[Logo]
Subscribers Only Content Area
[Log      [Learn

Home New Movies All Movies New Videos All Videos DVD Search



(About Our Ads)

DVD REVIEW FOR
"BEING JOHN MALKOVICH"

(1999) (John Cusack, John Malkovich) (R)

Length Screen Format(s) Languages Subtitles Sound Sides
112 minutes Letterbox (1.85:1)
16x9 - Widescreen
English English
Spanish
French
Dolby Digital 5.1 1 (dual layer)

PLOT & PARENTAL REVIEW

AUDIO/VIDEO ELEMENTS:
Other than an overall color scheme that's rather flat and most of the film taking place at night or in dimly lit locales, the picture looks rather good. The few moments that are brightly lit (the closing outdoor shots) look tremendous in detail, clarity and color use. As far as the audio goes, Carter Burwell's score has the proper whimsical sound, and while much of the film is dialogue driven, there are enough audio effects (crowd noise, brain tunnel effects, etc.) to keep things interesting from an aural perspective.
EXTRAS:
  • Scene selection/Jump to any scene.
  • American Arts & Culture Presents: John Horatio Malkovich, dance of despair and disillusionment: The fictitious biographical look at Malkovich from the film (4+ minutes).
  • Theatrical trailer.
  • TV spot.
  • 7 ½ Floor Orientation: The fictitious film about that floor from the main film (2+ minutes).
  • An Intimate Portrait of the Art of Puppeteering: A 7+ minute look at puppeteering (with talent interviews and performance footage).
  • A Page With Nothing on It (exactly what it says, although some music plays over some of the solid black image that goes on for who knows how long - the timer says 3 minutes and 40 seconds, but I stopped watching after eight minutes of black) and another that's labeled "Don't Enter Here, There's Nothing Here" (which is also true).
  • An Interview with Spike Jonze (2+ minutes of an interview with Jonze as he drives his car).
  • An Intimate Portrait of the Art of Background Driving (6+ minutes of showing one "extra" who drove back and forth in the background of a shot for the film).
  • Spike's Photo Album - Plenty of black and white, and color, behind the scenes photos.
  • Cast & Filmmaker biographies and filmographies.
  • COMMENTS:
    Have you ever had one of those days where you just didn't feel like yourself? Where you did something completely out of character or suddenly had the urge to change your clothing, hairstyle or occupation? Ever experienced blackouts, lapses of memory or dreams and/or fantasies of living out someone else's life?

    If so, "Being John Malkovich" may just explain such feelings and behavior. An "Alice in Wonderland" like allegory of seeing life through someone else's eyes, stepping into someone else's shoes, learning to love yourself for who you are, or simply coming off as the absolute weirdest movie you may ever see, this highly imaginative film is nothing short of a wild time no matter what you might ultimately think it's really about.

    Thematically and visually similar to the creative and otherworldly films of former Monty Python troupe member, Terry Gilliam ("Brazil," "Tim Bandits"), this picture marks the impressive feature film directing debut of Spike Jonze.

    A highly acclaimed music video and TV commercial director (he created the fun "Happy Days" inspired Weezer music video for their song, "Buddy Holly" and that clever Nissan truck commercial where the sleeping guy and his dog take a ride down a hilly street in a recliner), Jonze (who also appeared as an actor in "Three Kings") creates an incredibly memorable and distinctive movie world (that earned him an Oscar nomination).

    In fact, it's so completely removed from the majority of mundane, cookie-cutter pablum that Hollywood regularly delivers, that viewers and critics alike jumped for joy simply due to it truthfully following the old Python adage, "And now for something completely different."

    Yet, unlike many films that start with an inventive sounding "high concept" premise but then fail to deliver the goods after that, and which usually leave an "it could've been really good" aftertaste, this one keeps offering ever more imaginative and often quite hilarious bits as it progresses. In fact, and again unlike most films, this one's certainly not predictable and should keep most viewers wondering how it will end.

    Working from Charlie Kaufman's wild, (and surprisingly) first produced screenplay (that earned him an Oscar nomination), Jonze literally and liberally mixes the surreal with the realistic and some outrageously funny bits with others that are more thought provoking.

