Catherine Keener, John Cusack, Cameron Diaz and John Malkovich himself. Directed by well known video director Spike Jonze, Being John Malkovich tells the story about a puppeteer who is forced by his wife to get a new job, one that actually provide for a living, and eventually ends up in a portal that leads to actor John Malkovich his head. Soon you're thrown from one crazy event to another. Characters seem to go wild and obsessive, all the effect of being inside Malkovich's head. It's great to see them develop and show different sides of themselves which didn't yet show at the very beginning. Especially Lotte Schwartz, whom I found the most interesting and funny of all, and who once in the mind of Malkovich, really starts to see things in a whole new light. She finds herself, discovers things she didn't knew about herself before. It's funny to see her react to all of it, which she herself can hardly understand or grab. Cameron Diaz, who besides films as Shrek and Charlie's Angels, has actually always chosen nice and different roles, which people tend to forget because of her fame, really gives a great performance. However the one who really takes over is Catherine Keener as Maxine Lund, Craig's co-worker for whom he got the hots. She portrays Maxine as a very layered person with different sides to her. She can be both seductive and sweet, but also very cruel. She surely ain't one to mess with and really knows what she wants. She doesn't get played, but like's to be the one in total control. Both John Cusack and Malkovich, who stars as himself, are great as well. Especially when Malkovich is taken over by Craig. From that moment on Malkovich really acts like Craig, and Malkovich (the actor) does it superbly. Watching him it's like seeing Craig, but through Malkovich's appearance. It's very impressive. Overall the set looks pretty great as well, especially Craig and Lotte's appartment. When at the end Lotte and Maxine chase each other in the Malkovich's subconscience, crawling from one place to another, the viewer is taken on a journey through Malkovich's past, all closely followed by the camera, turning up and down. Most memorable though, is floor 7 1/2 where everyone has to bend down to get in and walk through the hallways. And the way people get sucked into the Malkovich's portal and afterwards end up somewhere near a highway, is really fun to watch.What is it about?
Craigh Schwartz, a struggling puppeteer is forced by his wife Lotte to get a 'real' job. Because of his fast fingers, he applies for a job interview as a filer. He easily gets the job and soon thereafter meets Maxine. From the very moment Craig sees her he is intrigued by her and soon he falls for her, head over heels. She, however, doesn't have any interest in him, at least not romantically. When Craig one day finds a hole in a wall at work, it turns out to be leading to actor John Malkovich's head. This portal gives you the experience to be John Malkovich
for exactly fifteen minutes. After finding this discovery he tells his wife Lotte about it, who soon crawls through the portal herself, right into Malkovich's head. Together with Maxine, who Craig also informs about the portal, they start their own little company J.M Inc. which gives people access to the portal for 200 dollars. Business goes well, but when Malkovich starts to expect things are happening inside of him, his suspicion leads to some drastic consequences for both Craig, Maxine and Lotte, but most of all Malkovich himself.Final Verdict: *****
Being John Malkovich is a fun, fresh and very original comedy, greatly directed by Spike Jonze. Only the second time for me to watch this film, I almost totally forgot about all the things that happen in it. I only remembered the premise, but not the outcome. Having seen it again, I think I enjoyed it far more than the first time I saw it, when I was also a different age and my whole experience of it was different. After seeing it again I can say I really liked it, just as much as for example Eternall Sunshine Of the Spotless Mind, which I actually also have to
watch again, since I don't quite remember how it all went down in that one either. With Kaufman directing for the first time himself I'm very looking forward to his upcoming Synecdoche, New york, which already seems to be very original as well. Being John Malkovich is for anyone who likes to see something different and be taken into this whole different world with great dialogue, funny twists and characters that deal with emotions and problems that are, even though sometimes a bit crazy, very recognizable.
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