A singularity

Rating: Null/10 (17 February 2000)

It is always refreshing to see surreal concepts explored in mainstream cinema, particularly when they include players of the stature of John Malkovich to add a certain gravitas.
It is helpful for any actor's career to be involved in the cast of a successful movie, but to be part of the title as well is a chance for immortality that no-one with even a normal quota of humility could resist. And what a fine casting choice is Malkovich, who clearly has fun in this.
On some levels, as a movie this bizarrely conceived and executed plot does deliver many supreme moments of humour and other-worldliness, but the suspension of disbelief required to absorb one completely for a full length feature will be a tough ask for many. I certainly found my mind wandering at several points and wondered if I should have smoked something before seeing it to get the full effect.
The puppetry scenes are superbly haunting, and it's almost worth seeing the film for these alone.