One Wonders Why John Malkovich Wants to Be John Malkovich

Rating: Null/10 (27 September 2001)

Previous to this film I watched "8MM." THAT film made me want to take a shower with lye soap and a brillo pad, but it didn't disturb me half as much as this sick little fantasy. At first I was fascinated by the puppetry aspect. I laughed over the conceit of a seventh and a half floor. (The lady who first shows Cusack how to get out at that floor should get an honorary oscar for her bit part). Mary Kaye Place was a treat as the snotty, incomprehensible secretary. Even that first trip through Malkovich's brain was a hoot. Then...it stopped being a brilliant discussion of manipulation (who, after all, is the real puppet here--the wooden puppets, Malkovich--or Cusack's loser puppeteer himself???) and turned into something so revolting I was glad I had rented it from my library.
How many times have we had to sit through the plot device of the "old lecher boss"? How many times have you watched a story in which our hero (such as he is) pursues the ice queen only to learn she's in love with his wife (or some other woman in the story)and continues, blindly to pursue her after he learns the truth? After a while, the satire wore thin and really, what did it all amount to in the end?
I did want to like it because of the way it handles manipulation and for the really nasty twist in the last few seconds (poor little Emily!)...ultimately, though, I want to get the taste of this movie out of my mouth. Ugh.