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From Amazon.co.uk
While too many films suffer the fate of creative bankruptcy, Being John Malkovich is a refreshing study in contrast, so bracingly original that you'll want to send director Spike Jonze and screenwriter Charlie Kaufman a thank-you note for restoring your faith in the enchantment of film. Even if it ultimately serves little purpose beyond the thrill of comedic invention, this demented romance is gloriously entertaining, spilling over with ideas that tickle the brain and even touch the heart. That's to be expected in a movie that dares to ponder the existential dilemma of a forlorn puppeteer (John Cusack) who discovers a metaphysical portal into the brain of actor John Malkovich.
The puppeteer takes a job working as a file clerk on the seventh-and-a-half floor of a Manhattan office building; this idea alone might serve as the comedic basis for an entire film, but Jonze and Kaufman are just getting started. Add a devious co-worker (Catherine Keener), Cusack's dowdy wife (a barely recognisable Cameron Diaz), and a business scheme to capitalise on the thrill of being John Malkovich, and you've got a movie that just gets crazier as it plays by its own outrageous rules. Malkovich himself is the film's pièce de résistance, playing on his own persona with obvious delight and--when he enters his own brain via the portal--appearing with multiple versions of himself in a tour-de-force use of digital trickery. Does it add up to much? Not really. But for 112 liberating minutes, Being John Malkovich is a wild place to visit. --Jeff Shannon
Product Description
Leftfield comedy which marked the feature film debuts of director Spike Jonze and writer Charlie Kaufman. Unappreciated as a puppeteer and bored with his ten-year marriage, Craig Schwartz (John Cusack) takes a job in an office, where he discovers a portal into the mind of actor John Malkovich. To his amazement, he then finds that he is able to occupy and control Malkovich's body; but when he shares this discovery with his wife Lotte (Cameron Diaz) it leads to all kinds of trouble.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By alek
Format:Blu-ray
THE FILM
The film itself is brilliant, there's no doubt about it. Original, funny, thought-provoking. The direction from Spike Jonze is flawless, as is Charlie Kaufman's script.
It's all been said before and there's not much point in repeating it, so I'll just say: it's a must-see.
THE DISC
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the Blu-Ray.
As is often the case with Universal's catalogue titles, quite a lot of Edge Enhancement has been applied to the film.
Because of this, there are noticeable (and distracting) halos around objects, which give the film a slightly digital and artificial look.
It also appears that DNR was used where it was not necessarily needed but it's not as obvious the EE.
Other than that, the transfer looks reasonably good, especially considering the film's murky colour palette.
On a more positive note, the DTS-HD MA soundtrack is solid and immersing.
While this release looks better than its DVD counterpart, it could have been more than just that without the unnecessary tinkering with the original film print.
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Available audio tracks: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, French, Italian, German, Spanish DTS 5.1
Available subtitles: English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Japanese, Cantonese, Dutch, Greek, Icelandic, Korean, Portuguese, Traditional Mandarin
The film itself is brilliant, there's no doubt about it. Original, funny, thought-provoking. The direction from Spike Jonze is flawless, as is Charlie Kaufman's script.
It's all been said before and there's not much point in repeating it, so I'll just say: it's a must-see.
THE DISC
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the Blu-Ray.
As is often the case with Universal's catalogue titles, quite a lot of Edge Enhancement has been applied to the film.
Because of this, there are noticeable (and distracting) halos around objects, which give the film a slightly digital and artificial look.
It also appears that DNR was used where it was not necessarily needed but it's not as obvious the EE.
Other than that, the transfer looks reasonably good, especially considering the film's murky colour palette.
On a more positive note, the DTS-HD MA soundtrack is solid and immersing.
While this release looks better than its DVD counterpart, it could have been more than just that without the unnecessary tinkering with the original film print.
-
-
Available audio tracks: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, French, Italian, German, Spanish DTS 5.1
Available subtitles: English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Japanese, Cantonese, Dutch, Greek, Icelandic, Korean, Portuguese, Traditional Mandarin
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By Nick
Format:DVD
This film was one that i was reluctant to watch, it looked very dark and quite complex. It was dark and it was complex, but it was very entertaining, witty and moving in places. I found myself really feeling the characters emotions. Its a great story that is well executed by the cinematic techniques, the acting and the imaginative set (floor 7 1/2). Ok its not for everyone, but i recommend you rent it first so you can make up your mind, give it a chance.
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By David Welsh
Format:DVD
Written by Charlie Kaufman, this film is a true original. Being John Malkovich follows a small group of people who discover a portal that leads into the mind of John Malkovich, where people can see through Malkovich's eyes for 15 minutes before being dumped by the New Jersey turnpike. They set up a business charging people for the experience - and that's when the film starts to get really weird... This is a must-see.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I could write the whole review like that...
How much did they have to pay John Malkovich to do this? More interestingly, how much did they have to pay him to get into that jumper at the end?
A superb film which sustained the humour and fantasy introduced with the first few scenes and the 7 1/2th floor. Just when you think something more bizarre couldn't happen, it does, yet there is a logical coherency in it and very few (if any) dead ends which were rendered incomprehensible by bad editing, as happens so often when a character is introduced only to be chopped out later on when the director realises that they don't quite cut the mustard.
