Being John Malkovich (1999)
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A puppeteer discovers a portal that allows him to enter the mind of actor John Malkovich.
The story
Craig Schwartz is an unemployed puppeteer in New York City who finds work as a file clerk in a building with a low ceiling. While working, he discovers a hidden door that leads into the mind of actor John Malkovich. After experiencing the sensation of being the actor, Craig tells his co-worker Maxine about the discovery. They realize the experience could be sold for profit. The story follows the complications that arise as they begin to exploit the portal, leading to a surreal exploration of identity and the consequences of inhabiting another person's consciousness.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After Lotte enters the portal and becomes obsessed with being a man, she and Craig begin to manipulate the situation. Maxine is also involved, and a complex dynamic forms where characters take turns inhabiting Malkovich's body. Craig eventually locks Lotte in a cage and takes control of Malkovich himself, using his puppeteering skills to manipulate the actor's body. The real Malkovich becomes distressed and eventually finds the portal, where he is confronted by Craig and Maxine. The plot deepens as it is revealed that the building's owner, Dr. Lester, is actually an immortal man who uses the portal to jump between bodies. As the characters' lives become intertwined through the portal, the consequences of their actions escalate. In the final act, a desperate struggle for control over Malkovich's body leads to a tragic separation. Years later, the film reveals the ultimate fate of the characters: Craig is trapped inside the mind of Maxine's daughter, while Lotte and Maxine live together, and the cycle of immortality continues through the portal.
- First release year
- 1999
- Runtime (minutes)
- 113
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Spike Jonze
- Writers
- Charlie Kaufman · writer
- Cast and characters
- John Cusack · Craig Schwartz; Cameron Diaz · Lotte; Catherine Keener · Maxine Lund; John Malkovich · John Malkovich
- Genres
- surrealist fantasy comedy drama
- Themes
- identity; consciousness; immortality
- Tone and mood
- surreal; whimsical
- Setting
- New York City and New Jersey in the late 1990s.
- Premise and plot tags
- mind control; metaphysical fiction; body swapping
- Reception
- The film received widespread acclaim, with praise for its writing and direction, and was noted for its originality.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 8.9 · scale: 10 · review count: 133; Metacritic · score: 90 · scale: 100 · review count: 36
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Director · Nomination; Academy Award · Best Original Screenplay · Nomination; Academy Award · Best Supporting Actress · Nomination
- Production trivia
- The character of Malkovich was chosen partly for the sound of his name.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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