Creativity masks glaring flaws

Rating: 6/10 (6 August 2008)

Completely original, but blatantly violating the basic laws of film making, 'Being John Malkovich is a movie that invites you to laugh at its absurdity. i have no complaints with the plot. In fact, it comes along as refreshing and arouses anticipation of anyone who bothers to read the movie synopsis before watching a film. A surreal concept, which a portal to someone's brain is, requires that similar treatment in the movie. Yet, the portal is almost dismissed in the movie as being nothing more than commonplace and mundane. To see the director overlooking the essence of fantasy and instead weave a story on its fringe is sad because as viewers you are left salivating for the meaty substance that never comes. The acting is mediocre, and the scenes are patched together many times instead of a coherent narrative. The film expects to sell on novelty, but so many of natural consequences arising from an imaginative plot. The film is humorous at times, but overall feels like the director felt like he had a great idea and decided to sell that instead of making a film around it.