Film Review: "Being John Malkovich"

Guest blogger, Lynn Devries, will periodically review independent films, both past and present, for Film Gecko.

I hope you enjoy her review!

“Being John Malkovich” – The Perfect DVD to Watch on a Sunday Afternoon

This is a movie that more than anything requires total suspension of disbelief. If you can do that completely, you will be in for the funny and inexplicable ride of your life.

Imagine an under-employed puppeteer who finds a portal through which anyone can enter the mind of the actor John Malkovich. The adventurer not only will see the world through John Malkovich’s eyes, but experience it as he does. But then, after a short while, the person is somehow spit out onto the side of the New Jersey Turnpike.

Yes, that’s the simple explanation. The full details would spoil the whole movie for you. Just know that the cast of wacky characters, the escalating details of the situation and the jealousies and conflicts that ensue are deliciously intriguing.

More after the jump!

John Malkovich is the unknowing victim of this strange sort of voyeurism and isn’t actually the main character of the movie, even though its title bears his name.

John Cusack plays the puppeteer and is the most unusual character that starts as the hero and turns into the villain.

The puppeteer’s frumpy, animal loving wife is played by Cameron Diaz. No, I’m not making it up; she really is made to look frumpy.

And the villainess, turned heroine is played by Catherine Keener.

And it all comes from the wonderfully twisted mind of director Spike Jonze. He truly sees the world in a way that no other mortal seems to see it. Thank goodness for that!

If you haven’t seen Being John Malkovich, you really must. If you have seen it, you know that it’s probably time to drag it out and enjoy it again. This is a movie I’ve seen over 20 times and I enjoy new things about it every time I see it.

Watch, and enjoy…watch and enjoy…watch and enjoy!