Contains perhaps the single funniest moment in movie history

Rating: Null/10 (10 July 2000)

Being John Malkovich is like Alice in Wonderland in reverse. A puppeteer (John Cusack) discovers a tunnel that leads from his own bizarre existence into the comparatively tranquil world inside the head of actor John Malkovich. This is a daring and brilliant movie. It may seem disordered, like thousands of little lights flashing at their own whim, but is tied together by its main theme and becomes the burst of a single firework, delighting the senses. That theme is control, control of the puppeteer working the strings that give his wooden dolls movement, control of his own life, which is quickly eluding him, and control of the world he craves through monopolization of the secret tunnel. It is the story of a singularly unique love triangle. Because it occurs inside John Malkovich's head, perhaps it could even be termed a love quadrangle. Director Spike Jonze deserves enormous credit for this achievement. He has molded some marvelous individual talents, including Cameron Diaz, Orson Bean and Charlie Sheen, into an excellent ensemble. Being John Malkovich must have been a pure joy in which to perform. This film contains perhaps the funniest single moment in movie history.