could this be the best film of 1999?

Rating: 10/10 (27 November 1999)

Arguably, I think it is. Though everyone is probably going to sniff at the absurdity and cynicism of BEING JOHN MALKOVICH, you have to agree that you have never seen anything like it. Not even close.
This story is mostly about manipulation and identity crisis and it has so much symbolism of that. John Cusack is a puppeteer, a VERY skilled one at that, who likes the creations that dangle from strings under his fingers. He is the starving and depressed artist of his craft, and has his puppets, which represent real people in his life, carry out his emotions and fantasies.
Even the use of John Malkovich, an excellent character actor, seems to be a perfect choice in this movie of being someone else, if even for 15 minutes (of fame perhaps?). I truly believe John Malkovich deserves an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, not only for his magnificent performance, but for having the guts of playing himself and revealing a twisted, if fictional, subconscience. One of the funniest jokes in the film is that no one knows what movie he's been in! ("I loved you in that jewel thief movie!")
Charlie Kaufman deserves some kind of award for his ingenious script. Spike Jonze puts Kaufman's vision on film with such visual pizazz. Umm, I'm coming short of intelligent words to define this film. Just see it, because everyone shines, every sight gag is hysterical, the wacky AND witty dialogue is sweet music to the ears, this movie is phenomonal.
It's been getting as much raves and hype(?) as THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT, but unlike that cinematic ripoff, this movie certainly deserves it. All of it! And as a fan of Spike Jonze's music videos, I cannot wait to see what feature film he comes up with next. The same with Kaufman's creative genious.