The temptation to offer a synopsis of this peculiar film is a great one, though I'm not sure that even the slickest rundown of the plot would do it justice. Suffice it to say that a few paying customers (and a couple of freebies) get to spend 15 minutes of their life inside the head of renowned actor John Malkovich (played to convincing detail by renowned actor John Malkovich).
"Being John Malkovich" evokes, at times, "Through the Looking Glass", "Brazil", and "Hudsucker Proxy" (you know, for kids!). This confection from director Spike Jonze and screenwriter Charlie Kaufman is loopy, ridiculous, hilarious, and sublime. It's two of the best hours I've spent in a theater. Ever.
John Cusack is utterly perfect as Craig Schwartz, the puppeteer who discovers the hidden portal leading directly into the noggin of Malkovich. The film was half over before I realized that it was Cameron Diaz playing Lotte, Craig's wife (and I suppose that's a compliment, since she was wonderful). Catherine Keener, who I've adored since "Living in Oblivion", appears in what seems to be her best role yet -- as Maxine, the icy yet oh-so-sexy career woman who proves to be the object of desire for both Craig and Lotte.
The film is just a joy to watch, from the hilariously, barely-acknowledged low ceilings of the "7 ½" floor on which Craig and Maxine work, to the shadowy perspective from behind Mr. Malkovich's eyes. It also opens with what is perhaps the most mesmerizing opening sequence since "Contact".
It's a must-see, particularly if you're hungering for something fresh and imaginative. "Being John Malkovich" will not disappoint.
Craig Schwartz (John Cusack) is an impoverished New York puppeteer who longs to put himself inside someone else s skin. He is married to devoted, dist...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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