Genres

Visitors Review

felixoteiza 2013-05-30 12:34:44

Maybe interesting for the artsy--fartsy crowd; but for the rest of us, a waste of time.

I saw BJM last week, for the first time, and concluded that it was justa piece of crap. Then I read some IMDb reviews here, where the names ofNietzsche and Freud popped up, and I decided to take a new look. Afterthat, I still think it stinks, but now with better reasons. See, this is about a puppeteer, and loser, who gets a job in the 7½floor of some building, that floor being only about 5 feet high, as itwas built to please a dwarf who complained to the owner during itsconstruction (for some reason this is considered hilarious by some).Then, by pure chance he discovers a hole and a tunnel in a wall, whichleads right into the head of JM. So, he and the female coworker he gotthe hots for set business, allowing people to...(yawn)... Anyway, this is all you need to know about BJM:All characters here are egocentric, narcissistic, hedonistic, amorallyopportunistic. They have absolutely no ethics or compassion, except forLotti--the puppeteer's wife--and that only for a while. They all actexclusively for the satisfaction of their own needs and wantings, whichmakes them elemental creatures. (There are only two, or three, kinds ofhumans who behave that way: lactating babies, caveman...and psychotickillers). Nobody here does anything out of love, friendship or ethics;all is just for self interest, because of greed, be that physical orpsychological. Which naturally brings to light its philosophical roots,which are--why I'm not shocked, shocked, to learn it!--Nietzsche. SameNietzsche who said that, as God was dead, everyone could do whatever hepleased, which served as a moral pretext for many things, includingNazism and the Jewish Holocaust. Freud is also brought into the mix.Speaking of Freud, I have another way to prove what I stated. Freuddivides human psyche in 3 parts: Ego, Super Ego and Id. In elementalcreatures there's no Super Ego, as this part develops as the result oflearning experiences and elemental psyches have little of this, if anyat all. The Ego is the part who thinks, analyzes and decides. Ditto.The remaining part is the Id, which acts simply by instinct, with thesingle minded purpose of satisfying the own needs, wantings--just likethe characters in BJM. So, there's no doubt that these characters areas elemental creatures as any lactating baby. For that reason we can'tlearn a thing from them; there is nothing they may show us of new ororiginal. If you want to be entertained by such kind of person, betterwatch your own infant kid, your baby; at least you'll be watchingsomeone you love and not people you don't give a s**t about.BJM is the contrary of what his fans say it is: it is unimaginative,pedestrian, ordinary, lame, deja vu. It doesn't even live up to histitle. You don't get to be JM at all. All you get is a trip inside hishead, like you get every day in your car. I have seen more imaginativeplots in The Flintstones. The real thrill would be something moreabstract: imagine to REALLY get inside Stephen Hawkings' mind and seethe evolving Universe. Or inside Paul McCartney's and experience thefeeling of hearing random notes coming together, the genesis of a newhit song. That would be a thrill! Not that of becoming some genericHollywood actor and be there when he scratches his lower parts or bangssome starlet. But the worst thing about BJM is that it gives us no lifelesson, no food for thought, no lasting impression; just a cynical,hedonistic, predatory, view of mankind.Some years ago writers from around the world voted on the greatestliterary work of all times. By a wide majority(+50%) the winner was thetale of a madman who fancied himself a white knight and who went aroundXVII Century Spain fighting for justice--or so he thought. He was DonQuixote. Here, in IMDb, the film voted as the best is about a manfighting for freedom and justice, in this case his own. I was prettyimpressed recently with 2 films, one of a child psychiatrist deeplytroubled for having failed to one of his patients & the other about apastor who lost his faith after the tragic death of his wife. See,there's a pattern there: all this indicates that--despite the cynicismof our era--exists a deeply felt longing by Man's soul for being inpeace with itself and in good terms with his personal divinity, bydoing the right thing. This shows also that Man is above all a moralcreature. BJM goes totally against this fiber by being just a shallow,empty, cynical, nihilistic, piece of cinematography. I can see now members of the artsy-fartsy community raising theirincredulous eyes from their Tweeters, I pods--from their tables at theback of some trendy Starbucks--to fling at me their high mindedinsults, between thoughtful sips at their javas and their dignifiedyawns of existential tedium: "peasant", "stable boy". I don't care.This had to be said.In any instance, this is not a movie to hate, just one to be bored todeath with. It's like being at a New Year's party at 4.00 AM, listeningto your drunken uncle Bernie trying to tell you what he thinks are hisbest jokes. You don't hate him for that; you're just waiting for themoment he'll pass out and softly slide under the table. 2/10, only for the puppet shows.

