Being John Malkovich

You can tell that merely being awake is excruciating for Charlie by the way he walks, hunched up as though he were being physically beaten down by his self-loathing. While Charlie is, to put it as gently as possible, a mess, Donald is the picture of happiness, though a happiness born of being completely oblivious to the world around him. ... Full Review

The best of Kaufman's previous films were helmed by directors Spike Jonze and Michel Gondry-both of whom succeed in translating Kaufman's cerebral scripts into films that, while intellectual exercises of a sort, were nonetheless engaging, funny, and affecting. ... Full Review

Malkovich talks about art and truth and lies; pay attention, as his remarks are apposite. It is a wondrous thing, DVD, enabling us to delve deeper into the psyche of the filmmakers and explore a whole new world - just like the characters in Being John Malkovich, who explore existence through JM's eyes, via the amazing tunnel from floor 7 of the Flimmer Building that leads into his brain. ... Full Review

"Being John Malkovich is simply the most original, brilliant film of the year! It is a great film. This is also John Cusack's best performance ever he becomes this extraordinary character who longs to feel differently by being inside another skin. ... Full Review

Yet somehow they make perfect sense in Being John Malkovich . You will need those enhanced taste buds to appreciate Spike Jonze's Being John Malkovich . The film was unanimously praised for its daring originality. ... Full Review

This film, like all Kaufman's, is impossible to explain and has been severely misunderstood by many people who do not understand its meta-ironic conclusion. Nevermind the direction by the best-in-the-business Spike Jonze ('Being John Malkovich' as well as a plethora of commercials and music videos, most notably the majority of Weezer and Fatboy Slim's videos). ... Full Review

The film is so earnest in its absurdity....Mr. Jonze has also put together a strong cast, all performing at the top of their respective games.....Craig has the posture and the walk of a man who has spent his life accepting defeat and oppression with an artist's martyrdom.....propels Charlie Kaufmanns's stunningly original screenplay which manages to sustain its absurdity with a consistency....John Cusack never disappoints in any film, but here he gives a surprisingly physical performance as Craig..... ... Full Review

the film is manic, subtle, comic and vaguely sad --.... ... Full Review

deliver strong performances as well....the luring surrealistic feel in visuals and music....John Cusack is solid as the hippie radical puppeteer whose artistic talents with wooden dolls are as extreme as his psychotic behavior..... ... Full Review

But it's Malkovich who seems to be having the most fun. Also, it helps that "Being John Malkovich" features some name actors in its cast, including John Cusack, Cameron Diaz and the title actor - or to be more accurate, the good sport - who gives the film its impetus. ... Full Review