Keener is Perfect

Rating: 10/10 (29 August 2008)

The first time I started to watch Being John Malkovich I stopped. It looked like something I wasn't in the mood for, maybe never would be. There was this puppet show. I tried again another day, and discovered one of my all-time favorite movies. My all-time favorites don't necessarily include all-time favorite performances, but this one does. Catherine Keener is inspired and perfectly entertaining as the quirky, kinky, love-interest for ultimate-loser John Cusack.
I'm certain there's never been a movie like this before, and it stands repeated viewing in a completely unique way. Cameron Diaz is virtually unrecognizable as Cusack's neurotic wife. Orson Bean (you read correctly) is sublimely cast in a crucial role. John Malkovich is hilariously flabbergasted at what's going on, whatever it is.
This is not a comedy, just outrageously hilarious. It's kind of a love story, but again, not like any you've ever seen or conceived of. It's refreshingly ultra-strange.