Rating: 
Summary: Disturbingly Funny.
Review: A few years back there was rare failure in the otherwise successful pairing of Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan (see, Sleepless in Seattle and You've Got Mail). It was called, Joe Versus the Volcano. That movie begins with dreary, unpleasant characters in sort of dreary, sometimes bizarre settings. In Being John Malkovich, the main characters are sort of dreary and a little unpleasant. Cusack looks scruffy and he has a bit of a personality disorder. And, you will probably ask yourself or your companion twice, "Is that really Cameron Diaz?" She looks so incredibly unglamerous in this movie. The difference between the two films is that Being John Malkovich takes things just over the line and into the realm of the funny. In Joe, the dreariness was bad fluorescent lighting in the office. Being John Malkovich gives us the 7 1/2 floor of the Mertin-Flemmer building, which is "named after Captain Mertin and as local legend has it, is also named for a man named Flemmer." There is certainly something to the matter-of-fact way that people accept coming onto a floor with 5 foot ceilings in the film. At the same time, all of the bizarre and largely unexplained events (for example, how do people actual come to be John Malkovich?) are grounded in reality just enough for you to be genuinely interested in what happens to the characters throughout the film. This isn't Brazil, or another over-the-top type of film. This is a story of flawed but genuine people who have their goals met or frustrated in the context of a completely original premise. The unbelieveable situations are presented so matter of factly that you accept it and move on-- a comment on modern life, no doubt. Cusack and Diaz are perfectly cast in this film. We are used to seeing Cusack in good guy role. In Grosse Pointe Blank, for example, he made a murderer-for-hire as likeable as the guy next door. Here he plays against that by demonstrating some remarkably non-John Cusack moments to full comedic effect. Diaz plays a plain and mousy woman in this film and this works for her, too. Not to forget Malkovich's performance, in which he plays himself and himself occupied by another person! The result is an excellent film that works on many levels. We aren't meant to ponder whether the events depicted can actually happen. Although, there is enough presented here to launch a number of philosphical discussions. The film is funny just taken at face value. The results when John Malkovich takes a turn being John Malkovich are some of the most hilarious moments I've seen in a long time. This film is both broadly funny and darkly funny and slyly funny and over-the-top funny. A completely original premise done in superbly accurate and entertaining manner. The DVD provides some interesting special features, including clips that the characters watch on TV in the movie. The behind-the-scenes segments sort of reflect the moviemaker's skewed view of the world, but the one segment about an extra whose job it is to drive past the set on the highway is quite funny and very interesting. The picture quality is excellent and the sound is good, too. Overall, an excellent DVD to add to your library.
Rating:
Summary: Spike Jonze hits all the right notes with Malkovich
Review: I have to state that Being John Malkovich was the most refreshing, quirky, imaginative and brilliantly hilarious movie I've ever seen. Why this movie didn't win any of it's 3 oscar nominations is beyond me. I have nothing else to say except that you simply have to see this film. Buy it now.................................go on........................you won't regret it!
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant movie!
Review: This movie takes you into the head of John Malkovich, literally. It was such a surprise at how intrigued I was by this movie. I rated it 5 stars because it was absolutely amazing. I just watched it last night and have already recommended it to everyone I know. This is not your typical movie, the plot is not weird, but "different" I can't say enough about this movie. Buy it, you won't be disapointed.
Rating: 
Summary: DO NOT watch this movie if you are stoned!
Review: This DVD includes a short little documentary about how John Malkovich has recently changed careers in favor of puppetry, in particular the art of marionettes. My partner and I started by watching this feature first, and suddenly we were looking at each other and thinking, "Wait a minute! This is some kind of JOKE, right?" Then we watched the featured film, "Being John Malkovich," and by the end of the film the whole concept had become clear. WARNING: If you watch this film under the influence of psychotropic substances, you may find yourself twitching uncontrollably. This movie, particularly the first half, can mess with your mind in a major way. Some of the dialogue is simply TOO WEIRD, almost Firesign Theatre-like in its use of non-sequiturs. The concept of being able to slide down a physical portal to take up residence for 15 minutes behind the eyes of John Malkovich makes the viewer wonder if this movie is some kind of allegory ... but ultimately it boils down to a supernatural fantasy similar in some respects to "All of Me" (Steve Martin, Lily Tomlin). You have to give John Malkovich credit for allowing the makers of this film to use his career as a real-life actor as a springboard for this very clever and imaginative exercise in metaphysical weirdness.