The sex scenes are the best and most erotic I've seen in a long time, particularly with the inbuilt ambiguity.
Malkovich, as a celebrity sophisticate, is also the supreme choice for those who wish to inhabit his body too, though more on that theme would be a spoiler. "Being Keanu Reeves" wouldn't be quite the same.
The DVD is interesting in other ways, with the viewer never quite sure whether one is watching an advert for the film - or instead is actually still in the film. I can't give anything away without leaking a spoiler, but that "TV spot" is interesting and the interview with director Spike Jonze - on his first major motion picture, no less - is as curious as discovering a portal into the brain of an actor on a mezzanine floor in an old office block.
Watch it.
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By L. Davidson
VINE™ VOICE
Format:DVD
"Being John Malkovich" is an enjoyable, surreal and thought provoking film. John Cusack plays a failed puppeteer who takes a job as a filing clerk on the seriously low-ceilinged 7 1/2th floor of a large office block. Cusack uncovers a small door in his office which acts as a portal into the brain of actor John Malkovich and enables him to further his puppeteering ambitions. He ,and his "kooky" wife played by Cameron Diaz (I didnt realise it was her until the final credits) , both end up getting the hots for one of Cusack's new female colleagues (Catherine Keener) and their marriage disintegrates as John Malkovich's brain , or , more accurately, soul, becomes a marital battleground after the pair of them enter the portal to experience the joy of sex with Malkovich's new girlfriend , amm, Catherine Keener. It is a weird concept and the film is certainly original as well as humourous. However is the premise of the film really that ridiculous ? Is it not theoretically possible for a technologically advanced civilisation , from another dimension/universe perhaps, to enter our Minds and live our lives , if not for us , then alongside us ? The physical tunnel in the film is of course a symbol of a metaphysical gateway into our consciousness which is perhaps not as far fetched as it may seem.
By Josh Lee
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
The concept of the film is a strange and wonderful one. After watching it for the first time a few weeks ago, I didn't know what to expect when I first removed the packaging and placed it in the DVD player. After watching the film, I was genuinely entertained and quite confused at the same time, Its very rare to have that combo within one film but, somehow, Being John Malkovich did it perfectly. The cast worked well together, with some surprisingly good performances from Cameron Diaz and John Malkovich himself.
The film, without giving too much away for the people who haven't watched it, follows the life of a puppeteer Craig Schwartz (played by John Cusacks) who ends up getting a new job at the Lester Corporation on Floor 7½ where he discovers a hidden door that leads into the mind of John Malkovich. If you reading this, then yes the film is crazier than it sounds! I would strongly recommend this film to anyone. It is funny, weird, disturbing, slightly wrong in some areas and all in all a great watch.
It is brilliantly original with a slight hint of madness!!
The film, without giving too much away for the people who haven't watched it, follows the life of a puppeteer Craig Schwartz (played by John Cusacks) who ends up getting a new job at the Lester Corporation on Floor 7½ where he discovers a hidden door that leads into the mind of John Malkovich. If you reading this, then yes the film is crazier than it sounds! I would strongly recommend this film to anyone. It is funny, weird, disturbing, slightly wrong in some areas and all in all a great watch.
It is brilliantly original with a slight hint of madness!!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
NOT IMPRESSED AT ALL
Oh god such a boring movie that i keep wondering how some people can like it.Im big fan of Malkovich himself,but this movie really dissapointed me.
Published 4 months ago by margaret
4.0 out of 5 stars
Weird but oh sooooo good
Didn't know what to expect when I first saw this film, my friend had brought it round to a DVD watching night and insisted it was a great film. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Morlock5K
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good
A superb story!! If you buy this you will not be disappointed. One of the best films in a long time!!
Published 12 months ago by SLASH
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful movie by Charlie Kaufman
Very original. You never know what's going to happen next. Wonderful actors (even John Malkovitch, who can be annoying). Read more
Published 16 months ago by Marie France
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ademas esta en castellano
Laberinto surrealista, poema visual, comedia ácida y mordaz, drama sobre la incomprensión, etc. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Blu-ray Castellano
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great, thought-provoking movie!
Hard to not like this film, and even if you don't, you will be entertained. Ever want to be someone else?
Published 20 months ago by Thierry Henry
3.0 out of 5 stars
Must-see, not must-buy
Enjoyable and finely-tuned, this comedy about entering the life of John Malkovich via a secret portal, surely is something entirely fresh and unseen. Read more
Published on 14 Jan 2011 by J. S. Yamada
4.0 out of 5 stars
watching john malkovich
Being John Malkovich despite its title actor John Malkovich isnt the first of the charcters to be introduced. Read more
Published on 27 Nov 2010 by crow 1.9.9.5
5.0 out of 5 stars
to think or not to think
If you are tired of conventional media and mainstream film and TV, Being John Malkovich will offer something different. It is fun, unconventional, original and unusual. Read more
Published on 17 Sep 2010 by John Mullen
5.0 out of 5 stars
Quirky and Beautifully Crafted
Subtle but bizarre, Being John Malkovich is a modern day classic for the thinking person.
Published on 1 Jan 2010 by Ms. S. E. Latham
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