited
Box Office:

$208,799
Studio:

FilmRise

Cast

Ricardo Darín

Javier Cámara

Dolores Fonzi

Eduard Fernández

Alex Brendemühl

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Critic Reviews for Truman

All Critics (70) | Top Critics (16) | Fresh (69) | Rotten (1)

Poignant without overstepping its bounds, Truman is an enjoyable, if sometimes insubstantial member of the popular disease film subgenre.

October 9, 2019 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

Nicholas Bell
IONCINEMA.com
Top Critic
The plot is simple and has one or two missteps towards the end, but the character development is fantastic, as are the two lead performances.

April 6, 2019 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Tom Bond
One Room With A View
Top Critic
Truman is a movie that looks at some of the saddest parts of life but never lets you lose the warmth of the feeling of friendship.

October 31, 2018 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Sean Mulvihill
FanboyNation.com
Top Critic
All I need to say...it has a really funny and satisfying ending.

August 22, 2018 | Full Review…

Charles Mudede
The Stranger (Seattle, WA)
Top Critic
...Truman is stuck between realism and romanticism, and neither side works completely.

January 2, 2018 | Full Review…

Richard von Busack
Pacific Sun (San Rafael, CA)
Top Critic
It can move you by its decision not to punch emotional buttons as forcefully as a Hollywood film with the same plotline would.

December 29, 2017 | Full Review…

Steve Murray
ArtsATL
Top Critic
It is a tour de force for [Ricardo] Darin, who never disappoints. Cmara moves seamlessly from beat to beat, seeming to reluctantly follow Darin's every move, yet beating him to the next punch before Darin delivers it. A must-see!

December 19, 2017 | Full Review…

Toba Singer
culturevulture.net
Top Critic
Cesc Gay is not a sentimentalist, and while Truman may tug at viewer's heartstrings, it is never mawkish or maudlin.

November 18, 2017 | Full Review…

Gary M. Kramer
San Francisco Bay Times
Top Critic
Directed and written by Cesc Gay, "Truman" is never maudlin, thereby making it far more effective and affective.

September 15, 2017 | Full Review…

Neely Swanson
Easy Reader (California)
Top Critic
[Cesc Gay opts] for an approach that allows the actors ... to create a relationship that is at once comfortable and challenging.

August 30, 2017 | Full Review…

Robert Denerstein
Denerstein Unleashed
Top Critic
Cesc Gay directed Truman with understanding but without drippy sentiment.

August 29, 2017 | Full Review…

Martha K. Baker
KDHX (St. Louis)
Top Critic
What Truman does so well is restraint. The comedy is rare and deadpan, the dramatic highpoints sudden and unexpected.

May 20, 2017 | Rating: 7/10 | Full Review…

Stephen Mayne
Under the Radar
Top Critic

View All Critic Reviews (70)

Audience Reviews for Truman

Aug 12, 2016

True man, true friend, love between friends - this film is about the best in people, and two men in particular. Truman is a great big dog, whose owner Julian is setting his affairs in order. Julian and his old friend Tomas who pays a last visit are straight hetero men, they love one another, show it and say so. The words "I love you" are freely spoken and accepted. But there are few histrionics in this story of a lonely man's final days. It weaves finely the emotions with the practicalities, realities with humour, Julian's marvellous luck in having a few loving people and a great friend, and Julian's bravery and fear. The topic of death is usually a wrench, but this instead is like a song full of loveliness; plus you learn some that's destined to come in useful, sooner or later. The pain is salved too by the soulful dog, first-class production and locations in Canada, Madrid and Amsterdam, a stylish sound track, and nice dark credits for drying any tears. It shows women in a somewhat less favourable light: must they be diminished, in brotherly love? Still, the film's questions are engaging: can we be more like these men without the end looming, and where will the soul like the dog find its home. A classic piece perfectly made, acted superbly, with a memorable screenplay, this will repay repeat viewings: there are a few drugs and a vigorous sex scene, otherwise you could have watched it with your smarter young teens, as well as the grown-ups. A polished gem about the inevitable: catch it while you can.

. . Super Reviewer