Malkovich Malkovich Malkovich - Two thumbs up!

Rating: Null/10 (21 March 2004)

John Cusack, John Malkovich, Catherine Keener
(Maybe some spoilers)

I don't think I've ever seen a movie quite like 'Being John Malkovich'. The story is creative and unusual with a lot of unexpected twists. It deals with a many number of things. Some are too unbelievable, especially near the end, when all is revealed about this secret door, and Maxine and Lotte's trip into Malkovich's sub-conscious. At first John Cusack is in the spot-light, then half-way through he becomes a secondary, unpredictable character and the attention goes to Malkovich and Maxine.
Craig (Cusack) is a deprived worn out puppeteer who gets a job in an office building with a particularly low ceiling where he discovers a small door that lets him see through the eyes of John Malkovich. Which he uses to his own advantage. Elsewhere, Instead of trying to deal with the unrequited love for his work-mate, Maxine, he becomes 'slightly' obsessive and keeps pursuing her. He even locks up his wife in a cage (thats right, a cage).
John Malkovich (who knew). Most of the time Malkovich is 'possessed' by other people, and completely clueless to what is going on, until he discovers what is happening and goes into his own mind. I never knew much of him until I saw this film and he was amazing. I kept thinking, is that his real voice. He has quite a challenge, not only does he have to play himself he has to take on other personalities, such as Craig and Lotte's (when they're him). He does superb acting.
Maxine (Catherine Keener) is the money hungry work-mate of Craig. Craig becomes obsessed with her and turns his discovery into a small business. Lotte and Malkovich himself also fall for her charms, but Maxine has another agenda. By the end you see a different side of her, you can see that she really cares for Lotte, and she changes for the better.
Cameron Diaz plays in one of her early roles as Lotte, the self-conscious and timid wife of Cusack. She keeps pets in her house, including a monkey. To look at her, you wouldn't think it was the same Cameron in Charlie's Angel's, but she is. A less attractive, hippy version. She is another character (like Cusack) who becomes unbalanced and bewildered by Maxine
'Being John Malkovich' is a breathtaking achievement and beautifully acted by all the cast, some who went on to do much bigger things. It leaves you with mixed thoughts and emotions, and for some people, confused. If they'd have left out the immortality part with the old people it would have been better, in my opinion. But I love it; It's definitely worth a watch.