Mitchell Moore 2013-05-30 07:27:16

Identity Crisis

Aspiring artist/office drone Craig and his wife Lotte (John Cusackand Cameron Diaz, both with really unhappy hair) are unhappywith each other and the blandness of their lives. He turns to sassybut indifferent co-worker Maxine(Catherine Keener) forromance...she to her menagerie of wise-cracking birds and anannoyingly subtitled chimpanzee. Craig discovers a portal into themind of You Know Who (curiously fey real-life John Malkovich),eventually transforming the actor into the world-renownedpuppeteer he's always dreamed of becoming. Turns out Lil Lotteis really a lesbian and also falls for Maxine. The tug-of-war for heraffections (as well as Malkovich's body) begins! Randy,grandfatherly Dr. Lester (Orson Bean) and the always charmingbut inexplicably present Mary Kay Place provide comic relief in thisbody-snatchin' treatment of unrequited love. Cusack tries too hardto be disheveled and misunderstood, but succeeds merely inmaking his character pathetic and unlikeable... greasy hair andtortured puppydog eyes can only go so far. Instead, watch forKeener's trademark detached curiosity as she toys mercilesslywith her suitors. Watch also as the heavyhanded characterizationsand plodding score try to teach you a thing or two aboutimmortality, loneliness and dirty commerce. Thankfully, BJM'sflawless script provides its own portal to a rewarding couple ofhours.

kuntry_maus 2013-05-29 15:20:53

From a very surreal brain, the film is surreally funny & clever

Best thinking man's comedy.Beats Monty Python in wackiness, superbly pulled off by the twostraight-faced Johns (how did they do it?).A must see.

Frank Swietek 2013-05-28 19:26:39

There hasn't been a more brilliantly bizarre, or more darkly humorous, American film in years.

Tom Veil 2013-05-26 09:46:52

Fantastic science-fiction/romance/comedy

The local reviews I read of "Being John Malkovich" were not tooenthusiastic, so when I saw this movie today my expectationswere amazingly exceeded. This movie was thoroughly enjoyable from start tofinish... no lags, no lame dialog, very few cliches. As a science fiction,it's very surreal, much like Terry Gilliam's "Brazil"... the comedy isequally well done, a bit bizarre like the old "Saturday Night Live" and"Monty Python's Flying Circus"... andthe romantic aspect is twisted beyond anything you've ever imagined.Although the movie contains elements of other work as mentioned above,overall it's extremely unique, very refreshing, and cleverlydone. I think it would be most enjoyed by those of us who have a slightlytwisted sense of humor and some familiarity with John Malkovich.

