Being John Malkovich (1999)

Bizarre is brilliant

By Simon  Nov 19, 2000 | 1 out of 1 found this Being John Malkovich (1999) review helpful

Spike Jonze's triumphant directorial debut sees a puppeteer find a way into John Malkovich's brain, with interesting and hilarious consequences.Sounds bizarre? It is. But it's just that which helps to make this film a real winner. The originality, u...npredictability and sheer depth of the screenplay, coupled with superb direction and an excellent musical score ensure that your attention will never wane. If that wasn't enough, the performances are faultless.John Cusack, excellent in High Fidelity, shows an even greater range here...we are able to see all sides of his character convincingly throughout the film. A barely recognizable Cameron Diaz does brilliantly as his wife, although she is bettered by Catherine Keener. And Malkovich himself steals virtually every scene he is in. The film does not even fall into the trap of being too long...indeed, how they managed so much depth in less than two hours is quite surprising.If there are weaknesses, maybe it is a little confusing at times, and it might be a little too weird for some people. But overall, there are few flaws which you can find in this bizarre, highly original and, most importantly, thoroughly entertaining film. This is undoubtedly a must-see. Read more Less