NekoHomey Purely Joyful Movie!

BelSports This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

Griff Lees Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

Lela The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.

classicsoncall One has to give credit to John Malkovich for allowing the film makers to use him as a character in this story, and not always to flattering effect. This is one of those quintessential movies to illustrate the absurd by being absurd. It starts out with the kind of quirky humor that I find entertaining enough but then tries to outdo itself by getting more and more in the weeds with it's intricate and often confusing treatment of personality exchanges and multiple Malkovich's. So in other words, it wears the viewer down after a while and gets to be somewhat overbearing in it's quest to be an off-beat movie. Actually, you know you're asking for trouble when Charlie Sheen is called upon to give advice. If you're quick enough, you'll be able to catch momentary glimpses of folks like Brad Pitt, Winona Ryder and Gary Sinise, some of them so quick they don't even qualify as cameos. Not to be too harsh, it's not a terrible movie and if you like off the wall writing and humor, this will definitely fit the bill. And to think it all started with a Help Wanted Ad looking for a man with fast hands.

Alan Smithee Esq. This movie is magnificent. It's tough to describe because it's one of the most off the wall bat-s!@t crazy plots ever conceived. Imaginative and inventive film making at it's best. A must see to believe that it was actually made. You never know where this movie is headed which makes it super enjoyable.

FilmBuff1994 Being John Malkovich is a terrific movie with a very well developed storyline and a really talented cast. There is nothing else like it, as is anything from Charlie Kaufman and Spike Jonze, two individual film makers who are not one bit afraid to take risks, which they did here to a significant degree. It certainly does not sound good on paper, two co-workers discover a portal to the mind of John Malkovich in their office building, but everything in it really works, the story will warp your mind in a way that you will enjoy. The only problem I had was that they glossed over Dr. Lester, who is beautifully portrayed by Orson Bean, his story, a very complicated one, could have been developed much more. The film has a surprisingly sweet and inspiring message, to be true to yourself, the person you want to be, to pursue your dreams and not to hold back on what you would like to achieve, you may find it strange how a story such as that could have such a powerful methapor to it, you will have to see for yourself. The cast is outstanding and are well able to handle the film's weirdness, John Cusack and Cameron Diaz deliver one of the best performances of their careers as two damaged soles, with an obsession with Catherine Keener, a mean, manipulative, deceiving woman you can not help but love. However, Malkovich is without a doubt the star of the show, portraying a very exaggerated version of himself, I would assume, being forced to change personalities and identities throughout for certain reasons, doing it all to full effect. Weird, whimsical and somewhat inspiring, Being John Malkovich is a movie that will leave you feeling a range of different emotions, all which you will enjoy, a must watch comedy drama. When a puppeteer is forced to take a job in an office building, he soon discovers a portal that takes him in to the mind of actor John Malkovich. Best Performance: John Malkovich

paulg-67221 This film is well made. Great performances, great idea and an exceptional film for a first-time director.The best thing about the movie is that John Malkovich agreed to play a parody of himself. I admire that he was willing to do this film (after a few years of refusing to star in it).The idea: John Cusack's character finds a portal that leads to John Malkovich's mind. This idea is funny and had potential.The performances by the actors are good. John Cusack did a great job as Craig Schwartz. Cameron Diaz did a great job as Craig's wife, Lotte. John Malkovich did a great job as John Malkovich.However, the weakness of the film is that the story gets weaker as it goes on. At the beginning of the film, Craig is presented sympathetically: he is a struggling puppeteer. But by the end of the film, I stopped caring about him (his obsession with his co-worker, Maxine and locking his wife in a cage played a part in this). The same is for Lotte: at the star of the film she is portrayed as a caring person (especially towards her numerous pets) but by the end of the film I stopped caring (her obsession with Craig's co-worker Maxine played a part in this).SPOILERS START: I think the film went a little overboard with the craziness. At first John Cusack discovers the portal behind a filing cabinet. The portal is a small door hidden under a panel. Later in the film it is revealed a group of old people were going to enter the portal at midnight on John Malkovich's 44th birthday. The problem is the portal being a small door was surrealist enough and did not require an addition plot element.I think the film's idea was strong enough not to have additional plot lines like immortality through changing bodies (suppose the 'vessel' they are using dies in an accident or gets a disease - not a secure method and why midnight on the 44th birthday? The human brain stops developing in the 20s - why not then? They'll be in that 'vessel' far longer). The wife's romance with the lady at Craig's workplace (in John Malkovich's body). Craig controlling Malkovich's boy for 8 months (makes him very unlikable as well as caging his wife, also when he leaves Malkovich's body he looks like he would have had he stayed only 15 minutes - considering he was controlling Malkovich after some practice, he is a puppeteer, does that mean he was separate? He must have been as Malkovich was aware that he wasn't in control. Also he would have been reported missing). The rules of the portal are not clearly explained - it allows you to enter John Malkovich's mind for 15 minutes to somehow allowing people to stay longer if they really want to (how silly is that, considering those who enter the portal are willing to pay $200 for the experience?). Maxine was unlikable in the first place and the fact she's manipulative and gets a happy ending bothered me.SPOILERS OVER: Despite my problems, I would still recommend at least a watch to make up your mind. It's still a good film (although I probably won't watch it again). Considering that it's hugely popular and praised, obviously some people enjoy it.