Not What You'll Think From The Trailer

Rating: 4/10 (11 March 2017)

As a fan of mind-bending films like "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and "Memento", I was recommended this one on Netflix and decided to give it a try. Unfortunately, after being intrigued by the trailer, I found that this movie is not all all what is advertised.
For a basic plot summary, "Being John Malkovich" sees an eccentric puppeteer (Jon Cusack) finding a portal that leads into the mind of actor John Malkovich (John Malkovich). Chaos then ensues when the experience is turned into a profit-making venture.
Put simple, this is an artsy, "concept" film if ever one was created. Many themes in the film are interesting and have potential to really intrigue, but all are eschewed in favor of oblique artistic expression. Basically, it is impossible to ever "figure out" this film. The characters are outlandish, the plot is all over the place, and the themes are far too frequent and passing to piece together coherently.
I liken the experience to watching Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining". The visuals are nice and the content seems thought-provoking, but you'll go stark raving mad if you actually try to figure everything out. For director Spike Jonze, the overall artistic expression far outweighs a coherent narrative.
Thus, if you are a fan of out-of-the-box, visually striking film-making, this will be your "Citizen Kane". If, however, like me, you prefer some sense and stability, you will be disappointed (especially with the way it is advertised).