Best ever true science fiction, should have won Best Picture Oscar

Rating: 10/10 (17 December 2010)

In the 1940s and 50s I was fascinated by the classic science fiction novels and short stories of the times, such as works by Heinlein, Asimov, Bradbury, Orwell, Aldous Huxley, and Jules Verne, among others. This was a distinctly different genre than Star Wars and Star Trek.
Writer Charlie Kaufman's "Being John Malkovich" is the best film story ever of that original sci-fi genre.
Not only does it have an incredibly imaginative entertaining story, the film is perfectly directed and acted. Despite being a comedy, Kaufman's screenplay demonstrates an understanding of the complexities of human emotions, and even has moments of philosophical questioning.
In addition to starting with a great screenplay, the director Spike Jonze and the cast are all excellent. Catherine Keener exudes sexy manipulative bitch without relying on great beauty. John Malkovich gets a chance to exercise all of his acting talents. Charlie Sheen has a cute cameo as himself as a womanizer. Cameron Diaz was great in a role as the dowdy wife of the main protagonist, an artistic puppeteer (John Cusack). Although I knew she was in the cast, I didn't even recognize her in the part until late in the story.