Roland E. Zwick 2013-05-26 05:42:51

imaginative, innovative film

`Being John Malkovich' certainly ranks among the most brilliantly conceivedand executed films of the past several years. Overflowing with imaginationand creativity, it manages to breathe new life into that trickiest ofcinematic genres – the surrealist satire. Like all films that dare to takerisks, `Being John Malkovich' sometimes stumbles in the paths it chooses totake, but at least its course is always an innovative and fascinating one.John Cusack stars as Craig Schwartz, a soft-spoken nebbish leading a lifeless of quiet desperation than of overwhelming blandness. Unable tosupporthimself as a puppeteer, he finally succumbs to his wife's pressure to seekout a job, landing a position as file clerk in a bizarre company located onthe 7 ½ th floor of a Manhattan office building. One of the triumphs ofthefilm is that it portrays the surreal in such an understated and quiet way.This floor has ceilings so low that the people who work on it mustcontinually crouch as they move about their business, yet they all acceptthat fact with an uncomplaining and unquestioning good humor. Even whenSchwartz discovers a strange portal hidden behind some cabinets leadingdirectly into John Malkovich's brain, all those to whom Craig reveals hissecret take very little convincing both to believe him and to experimentwith it themselves. Thus, by creating a world that already appearsslightlyaskew in its reality – Craig's wife, in addition, runs a pet shop andtherefore fills their house with a menagerie of exotic animals –the filmmakes it possible for us to go along with the characters' otherwiseinexplicably blasé reactions.Writer Charlie Kaufman and director Spike Jonze hit upon a number offascinating themes in the course of their bizarre musings. Craig, forinstance, learns that there exists a certain safety in the tediousness ofeveryday life, for the moment he allows the extraordinary to enter hisordered world he unleashes passions - that have been long dormant both inhimself and his wife - which he finds himself unable to control. His wife,in particular, whom he has mistakenly pigeonholed as a woman concerned onlywith the humdrum domesticities associated with married life, provides himwith a rude awakening as she begins to surpass him in her burgeoningobsession with experiencing the excitements of sexual liberation. Craigalso discovers the terrifying truth about himself, that, beneath the façadeof a meek, mild-mannered artist there lurks the soul of a repressed despot,as he comes more and more to relish the ability to move into Malkovich'smind and control his thoughts and actions – much as with his belovedpuppets, but now on a much more grand, much more malevolent scale. Thefilmgenerates much of its comic tension through the complex sexual interplaythat develops among Craig, his wife, Lotte, and his alluring but enigmaticco-worker, Maxine, in whom both husband and wife develop a more thanpassingsexual interest. With tinges of `No Exit,' the three characters findthemselves caught in a frustrating world of overlapping and thereforeclashing sexual desires and passions.The film demonstrates a real stroke of genius in its casting. John Cusack,with his look of understated bewilderment, perfectly conveys the soul of aman too long accustomed to expecting little in the way of surprise out oflife. Catherine Keener brilliantly captures the detached cynicism andtaunting coolness that makes her such an enthralling sexual temptation toboth Craig and Lotte. And whose audacious decision was it to cast CameronDiaz as the near-dowdy second fiddle to Kenner, to make her the NON-sexobject in the film? As for Mr. Malkovich himself, he seems to be havingtheself-deprecating time of his life as he allows himself and even his lack ofgeneral public name recognition to become targets for gentle ribbing.`Being John Malkovich' is not a perfect movie. It occasionally sags inplaces and suffers from some repetition and, like many utterly original andaudacious works, it sometimes alienates its audience through its quality ofoften-cold calculation. At moments in which the iconoclasm seems to becomean end in itself, one may be tempted to see the film inemperor's-new-clothes terms, wondering if what one is seeing is really asbrilliant as it appears or just an intellectual scam being played on aself-congratulatory elite audience. For the most part, however, `BeingJohnMalkovich' is fertile enough in its invention and varied enough in itsimaginativeness to rate as a film well worth seeing and cherishing. Thereshould definitely be more like it!

Libbets 2013-05-20 19:13:38

Even Better than I could of expected

I saw this at a special preview and all I can say is WOW. I have never seenanything quite like it. Its completely different to anything I have everseen before. Its weird, wacky and absorbing. Definately my favorite filmthis year. I shall be going to see it again when it is released in theUK.

2013-05-20 07:05:21

Me, Myself and I . . .

The saddest part of this movie was that it had so much potential. The first half was terrific: it appeared as if I was going to explore what it really meant to be "me." It was great watching Malcovich go into his own head and seeing only a world of "Malcovich, Malcovich, . . . ."In the second half, it was almost as if the original story was changed so that it would appeal to the masses. It seemed to leave the idea of who we really are, and seemed to fall into a slapstick lesbian who-really-gives-a-rat's-a.. farce. Maybe this is what viewers want; maybe not.This movie could have been up there with "A Clockwork Orange," even better than the overrated "Brazil." Too bad it wasn't.

