Being John Malkovich (1999)
I always wanted to be John Malkovich.
Presentation:
Have you wanted be someone else for a day? Now you can, and for 200 bucks! Who else to pilot this than John Malkovich? The fact that he’s not as well known as Jim Carrey for a body swap role makes this so much more satirical. The way it’s presented to live inside Malkovich’s brain is through vignette and handheld camera movement. John Cusack inhibits exactly what we’d imagine of an insecure puppeteer. Cameron Diaz is unrecognizable and Catherine Keener doesn’t really pull off the irresistible beauty. It’s one of the rarities where the performances are just okay but it kinda works because everyone is supposed to be flawed and unliked. The film is well paced with a certain quirkiness and satirical humor. Normally this kind of film would be a dark comedy but ends up having some substance because of the themes and ending. The cameos are also a nice touch here.
Conclusion:
9 times out of 10 this film would be pitched as a commercial light hearted boy swap comedy. It ends up tonally comparable to The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Introspective with a touch of sympathetic pain, the film is also about discovery, insecurity, desperation, ambition and cruelty. I really like how pathetic some of the characters are presented and makes this feel unlike any other silly body swap. There’s never enough Malkovich!
Recommendations
And so the ambiguity grift begins.