Being John Malkovich was directed by Spike Jonze who is also known for Adaptation (2002), Where the Wild Things Are (2009), and Her (2013). Being John Malkovich was Jonze’s first breakthrough as a director in 1999. He is a fantastic visionary; he is able to explore philosophical ideas in his films and make them entertaining to watch.
The film is about a gloomy puppeteer named Craig Schwartz (John Cusack) who can’t find any work. He later discovers a portal that literally sends him into the head of the real-life movie star John Malkovich. Craig partners up with coworker Maxine Lund (Catherine Keener), a love interest, to make money from using the portal. They advertise the experience, charging people $200 to visit the mind of John.
Being John Malkovich features a great cast of dry comedic actors. Charlie Sheen turns up for some great self-parody, and there are cameo appearances by Sean Penn and Brad Pitt.
Being John Malkovich is a wildly inventive film that never leaves you bored. It provides an unrelenting thrill with all its visual and intellectual treats. An example is the moment when Malkovich goes through the portal and is in a reality where, for 15 minutes, everyone is Malkovich and only speaks the word “Malkovich.” It is a weirdly profound meditation on consciousness, identity, fame, gender, and reality that viewers today still contemplate.
When Craig goes into the portal for the first time and tries to explain what he has discovered to Maxine, he says, “It raises all sorts of philosophical questions about the nature of self, about the existence of the soul. Am I me? Is Malkovich Malkovich?” I think that this line captures what the film is about. It asks the viewers, What does it mean to be me?
Craig’s wife, Lotte Schwartz (Cameron Diaz), goes through quite a change when she has her chance to be Malkovich, after finding out about the money-making scheme from an ad. She experiences what it is like to be a man and realizes that she finally feels herself. When she tells Craig her reasoning for wanting a sex change, he completely dismisses her and tells her it’s just a momentary feeling. The film takes a turn for the worse after this.
Craig becomes so obsessed with Maxine that he locks up his wife (who is now in love with Maxine as well) to gain complete control over Malkovich. Craig is able to control Malkovich with his puppeteering skills and uses him to win over Maxine. He also uses Malkovich’s fame to further his career as a puppeteer. His unhealthy obsession with Maxine leads to his own demise in the film.
Being John Malkovich is a fun adventure that has serious aspects that we all should consider for ourselves. What does it truly mean to be ourselves? Or, as Craig puts it, “Am I me?”