BWil 2013-05-16 09:55:24

....Whoa

I have to admit, I've seen some extremely weird movies, but NEVER haveI walked away from a movie with this kind of ambivalence...I can'tdecide exactly what the point of this movie was, or how someone couldpossibly put it together but I liked it at the same time. I walked awayfrom this movie feeling like there may be something wrong with me, justfrom having watched it! I don't understand why John Malkovich was thecharacter of choice, or why there was a seventh and a half floor...butit was very unique, and possibly the most original movie of the 20thcentury. Cameron Diaz does a great job of playing her character, andthe fact that her character is so complex is really great which alsogoes for John Cusack. the idea of people being able to delve into otherpeople's minds is insane, imagining what you could do and the kind ofpower you would have. I wasn't exactly sure of what to make of it atfirst but the end reveals all. I think it's the kind of movie you haveto watch more than once to really decide how you feel about it. Butit's still a must see.

2013-05-15 18:32:06

Best viewed with no idea what it's about!

I had the wonderful experience of seeing this film without knowing *anything* about it. I honestly didn't even know John Malkovich was in the film. Let me tell you, this was an absolute roller-coaster ride! Excellent film!

2013-04-28 23:32:42

protecting happiness.

It's not required that you follow the plot in this film. Rather look for what the director is relating in the script, and visuals. Being John Malkovich is a film about how people are willing to disguise, and lie to their true selves in order to protect the small pieces of happiness they obtain in life. Craig Schwartz is a puppeteer who projects his inner conflict through his performances. His wife projects her empathy, and insecurity on to her pets. These two people live in isolation even though they are married. When Craig needs to find work he finds it at a "down sized" business on the 7 1/2 floor of old building. The building holds a secret... a portal into John Malkovich's mind. Does this need to make sense. No it does not. What is important that the character's find a place where they can hide their identy, and become what they wish because of John Malkovich's celeberty. I will go no further in discribing the plot because there are many surprises to be had in this movie.You may want to rent this before you buy simply because the film contains some bizzare moments, and is not for everyones tastes. This is an art film, not a special effects ladden action flick. To me it's nice to see art prevail in a commercial glutted field. Give it a shot

2013-04-28 11:16:49

Amazing!

I loved this movie, perhaps the best of 1999. The performances, especially Malkovich, Dias, and Cusack were innovative and well played. If you are no twilling to open your mind, even just a little, this movie will annoy you to no end.

lazaruspower 2013-04-21 01:00:52

Drama, black Comedy

Being John Malkovich is a film with multiple deeps and is in fact a verycomplex and black. As first you might see the film as a bare comedy as itappears to be very simple in it´s way of telling and simple photography.Butbehind this surface lays something very familiar to as all, the greed tobecome someone we doesn't are, "the grass is greener..."The main actor's will to become John Malkovich, so that he can fulfil hisdreams is also a problem in our daily life. No one will take you seriousuntil you have made a name, and when you have made a name you can makeeverything and everything will sale, as for example Pablo Picasso.I gave this film a 10th out of 10 cause to it's multiplicity and thatthisfilm is not as predictible as most of the films now.

Jim Berrettini 2013-04-20 10:59:53

What a disappointment.

I'd heard a lot about this movie. This is the most overrated movie of thelast 10 years. Vile, boring characters, unbearable distance, intellectualpretense. Yes, there are funny sequences; yes, occasionally an interestingidea surfaces, only to be sabotaged by the screenplay's heavy-handednessandpolitical correctness. The acting is good, the direction stylish but fullofgimmicks. The writing is absolute trash. 5 out of 10 (nowhere near what Iexpected).

James Rocchi 2013-04-20 08:41:02

Being John Malkovich is one head-trip of a comedy.

noralee 2013-04-19 12:32:20

Incomparably Inventive and Uniquely Funny

"Being John Malkovich" is a laugh out loud, creative hoot.It is incomparably inventive.With Kaufman writing the script particularly with the titular actor inmind it's hard to think of what other actor's persona would fit in aswell, as Malkovich's protean roles leaning toward the bad guys makesfor an effective back-story that say another wouldn't work as well. It was like a Monty Python cartoon come to life -- completelyunpredictable and creative in every scene and in every angle anddetail. I think director Spike Jonze put in a bunch of references to musicvideos that also have an absurdist touch - such as the last scenelooking like Nirvana's "In Utero" cover?(originally written 11/14/1999)

nyran20 2013-04-12 12:08:19

Worst Movie I have EVER SEEN

This was...by far...the worst movie I have ever seen in my 19 year lifespan. I had to fight myself to watch the end 40 minutes into it because Ihad no idea where the thing was going. The whole movie is so bad, sopoorlydeveloped, and with a downright STUPID storyline.

