Rating: 
Summary: One of the most unusual films of 1999.
Review: A mopey Puppeter (John Cusack) working as a file clerk on the 7½ Floor in New York City. Living with his wife (Cameron Diaz), who is animal lover. When he discover a door way to the brian of a well known actor named John Malkovich! Himself. Him and His co-worker (Catherine Keener) has plans to make money out of this doorway. But the Puppeter has better plans to use Malkovich body for himself.Directed by Spike Jonze (Adapation) and Written by Charlie Kaufman (Human Nature). They both Recieved Oscar-Nomination for thier Work that brings this Outrageous, Delightful, Dark, Comic Masterpiece. This Film will be not Please by Everyone but This Movie is a Unforgettable Stylish Expierence. Catherine Keener received an Oscar Nomination for Best Supporting Actress as the Rude but Arractive Maxime. DVD`s has an clear anamorphic Widescreen (1.85:1) transfer and An fine Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. DVD could`ve used more extras like Director`s Commentary and Deleted Scenes. But this is an Instant Cult Classic. Grade:A-.
Rating: 
Summary: Hating John Malkovich
Review: I wanted to like this film. Aww heck, I wanted to love it. I'm a big fan of black comedies in general. I've followed Spike Jonze's career for years, John Cusack is one of my favourite actors and Cameron Diaz... Well let's just say that my feelings towards Cameron Diaz are pretty much the same as every other hetrosexual male's. So this should have been a slam dunk. I liked the concept of the film (whatever else you think of it, you must give it kudos for its originality), the reviews were glowing. I was receptive, pumped and I was primed. Then I saw the film... And I did hate it with every fibre of my being. There was not a single character I felt any affinity to. I found the situations contrived and pointless. The ideas explored were either bland or annoying. Being John Malkovich left me with a general feeling of sliminess. I felt dirty. The acting was over the top and all I was left with was an uncomfortable desire to slap everyone involved. Was my reaction a little extreme? Perhaps, but don't let it get you down; I'm clearly in the minority here. People love this film. They go on and on about it, so if I've missed the point, well, my opinions are hardly going to drown out the true believers. But what if I'm right and they're the ones who are wrong? What if there are good, film-loving folks out there who are just embarassed to admit they don't get it? What if, as I suspect is true, there are vast hordes of BEING JOHN MALKOVICH haters out there, just waiting for someone to tell them that it's OK not to like this film? Rise up, Rise Up! You have nothing to lose but your pretensions! Its true, the Emperor has no clothes!
Rating:
Summary: Makes no sense, but who really cares?
Review: This is original in every sense of the word. It makes no sense, and yet is so interesting. It creates some rather funky concepts. The movie deals with a puppeteer played by John Cusack who is a loser character with no real job skill(other than puppeteering on the street) who has a bland zookeeper wife (played by Cameron Diaz, wearing a lot of makedown). One day he applies for a job on the 6 and half floor(don't ask, watch the movie) of an office, run by a (...) old man with an odd secretary. Cusack's job is to file stuff, cuz he's fast with his hands. On the job he meets a woman named Maxine who he is very attracted to. She's a total big city snob and is very manipulative and cynical. But he's drawn to her. While file-ing one day, he removes a cabinet only to discover a small door leading to the brain of John Malkovich the actor(why him, who can say?).He then finds this as a profitable opportunity and Maxine uses him (like a puppet) for her own plans.Things get really strange, and Cameron Diaz goes through the door, and becomes addicted to being Malkovich, as she falls in love with Maxine. Sure it's not scientifically feasible, but the movie sticks to its idea and makes for some odd, humorous situations, all at the expense of Malkovich. It's easy to summarize plot, but the movie simply needs to be watched.
Rating: 
Summary: dumb.
Review: I have to admit I kind of wanted to like Being John Malkovich. It sounded nutty and fun, weird in a good way. But it isn't. It does try. Lord how it tries. But it doesn't work. The humor is forced and self-conscious, too indulgently pleased with its own quirkiness. Don't be distracted by how kooky everything is -- pay attention to the jokes and the way they're delivered, think about them. They're not funny. Well, all right -- we'll be fair. They're RARELY funny. John Malkovich does have his moments, and Charlie Sheen was a nice touch. The characters are annoying. I disliked them and I disliked the performances of the actors who played them. Malkovich was acceptible; Cusack, Diaz, and Keener all raked on the nerves. I sense that, to some extent, these characters were designed to be unlikable. If so, they were designed well. Understandably not content with being a comedy (since it's not especially funny), Being John Malkovich gradually treads into darker and "deeper" territory. What is identity, really? Why are there so many people who'd like to be someone else? What would it be like if they could? Would it be addictive? How would it impact the life of the "possessed" subject? Etc. Trouble is, since the movie wasn't half as charming as it hoped to be early on, since the characters were all so strangely pathetic and annoying, and since the whole style of the film is jerky, abrasive, and deliberately unpredictable, my interest in such philosophical questions was not particularly aroused. It was evident in any case that this was a movie I would not be drawing anything too exceptionally deep from. I used to imagine, and play, through games and scenarios much stranger and more philosophically complex than the premise behind Being John Malkovich -- as a little boy. A movie can be strange and different and "out there" and still be a failure when all is said and done.
