Sheer brilliance....

Rating: 10/10 (15 April 2000)

If ever you grow weary of the movies, "Being John Malkovich" is the perfect antidote to get you excited about film again. Spike Jonze has created one of the most amazingly original, surprising, and uniquely hilarious movies to come along in a long, long time.
The performances given by the entire cast is remarkable, as you truly do forget that these are not real people, despite the fantastic events taking place. Nearly every shot brims with Jonze's desire to show us something we've not seen before. I often found myself grinning uncontrollably at what we are being shown, and there lurks a genuine surprise behind every corner.
The end begins to get a bit muddled, but multiple viewings are certainly rewarded, as you notice more beautiful, quirky details. The ending twist is certainly satisfying, once you catch it.
1999 should be remembered as the year of the rookie director (Mendes, Russell, Shymalan, etc.), and Spike Jonze should be honored right alongside them. "Being John Malkovich" goes beyond being simply an odd, artsy film; it exemplifies what great cinema can be with a little effort at originality.