Whoever said there are only eight stories to
be told in all of human experience had better
take a new count. This black comedy about an
unemployed puppeteer named Craig (John
Cusack) who finds a secret portal into the
head of actor John Malkovich (who plays
himself) is nothing if not original. The
experience of seeing things from Malkovich's
perspective, of "being" the successful,
respected John Malkovich, is exhilarating for
the frustrated artist, but things get out of hand
when Craig's frowzy wife (an almost
unrecognizable Cameron Diaz) and a
manipulative co-worker ("Your Friends and
Neighbors'" Catherine Keener) try to use the
portal for their own selfish purposes. Poor
Malkovich himself, meanwhile, has no idea
what's going on, but is becoming increasingly
distressed by the thoughts and impulses
being imposed upon
him.
As the world's weirdest four-way love rectangle unfolds, our protagonists, save for the unwitting, hapless Malkovich, become more and more despicable as they go to bizarre and desperate extremes to get what they want. That's when "Being John Malkovich" descends disappointingly from hilarious whimsy into bleak, repellant, "Outer Limits"-tinged dysfunction. Starring John Cusack, Cameron Diaz, Catherine Keener and John Malkovich. Directed by Spike Jonze. Written by Charlie Kaufman. Produced by Steve Golin, Vincent Landay, Sandy Stern and Michael Stipe. A USA release. Black comedy. Not yet rated. Running time: 108 min
As the world's weirdest four-way love rectangle unfolds, our protagonists, save for the unwitting, hapless Malkovich, become more and more despicable as they go to bizarre and desperate extremes to get what they want. That's when "Being John Malkovich" descends disappointingly from hilarious whimsy into bleak, repellant, "Outer Limits"-tinged dysfunction. Starring John Cusack, Cameron Diaz, Catherine Keener and John Malkovich. Directed by Spike Jonze. Written by Charlie Kaufman. Produced by Steve Golin, Vincent Landay, Sandy Stern and Michael Stipe. A USA release. Black comedy. Not yet rated. Running time: 108 min
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