Rating:
Summary: WATCH IT AND WONDER.......
Review: A PUPPETEER IN NEED OF WORK ,GETS A JOB IN A OFFICE, TO DISCOVER THAT THERE IS A HIDDEN DOOR,WHICH IS THE PORTAL TO JOHN MALKOVICH BRAIN! A VERY FUNNY, DYNAMIC FILM WITH EXCELLENT ACTING(ESPECIALLY CAMERON DIAZ)WHICH WILL HAVE YOU THINKING ABOUT IT HOURS LATER.YOU WILL WATCH IT AGAIN AND AGAIN!!
Rating:
Summary: Can't hate it but don't love it either
Review: In the end, what was the point? The movie started good, good cast, good premise, but then towards the middle, the movie started to sway from an existential exercise to some science fiction routine about vessels that live forever. In the end, I felt the movie didn't know how to tie it all up. It was torn between the surreal existential statement and a sci fi ending. The sci fi ending didn't meet the expectations built up, neither did it do anything for me. Sorry to say, but I didn't see the qualities that gave the film all those oscar recommendations.
Rating: 
Summary: being enthralled ...
Review: incredible - this is the only word that can describe my awe when the film was over. cusack is erratic and ingenious as always and diaz is incredibly subtle, but really gets your attention later on. malkovich (also great in Shadow of the Vampire) is simply amazing, especially in the restaurant scene which is odd, but believable in a contradictory sort of way. charlie sheen makes a surprising cameo which is really funny.
the whole uniqueness of this film is really hard to explain, its best if you watch it. some people will think it's too screwball <insert cusack film here>, but others will really watch it with an open mind and see all the things of this film's ingenuity.
not exactly an original general storyline, but its presentation (which is, in my opinion, the only original thing nowadays) is simply stunning AND original. great acting all the way around, interesting story, plot twists, comedy most of all, and one of the best 1999 films by far (however the all-time best is american beauty, but i wont go into that...i mean i have a list dont i)...
Rating:
Summary: A surreal, insanely funny masterpiece
Review: "Being John Malkovich," directed by Spike Jonze from a screenplay by Charlie Kaufman, was in my opinion one of the most brilliant films of the late 20th century. The film tells the story of an out-of-work puppeteer (an excellent John Cusack) who discovers a portal into the mind of actor John Malkovich (played, curiously enough, by John Malkovich!). BJM is a claustrophobic workplace satire, a surreal sex comedy, a gender-bending love story, and an innovative blending of science fiction and fantasy. Furthermore, the film is a reflection on interspecies communication and the nature of language, a metaphysical exploration of the nature of life and identity, and a somber meditation on the role of the artist in a consumeristic society. Cusack and Malkovich are joined by a superb ensemble cast that brings complete conviction to this bizarre material. Orson Bean is particularly hilarious as Cusack's daffy, horny boss; he delivers his frequently outrageous dialogue brilliantly. BJM is as notable for its stunning visual effects as it is for its amazing dialogue. Such sights as a giant Emily Dickinson puppet give the film a weird, Willie Wonka-ish flavor. Also marvelous are the parodic "films within a film" that spice up the whole. And the film is nicely enhanced by Carter Burwell's fine musical score. BJM is imaginative and truly original; the film's concept is realized brilliantly by a talented cast and crew. I give it my highest recommendation.
Rating: 
Summary: Bizzare but rather entertaining
Review: I'm glad I saw the film before reading the reviews published here because part of the enjoyment of the film is not knowing what is going to happen next. The plot is unique and the acting is good.
One of the problems I had with the film was with the superfluous obscenities, lewd comments and homophobic remarks. It is not the obscene nature of the comments that was off-putting, but rather their inappropriateness given the context they were in. I guess I just don't find that sort of thing inherently amusing.
The other bothersome aspect of the play was the inconsistent characterizations. Dr. Lester's character, for instance, changes drastically from the beginning of the movie to the end. We are not talking about character development as a result of life experiences or epiphany, either.
Overall it was a film worth watching, however. It certainly took a different perspective and a creative mind to think up this plot.
Rating:
Summary: A philosophical breakthrough
Review: The reason I give this movie 5 stars is because of a scene that lasts a mere 15 seconds: John Malkovich's experience when he enters his own mind. In this scene he sees everyone else as himself, and all these himselves utter only the word "Malkovich". This scene made me reflect quite a lot, and I think that with it, Spike Jonze has uncovered one of humanity's biggest illusions (whether he did it on purpose is another matter): that there are "other people" around us. For even though we *perceive* other people as "you", or "he", or "she", or "they", this is not what they *are*. What they actually are is: I. For everyone is always I. Every life is lived by I. It would be easy to deduce that since every life is lived by I, then the logical consequence is that I live every life, but... Did I just write "but"? Small mistake. This 15-second scene opened my eyes. For 15 seconds, Jonze showed the world not as we perceive it but as it actually is; for 15 seconds, he showed The Truth, and for that I give the movie *****.
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