One Wild Trip

Rating: 8/10 (26 March 2008)

Even after seeing this movie three times, I am still not sure quite what to think of it. Being John Malcovich is, a thinking movie in every sense of the word, and it brings to light many questions we may have never asked ourselves before watching it. The most paramount of these questions is, "What is ethical?" The movie can get cheesy at times, and you'll probably grow to dislike the three main characters since they are kind of crazy. It feels like, by the end of the film, the only person who gives a rat about John Malcovich in this opera of tragedy is you. Of course you could look at the possibility of seeing the world through someone else's eyes from a more altruistic standpoint, but that isn't how my eyes see it.
There are some really good camera angles in the movie, and the story itself is pretty interesting, if a bit science-fiction-ish. The acting is good, there's no question about that, and John Malcovich provides a great central character for the events of the story. It's just the whole idea of this 'doorway' and the thought of 'being outside of yourself' that makes this movie original. That, coupled with the powerful acting and visuals, makes this a good movie.
I can't really sit here and try to describe 'Being John Malcovich' without spoiling something or going on a rant about the questions it posed to me, this is really just a film you have to see for yourself and think about. Because it goes into interesting territory and handles the subject matter maturely, I think it's worthy of an 8/10 rating.