Portraying one s self really isn t as easy at it would seem, especially, within the context of a movie where other people are wearing your skin. Considering the lighting constraints of the original cinematography, the DVD delivers a reasonably sharp and detailed image. Daylight and other well-lit scenes look good, but those that are very dark, lack definition. Of course, the transfer can t be faulted since it is recreating the filmmakers intentions. Colors tend to be subdued, but they are cleanly reproduced without any evidence of chroma noise.
Blacks are accurate, although the level of shadow detail suffers during the very dark sequences.
The Dolby Digital 5.1 channel soundtrack features a very intriguing mix that places one inside the head of the title character. For the most part, the sound design is pretty normal, with an open sounding forward soundstage and ambient sounds emanating from the rears. However, anytime someone gets inside of John Malkovich s head, the sound becomes very subjective. Voices and other sounds tend to echo, as if one were really listening to those sounds from inside Malkovich s head. Also, the surround use is great during these scenes, creating a very distinct and enveloping effect.