Great first half---weak conclusion

Rating: 6/10 (10 March 2001)

I don't think there are many spoilers here, but read at your own risk. If you have even seen a trailer or skimmed a review, you know what 'Being John Malkovich' is about. The irony of 'Being John Malkovich' is that once the characters begin actually being John Malkovich, the film seems to stop being interesting.
Being an admirer of Malkovich as an actor and being that I had skimmed so many glowing reviews of the film (it was on many top ten lists and was a 4 star film in many circles), I really wanted to like this movie alot before I ever saw it. I also wanted to find a way to justify liking the film more than I did once it was over, but the truth is I was disappointed.
The set up of an out of work puppeteer (who only seems to come alive when commandeering one of his marionettes) eventually happening upon a indefinable job for a vague company on the 7 1/2 floor was odd but in an interesting kind of way. Then the portal into Malkovich's mind is unearthed. This seemed like a promising development, but it really falls flat in my opinion.
In no time, people are lining up to be in Malkovich's head, but it is not clear why. No one who enters the vehicle of Malkovich's being does anything remotely interesting with their opportunity, not even John Cusack's puppeteer. The puppeteer really does nothing inspired at all, given the ultimate marionette (a living, breathing human being) as his plaything. As character upon character used Malkovich to try to 'bed' each other, I began wishing for Mr. Malkovich to realize what was going on and react to it, but even this action has no payoff. Malkovich's realization results in a strangely amusing scene in which the actor enters the portal himself, but ultimately he never really tries to fight for possession of his 'self'. If he does, we don't see most of it, which is a shame because THAT would have been interesting to watch.
'Being John Malkovich' begins with an ingenious, original distortion of
reality and offers the promise of a strong second half about the importance of self. In the end however, it boils down to many unlikeable characters attempting to achieve their selfish uninteresting goals in life (both current and eternal)through another person (who happens to be John Malkovich, but really could have been anyone for the purposes of the film).
The film never ceases being unique, but it ceases being entertaining. 6 out of 10.