2013-04-11 22:32:42

Lots of 5 stars-lots of 1 stars.So you know it's truly great

The really wonderful movies - the ones you think about while you're going to sleep at night for years to come - are the ones that are met with a round of cheers mixed with a round of "what the hell?"s and "I don't get it"s. "2001" met with that reception. So did "A Clockwork Orange." So did "Natural Born Killers." So did "Raging Bull." So did "Nixon." So did "Rushmore." "Being John Malkovich" now takes its rightful place among the greatest movies of all time. This movie does everything right. It's mind-bendingly original obviously. It's blissfully entertaining from start to finish. It's very funny - on many levels (Charlie Sheen's self-depricating cameo is a revelation). And it's a wonderful drama. As usual, John Cusak plays a hero who is sympathetic but also flawed and sometimes contemptible. "Being John Malkovich" is a must buy. It IS that good.

Doug Phillips 2013-04-09 10:59:20

SO! That's where all those voices are coming from...

There is little than can be said about this film without giving anythingaway. So I find that I must restrain myself -- except to say that it is brilliant,thought-provoking, stunning, and WILL be imitated: but notsuccessfully.I applaud The John Malkovich for even allowing this film to be made. Not tomention his incredible acting in it.It brings up the question of how does one play one's self?Astoundingly, in this case -- and, of course, who could do itbetter?Wonderful casting: Orson Bean (!), Mary Kay Place and I quite honestly didnot know that Cameron Diaz was in this film so I kept wondering who thatfamiliar face was ... but didn't know until the final credits wererolling.Great cameos too: Charlie Sheen, Brad Pitt, Sean Penn -- Ilaughed.John Cusak is, as always, on the edge of sanity -- but he does it sowell.This will be a classic. See it.

movieguy1021 2013-04-09 02:37:09

Being John Malkovich: 6/10

In Spike Jonze's overrated but fine movie Being John Malkovich, John Cusackis Craig Schwartz, a struggling puppeteer. He lives with his wife Lotte(Cameron Diaz), who is an animal lover, but we never find out her job. Craigneeds a job so he gets a job on the 7½ floor of an office building. Soon hediscovers a portal into the head of actor John Malkovich (John Malkovich).Weirdness ensues.Cusack is unrecognizable, and so is Diaz, but not Catherine Keener, whoplays Maxine, someone else who works on the 7½ floor. I found that thequasi-romantic quality between Cusack and Keener was one-sided. Keener'sacting was rather stiff; I was disappointed. Cusack was quite good, if alittle forced at times; it seems like he was forced into doing this movie.Diaz was okay, but nothing remarkable. As I said before, Keener's acting wasflat. Malkovich actually was good, I was pleasantly surprised.The story is unusually mellow, going for a lot of the movie without music.It would make more sense to bring out the mood of the piece. I also feltlike Jonze underplayed the fantasy element. Sure, I liked the 7½ floor andthe portal, but if they had used more special effects (imagine a day wheresomeone would say that) it would have been more believable, not that thisconcept is one that happens every day. The ending, which includes Craig'sboss Dr. Lester (Orson Bean), seemed too out there and out of the blue. Manytimes, we were expected to think `Oh, of course!' because they rarelyexplained anything. I did find it amusing at first, but after awhile it gotannoying.At the beginning there were lots of laughs, but they soon became sporadicand smaller. Of course, this isn't a film where everyone is tellingone-liners, but if they had, as I've said before, put in special effects,maybe humorous ones, it would have made the movie more enjoyable. It wasvery entertaining and imaginative, though. Only Jonze could think ofsomething this twisted. I had no idea where this roller coaster was going tostop or if I'd just be stuck in the loop-the-loop for 105minutes.To me, it looks like Jonze is a puppet fan, glamorizing puppets allthroughout the movie. I didn't like the `first ending', where everythingslows down, but the last one I did like a lot. That doesn't make any sense,right? Well, where you think the conclusion is I didn't like, but thedenouement I enjoyed. There's not much more I can say about this flawed butenjoyable comedy.My rating: 6/10Rated R for language and sexuality.