In Film Australia
1999
'Being John Malkovich' is a clever comedy that raises some important ethical questions. …No, wait, that doesn’t do it justice. 'Being John Malkovich' has got to be the most outrageously nutty, incredibly wacky and compelling social commentary that I have ever seen in my life. Yes, you heard me, IN MY LIFE.
To say the storyline of Being John Malkovich was ‘offbeat’ would probably be the understatement of all time so I’ll give you a brief overview and let you decide for yourself. Craig Schwartz (John Cusack) is a struggling,puppeteer whose wife, Lotte (Cameron Diaz), is urging him to take a different career path. He agrees and soon enough he finds a job suited to his nimble fingers. He becomes a filing clerk for a company called LesterCorp. whose offices are situated on the 7½th floor of a Manhattan building.
One day while looking for a lost file which fell behind a filing cabinet, he discovers a trap-door. Upon prying it open, a long tunnel is revealed that seemingly stretches for ever and cautiously he steps in not knowing his fate. And then the door closes and he is sucked into the mind of John Heratio Malkovich.
If the plot isn’t insane enough for you, keep reading. Here are some of my personal highlights from this circus freakshow that is 'Being John Malkovich':
* One of Cameron Diaz’s pets, Elijah the
Gorilla has his very own dream sequence.
* John Malkovich himself does
a ballet dance that is worth the ticket admission alone.
* There is a
chase sequence through John Malkovich’s subconscious mind.
* John
Malkovich enters his own mind and the result has to be seen to be
believed.
With these sort of ideas, you would probably think that first time writer Charlie Kaufman is a very heavy smoker of pot. Either that or he needs to be locked up and rehabilitated. But deep down this concept of ‘being someone else’ is not really as cracked up as it is thought to be. I mean, we’ve all pondered over it sometime or another even if it was trivial. For some of us it’s disreputable, others yearn for this wish but we can all relate to it, which is the true beauty of this film.
This is also director’s Spike Jonze first outing, and his talent is evident. Never do we question the believability of the material and right from the outset, we just take it in and absorb the wonderful experience.
Though John Cusack and Cameron Diaz are really solid in their roles, it is John Malkovich who steals the show. He turns in the performance of a lifetime and must also be applauded for accepting the role. Some scenes are a true mockery to what a fine actor he is and he was such a good sport to participate. (Damn, I want to see that ballet scene again!)
This is a film that everybody should make an effort to see. Even if you don’t find the initial premise to your taste, at least admire the guts and heroics of John Malkovich himself. Inspiring, hugely rewarding and above all total madness, 'Being John Malkovich' is virtual reality that is actually believable.
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