Rating: 
Summary: Brilliantly Bizarre
Review: Being John Malkovich's premise is horribly absurd, but provides for a very entertaining experience. The characters were a mixed bag. The only one I could truly sympathize with was Malkovich, who has more or less no control over his fate throughout. It seemed as though all others were in the gray area, where they were neither quite good nor evil. I would end up both disliking and pitying whomever was on the screen at the time. All and all it's a depressing, yet still comedic movie, worth buying.Memorable scenes include John Cusack's performance to the little girl on the street, Malkovich entering his own mind, and the scenes from Malkovich's childhood ("I am bad... I am bad...")
Rating:
Summary: Great for Chuckles
Review: Everyone else who has reviewed this film has covered the plot, the acting and the directing of this film. All I want to add is that I chuckled for days after seeing this film thinking about the craziness of the characters. They were absolutely nuts, but very loveably nutty. If you want something that will leave you in a good mood, see this. It's a quality flick.
Rating: 
Summary: I wasn't laughing...
Review: I'm not going to say this was a BAD movie, it just wasn't a very good one. Somehow the comedy was lost in the wierdness and twisted thinkings of the movie. This movie was just strange. Most unusual is just thinking about the later part of the story, with Malkovich becoming the puppeteer, and how that would fit in real life. While there are some entertaining moments, and some interesting ideas posed, they are lost by the imagery of the darker humor, such as the animal cage part. This is one of those movies that's too silly to be a drama, and too seriously written to be a comedy.
Rating:
Summary: Original and Funny
Review: Being John Malkovich has the most original premise I have come across in some time. Fortunately, it also has a talented cast that plays it straight, proving that the small laughs can be the best. John Cusack is great, as always - this time around he plays a somewhat disgusting little "artist" slacker, and he gets the arrogance and the downtrodden effect just right. The scenes where he initially tries to woo the sultry Catherine Keener are almost painfully funny. The success of this movie lies in large part with John Malkovich himself, who is not only gracious enough to lend himself to the premise, but who is subjected time and again to humiliating little potshots that provide some of the film's funniest moments ("Malkovich, think fast!"). The first half of the movie is definitely the best, as the viewer is placed in one delightfully bizarre scenario after another, and the Maxine character ultimate bogs the whole thing down a little (What does she want? Why keep torturing Craig and Lotte? I think she is narcissistic enough to want herself in a man's body...). This is a great movie for those who are kind of burned out on movies, in that it shows that there are still some good ideas out there waiting to be discovered.
Rating:
Summary: A movie of hilarious and unsettling weirdness
Review: I sometimes wonder what the point is in buying videos of movies you're only really going to watch once or twice. Why not save the shelf space and get a rental copy? Then along comes an amazing film like Being John Malkovitch and I realise that I could watch this again and again without ever getting bored. Great performances, an utterly original storyline, weird, infectious humour and a unique atmosphere - what more could you want? (unless you like car chases and explosions, in which case you've clicked to the wrong web page). My favourite scenes are John Malkovich visiting the inside of his own head and the documentary section where Malkovich, possessed, leaves off film acting and transforms himself into a celebrated puppeteer. Twisted and unmissable.
Rating:
Summary: Originality is all that the film Has.
Review: People who want to be thought of as Clever Cling to this film like Magnets cling to Metal. Many Critics and Audiences saw the Title, Expected a Posturing Vanity Piece for Malkovich, Viewed the film and saw that it was something Completely Different, so they automatically assumed they Liked it, they really should Look Closer. "Being John Malkovich" is a Childish, downright Silly film. The Directing is Amateurish, the Production is Shabby and the Performances are Sloppy. The Usually Brilliant John Cusack is too Over-the-Top to be Funny, his performance could have Saved the Film from being just a Clever Premise looking for a Script.. His Annoying Performance saves Nothing. Catherine Keener isn't much Better, come to think of it, neither is Cameron Diaz, whose casting is as Bizarre as the Storyline. These two Talented Actresses are Totally Miscast and Underused. Only Malkovich walks away without Egg all over his face, it's just a Shame he had to have his name in the Title. There are a Few things here and there that held my Attention. The Cameos from Charlie Sheen and Sean Penn are Perfectly Timed and Hilariously Performed. It Shocks me how Director Spike Jonze could use these two Actors so Well in Cameos, but he didn't have the first Clue how to use Cusack, Keener and Diaz. Also, inside the mind of Malkovich and seeing the world through his eyes is Fun for a While, but it Quickly gets Tiresome. As does the Premise, the Performances and the Whole Overrated Mess of a Film.
Rating: 
Summary: Creative, original, and funny....but.......
Review: Like the title of this review states, this was a very creative, original, and funny movie. It was also very bizarre. You must know the plot by now, so I am not going to go into all of that. The performances were superb, and the direction was well done (congrats to Spike Jonze on his first directorial debut). This film was also very dark. I found the weird relationship between Cameron Diaz and Catherine Keener to be very disturbing, especially near the end. All in all, it was a very creative effort, and a turning point in cinema, but it left me feeling disturbed and depressed. Not for everyone.
Rating:
Summary: Very creative
Review: A very creative, original movie with some excellent dark comedy. However it's creativity is also it's downfall as the originality puts limitations on how good and respected this movie can be considered.
Rating:
Summary: First rate creative
Review: Cinematography is acceptable, characters are fine, but the thing that makes this flick pop is the wonderfully creative plot, deftly described and supported with circumstances that really add. Without any explanation as to "how it all works," the characters stumble across a portal into the head of actor John Malcovich. The circumstances behind the discovery, and its history, are all interesting sidelights. Eventually, visits to John Malcovich develop into an oddly profitable business, attracting curiousity for some, and addiction to others. But if one stays too long, there will be no escape. It's funny, but not slapstick. It's intriguing, but you don't have to work to understand it. It isn't reality at all, but very well worth the time.
Rating: 
Summary: Spike Jonze is THE MAN!
Review: This is my third favorite film behind American Beauty and Magnolia. I must say that is probably the most original film I've seen in a long, long time. Granted the themes aren't that original, but the ways that the characters go about getting to their goals is just insane. Jonze's use of dull colors to downplay the emotion of the story. The actors are awesome. John Cusack's character is the greatest sad character I've ever scene. Charlie Kaufman has a great up and coming career in Hollywood and I'm interested in whether he'll eventually begin to direct his own work. I'm looking foward to his next project Adaptation.
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