Being John Malkovich (1999)

A large proportion of the movies released by Hollywood (or anyone else) tend to conform to some established plot idea. There are quite a few different plots, and the best films may offer a fresh take on a often-used plot but truly original film concepts are rare. This film is one of those rare films, it is not only one of the most insanely imaginative films produced by Hollywood in recent years, it is also well enough made to take advantage of that great premise.

The plot outline is that struggling puppeteer Craig Schwartz (John Cusack) goes to work for an eccentric filing company run by elderly Dr Lester (Orson Bean) on floor seven and a half of a skyscraper - a floor which has such low ceilings that none of the employees can stand up straight. While there he becomes infatuated with co-worker Maxine (Catherine Keeler) despite being married to eccentric animal lover Lotte (Cameron Diaz). While at work he discovers behind a filing cabinet a mystical portal which puts whoever steps inside into the mind of respected actor John Malkovich (played by himself) and can see what he sees for 15 minutes before being shot out onto the edge of a freeway. From then on the film gets increasingly strange, but impressively manages to make perfect sense despite the unlikely concepts involved in the plot.

---

With the script reflecting the film’s general oddness, it’s essential that the actors perform well - otherwise the film could just end up being laughable or incomprehensible. Fortunately there’s a high quality cast, Malkovich delivers probably the best performance, managing to seem serious and send himself up at the same time. Cusack, Keeler and Diaz also perform well in the supporting roles and although none of the characters are particularly likeable they are all individual and interesting. Diaz is particularly impressive due to being virtually unrecognisable in her role as the unkempt Lotte. As well as the main characters there’s also a host of cameos by famous actors including Charlie Sheen, Brad Pitt, Winona Ryder, Gary Sinise and director Spike Jonze.

Despite the outlandish premise this is a serious - often rather cynical - film but there are a few comic moments and Cusack in particular gets to deliver some good deadpan humorous dialogue. There are also some situations so absurd that the only possible response is laughter.

Some impressive directing is required to pull off a film this eccentric, but Spike Jonze manages it very well, especially considering this is his first film after a career of music-video directing. Some scenes are possibly unnecessary - Craig’s puppeteering isn’t actually all that interesting - but there as some very memorable moments here including the spectacularly weird scene where Malkovich himself steps inside the portal.

This movie is eccentric to the point where the sanity of writer Charlie Kaufmann must be in doubt, but it still manages to be accessible and never descends into incomprehensible surrealism, which could so easily have happened. Ultimately it might have been a more enjoyable movie if the characters weren’t quite so dislikeable, but despite that this is one of the most memorable films of the ‘90s.

Rating : 8 / 10

DVD Review (Region 2)

There is a fairly slender selection of extras on the DVD. Considering how original the film is, it would be nice to have a director's/writer's commentary, but no such thing here.

DVD Rating : 6 / 10

All content ©2003 William Marnoch.

Comments? Agree/Disagree with the Reviews? Suggestions? Random Ramblings? Whatever you might want to say, feel free to e-mail me at william@wmarnoch.freeserve.co.uk .