In Two Minds

Rating: 6/10 (10 April 2004)

I'm in two minds about this film. (Pun intended.)
After the first ten minutes I wanted to switch it off because I couldn't get into it. Puppets? Who cares about puppets? I hate puppets!
And animals too!
However, I stuck with it and I'm kind of glad I did.
Why?
Well, apart from Catherine Keener, who I thought was knockout in every way, the concept was really interesting and as soon as John Malkovich appeared on the screen in the flesh it became riveting.
It's so good to see a major star being prepared to make fun of himself and his status (Charlie Sheen too -- loved the combover!), and I really wanted to know how the story would be resolved.
However, I'm not sure I liked the way it developed. It became an uneasy mix of satire and science fiction, and I think one of those genres would have been better than two.
I also like it when I can identify a theme in an art movie -- this one was presumably about identity and knowing who you are -- but the message got lost in the medium. (But then didn't some producer like Sam Goldwyn say that if you want to send a message, use Western Union?)
So like I say I'm in two minds about it. You need to see it yourself if you want to make up your mind(s).