    For instance, what other film deals one moment with profound philosophical examinations of who we are and what constitutes a soul, and then goes into what has to be the first ever chimpanzee point of view flashback that even includes subtitles for those of us who don't speak ape-talk? While to some that may make the film sound like it's nothing but silly or perhaps even downright stupid, the highly inspired way in which everything unfolds and then connects together is nothing short of inspired.

    That's not even considering a whole passel of clever tidbits the film continually offers. There's the office located on the five-foot high, 7½ floor (explained as "low overhead" in a double meaning), the executive who thinks he has a speech impediment because his secretary -- excuse me, "executive liaison" -- comically misunderstands what everyone says, and a fabulous scene where everyone literally looks like John Malkovich, the items on a menu list nothing but Malkovich, and every word spoken is -- you guessed it -- Malkovich.

    Just like Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland," the film deals with the central character entering a completely surreal world filled with odd, but colorful characters that confuse and/or mesmerize him and even has a "rabbit hole" of sorts to complete the similarity. Of course, Alice didn't conspire to take over another person's soul, but that's part of the wicked fun of this tale.

    To pull off such an ambitious and clearly unusual production, Jonze had one big obstacle in his way, and that was signing twice Oscar nominated actor John Malkovich to play himself. Or more accurately, a version of himself. Fortunately, the capricious actor and star of films such as "In the Line of Fire" and "Rounders" was game for the role and delivers a wonderfully daffy turn as not only the public version of himself, but also a Steve "All of Me" Martin-like turn as a man controlled by someone inside him.

    The highly versatile and charismatic John Cusack ("Pushing Tin," "Grosse Pointe Blank") plays the master puppeteer and gives a darkly fun take on his "Wonderland" character. Scruffy and somewhat of an opportunist, Cusack's character may not be likable, but he more than ably leads us through his surreal journey.

    Cameron Diaz ("There's Something About Mary," "My Best Friend's Wedding") is nearly unrecognizable under her unkempt, frizzy hairdo but delivers a decent take on her homely character, while Catherine Keener ("8MM," "Your Friends and Neighbors") is appropriately standoffish in a seductive way that constantly reminded me of Linda "Men in Black" Fiorentino (and earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress). Supporting performances from the likes of Orson Bean (TV's "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman") as Craig's dirty- minded boss to Mary Kay Place ("The Big Chill") as his secretary who misunderstands everything everyone says, are equally as good.

    Although the film may be and/or get a little too dark for some viewers when it delves into the main characters' selfish, "me" attitudes and behavior, it never pushes its black comedy material to unacceptable levels. Instead, such moments only add to the multi-layered, wickedly humorous and definitely surreal proceedings that not only make this one of 1999's most imaginative and thus, best films.

    Having to sit through umpteen formulaic teen-based romantic comedies, predictable mismatched cop action and/or comedy flicks and more than enough "scary" slasher films, I heartily enjoyed this original piece of filmmaking and applaud the somewhat daring, but obviously winning efforts of the film's cast and crew, including music video veteran K.K. Barrett for his demented set designs and composer Carter Burwell ("Fargo" and the rest of the Coen brothers' films) for his highly effective score.

    While most viewers will probably get a big kick out of this film, one must remember, however, that the next time you feel like you need a change or makeover in your life, there might be someone else looking out at you from your reflective gaze in a mirror.

    The cinematic cousin to "Alice and Wonderland" and the film equivalent of Disney World's "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride" where grinning riders are feverishly whipped along a track not knowing, but enjoyably anticipating what the next wild turn might bring, this dark and comically surprising film is just as much fun.

    As far as the film's technical merits are concerned, both the disc's aural and visual elements are above average. The supplemental materials are good and also above average (including the two clever film within a film spots), but I was hoping for some running audio commentary by director Spike Jonze and/or screenwriter Charlie Kaufman to let us in on the secrets of the warped little world they created here.

    Buy Being John Malkovich on DVD Today!

    Advertising Info Info/FAQ Mail Newsletter Sneak Previews Syndication

    Privacy Statement and Terms of Use and Disclaimer
    By entering this site you acknowledge to having read and agreed to the above conditions.

    All Rights Reserved,
    ©1996-2010 Screen It, Inc.