Gets a 10 for Originality

Rating: Null/10 (11 January 2001)

Not just originality, but originality that works. It's stranger than Groundhog Day, and it works too. This film creates a strange plot, with strange circumstances, and does what Hollywood often fails to achieve, which is to explain all the reasons behind a strange plot-
A. Why there is a door to someone's head in an office building. b. What is serves as. c. What it could be used as (for manipulation, longevity, etc.) d. What would happen if Malkovich went inside his own head. e. What would happen if more than one person went inside someone's head at once f. Why there is a 7 1/2 floor.
The ending comes off making you feel really akward, and this is perhaps intensified by the background music. But this is really a film about manipulation and the dangerous reality that encompasses, being someone else. Craig Swartz is a loser who finds potency through manipulation of someone else. He meets Maxine, who like Craig, likes to manipulate people, but through her appearance, and wits, instead of through puppets. They find a door into Malkovich's head and join forces. But soon, Craig and Lottie want more, so they turn into manipulating Malkovich to achieve their own satisfaction. But soon, it creates a backlash of marital problems which are so strange, it seems Jerry Springer is an inevitable course for the two. On top of this, Maxine uses both Craig and Lottie, who are in Malkovich, to achieve her own ends and be ontop of the world. But as it all unfolds, the problems catch up to Craig and Lottie, and the serious consequences are too weird to express, and definitely must be seen. 10/10- and thats a rare mark for me.