An imaginative idea goes to waste

Rating: 4/10 (19 December 1999)

BEING JOHN MALKOVICH was based on a very imaginative idea; unfortunately Spike Jonze went in the wrong direction with it. What Jonze should have done was make a low-budget sci-fi flick with this porthole idea.
But instead, Jonze tried to inject a lesson into it. Normally I would commend a director's efforts to be meaningful, but Jonze failed with his attempt.
First of all, the film was poorly cast. When Diaz lost her beauty, she lost her believability too. Cusack is a great actor but really screwed this one up. Keener was OK but her character just stunk. Malkovich, on the other hand, was perfect for the part.
Second, the movie's try at being profound was shabby and feeble. Making a point about being yourself vs. "seeing the world through someone else's eyes" could - maybe should - have been done in a more tangible...or at least more focused...setting. Try again Spike.