Rating:
Summary: Sometimes Being Original Doesn't Pay Off, but Here it Does
Review: "Being John Malkovich" is, indeed, an original film; an aspect of films that can sometimes hurt them greatly. Many films have been made that have been credited as original, and they have turned out to be simply obtuse and offputting to their audience. But "Being John Malkovich" allows its audience to wallow in its creativity. "Being John Malkovich" is the kind of film you watch with a cocked eyebrow the whole time, in which you find yourself enjoying the film but you're not quite sure why. The movie tells the story of a failing puppeteer (John Cusack, who plays his role with such wit and genius that you find yourself not even realizing he's there) who gets a job at a filing company to pay the bills for him and his mop-top wife (Cameron Diaz, unrecognizable and wonderful). There he finds a portal into the mind of actor, John Malkovich. He then, along with his partner whom he has fallen in love with (Catherine Keener, who you'll love to hate) starts a business, selling trips to the subconcious of Malkovich to people having identity crises. Although the movie has its flaws (sometimes it's TOO odd for its own good, and it doesn't have nearly enough laughs in it to be labled a comedy) "Being John Malkovich" is so creative and is full of so many witty ironies, that those flaws don't matter. You will love "Being John Malkovich." Finally, a review for this movie wouldn't be complete without mentioning John Malkovich, who appears as himself in the movie. You can tell he enjoyed mocking himself while watching the movie, and while the mocking is cute and clever, the makers of this film do it subtly and don't overplay it, so to make it more than just a shameless plug for John Malkovich. A fantastic movie all in all.
Rating:
Summary: Original and Funny.
Review: I am glad I went to see Being John Malkovich because it was a very fun movie with an original idea and a smart screenplay. I guarantee you enjoy it. The film is totally weird (not a bad thing), it follows the story of Craig Schwartz (John Cusack) who one day, finds a hole that leads to John Malkovich's body and mysterious and weird adventures... I totally recommend Being John Malkovich to viewers everywhere, if you haven't seen it, see it!
Rating: 
Summary: What a trip!
Review: Strange movie! If you are into twisted mind trips, this one's for you! Not for me!
Rating:
Summary: Remember what cool movies were like?
Review: This is one of 'em. I was hooked from the opening scene. Even though none of the actors are really even in it (major kudos to the puppeteering/design team...they make this film too.), it sets this weird melancholic but frenzied-life tone to the flick that never stops. The acting in this film is superb. One of the only movies out there where you really do forget that you are watching people playing roles (the guy with me kept forgetting that it was actually Cameron Diaz on screen-it's really unbelieveable how disheveled the costume team made her). The story is really pretty simple, but the implications are immense. Not only touching on our own celebrity fascination, but also toying with the strange feeling of "What would it be like if...?", _Being John Malkovich_ has a lot to say about that ineffable ineptitude that so many of us are familiar with. The presence of all of the characters is breaktaking, simply because all of their crazy and bizarre behaviours seem perfectly normal. It's that Gilliam-esque mastery of the absurd; treat it as if it happens every day. _Being John Malkovich_ is fun, loony, and even a touch philosophical. Plus, you'll laugh until you cry. And when was the last time you saw John Malkovich in a red-sequined gown in all his bare-headed glory? But a warning. This is a weird little movie. It doesn't look like an absurdist flick, but it really is. I know that some people don't like that. This is definitely a "Love it!" or "What? " kind of film. If you need your movies to have even-paced predictable plots and definitive endings or if you need characters to behave in rational and real world ways, avoid this one. This is not a lark for those new to the world of film absurdity-the hard and fast rules of blockbuster type films do not apply here. I'd hate for someone not to like this film because they weren't familiar with the strange creativity of the genre.
Rating:
Summary: If only they were all this unique
Review: Being John Malkovich is an original, funny movie full of plot twists. The most interesting aspect of the film was the way it showed that Craig's talent in in puppeteering was a valid art form. The movie begins with an amazing puppet sequence where we get a glimpse of Craig's talent. He is misunderstood though, as he is ridiculed throughout the film for trying to be a success with the art form that he loves. Not until he is able to use the notoriety of Malkovich, is he able to show the world what the artistry of puppeteering is really about. I think this is true in the real world as well. With all the different talents out there that people possess, I think it's a shame that only a few are accepted and promoted by a mass audience. It's a shame that we will miss the work of talented people, simply because their art isn't as readily accepted or paid for.
Rating:
Summary: "Painful"
Review: From the opening credits this movie is a horror to watch. There is nothing of value here, if you order it, hope it gets lost in the mail, run don't walk to avoid this stinker, I suspect it was released in 1999 to avoid getting a jump as the worst move of the 21st century. The critics review on this must be some kind of weird joke, can they prove that people will go see crummy movies if they get good reviews? Something really stinks here and it is this movie, save your money and move up in class by ordering the "Gong show movie" instead, a distant second to this as worst in the 1900's.
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