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Vanessa Forsythe reviews

Being John Malkovich

Cert: R
Cat.no: 0518
Running time: 113 minutes
Year: 1999
Pressing: 2000
Region(s): 1, NTSC
Chapters: 32 plus extras
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Surround
Languages: English
Subtitles: English (and hard of hearing), French, Spanish
Widescreen: 1.85:1
16:9-Enhanced: Yes
Macrovision: Yes
Disc Format: DVD 9
Price: $39.98
Extras : Scene index, Theatrical Trailer; TV Spots; 7th Floor Orientation; American Arts & Culture Presents... John Horatio Malkovich, Dance of Despair and Disillusionment; A Page with nothing on it; An Intimate Portrait of the Art of Puppeteering; An Interview with Director Spike Jonze; An Intimate Portrait of the Art of Background Driving; Cast & Crew Biographies & Filmographies; Spike's Photo Album.

Director:

Spike Jonze

Cast:

Craig Schwartz: John Cusack

Grosse Point Blank, Con Air

Lotte Schwartz: Cameron Diaz

The Mask, A Life less Ordinary

Maxine: Catherine Keener

Your Friends & Neighbours, Out of Sight

John Horatio Malkovich: John Malkovich

Dangerous Liaisons, Con Air

Dr Lester: Orson Bean

Innerspace

Floris: Mary Kay Place

Pecker, The Rainmaker

Anyone seeing the video Spike Jonze (Conrad in Three Kings) directed for "Praise You" by Fatboy Slim, might well expect his first feature to be a suitably strange affair. And indeed, they would be right. One can only imagine the look on John Malkovich's face when he was presented with the script!

One of the most imaginative and funny films of the year so far, Being John Malkovich centres on Craig Schwartz (Cusack), an unemployed but very talented puppeteer and his wife, Lotte (Diaz) a pet shop owner, who seems to bring home most of the residents of her shop.

Lotte persuades Craig to get a job, which he duly does at Lestercorp, a company located on Floor 7 of its building (a gag which really has to be seen). There, Craig meets Maxine (Keener) and falls instantly in lust with the enigmatic beauty. One day he drops some files behind a cabinet and discovers a mysterious door leading into a dark tunnel. When he crawls in he is suddenly transported into John Malkovich's head. He can see out of his eyes... he is being John Malkovich.

After 15 mins he is spat out on to the Jersey Turnpike. He tells Maxine and she proposes they set up a business selling trips through the portal. Soon, Lotte is taking trips inside Malkovich's head, as is half the city. Then, Malkovich himself gets wind of the venture...

To say anymore would really spoil this wonderfully inventive and darkly comic tale. Suffice to say, this is one film you will be discussing long after the end credits have disappeared. Recommended if you like something a bit out of the ordinary.

Extras:

Very good extras, infused with the same sense of the bizarre as the film. A Page With Nothing On It does exactly what it says on the tin, unless it's a secret portal itself!! (If anyone finds any hidden features, please let me know!)

The only criticism that I would have is that there is no commentary by the director, but then maybe its best not to explain too much and leave it all up to us to make of it what we will.

FILM CONTENT PICTURE QUALITY SOUND QUALITY EXTRAS
OVERALL

E-mail Vanessa Forsythe

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Vanessa Forsythe reviews

Being John Malkovich

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Review copyright © Vanessa Forsythe, 2000.

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