FemaleFirst.co.uk: DVD: Being John Malkovich [DVD] [2000]

Being John Malkovich [DVD] [2000]
enlarge	Director: Spike Jonze Actors: John Cusack, Cameron Diaz, Catherine Keener, John Malkovich, Ned Bellamy Studio: Uca Category: DVD List Price: ~~£9.99~~ Buy Used: £1.44 as of 25/11/2009 10:28 GMT details You Save: £8.55 (86%) New (35) Used (47) Collectible (3) from £1.44 Seller: mattr180 Rating: 42 reviews Sales Rank: 4774 Format: Anamorphic, Dubbed, PAL, Widescreen Languages: English (Original Language), French (Original Language), English (Subtitled), German (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Dutch (Subtitled), German (Dubbed) Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over Region: 2 Discs: 1 Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 DVD Layers: 2 DVD Sides: 1 Number Of Discs: 1 Running Time: 112 Minutes Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2 Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6 EAN: 5050582036930 ASIN: B00004U8OC Theatrical Release Date: 1999 Release Date: May 8, 2006 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days


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Editorial Reviews: Amazon.co.uk Review While too many films suffer the fate of creative bankruptcy, IBeing John Malkovich/I 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.pThe 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 Ipièce de résistance/I, 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, IBeing John Malkovich/I is a wild place to visit. --IJeff Shannon/I

Customer Reviews: Showing reviews 1-5 of 42 1 2 3 4 5 6 ...9 Next » the best film of the nineties September 12, 2000 10 out of 13 found this review helpful 1999 was a very strong year for American movies, but Spike Jonze's inimitable surrealist comic parable is simply the very best.pThe pitch for this film must have been quite something and I suppose we should be thankful for the studio executives who took a chance on this bizarre idea. Here's the pitch. Talented, but dysfunctional puppeteer takes a filing job on the 7 1/2th floor of a Manhattan building only to discover a hidden portal into the brain of John Malkovitch. Those who go into the portal can be JM, but for twenty minutes only, whereupon they are dumped ignominiously onto the New Jersey turnpike. Still following?pIn Jonze's safe hands and with a brilliant cast led by the always-excellent John Cusak, an unrecognisable Cameron Diaz and Malkovitch in full self parody mode, this movie is a joy from first to last. It is very very funny for one thing. The sharp dialogue, endless sight gags, several joyous cameos (Charlie Sheen's stands out) and the sheer absurdity of the whole thing see to that. But everything is held together by the bigger themes of identity, fantasy and mortality. pIf you didn't see this at the cinema, see it now, go and rent it, buy the thing. Take my car. It's that good! Mind blowing ! August 30, 2000 raymondlin@tinyonline.co.uk (England) 17 out of 24 found this review helpful Most movies these days are too formulistic, they are either boy loves girl or a so call hero saves the world, all of which has been done a billion times, and just when I think Hollywood is running out of ideas, they came up with this. Forget about all those movies you've seen for the past few years at the cinema's door step, this is like nothing you've ever seen before. The idea itself is so bizarre and wacky it is almost beyond believe, what's this film about? Well, it is exactly what it said on the tin, people BE John Malkovich, see what he's seeing feel what's feeling and taste what's he consuming. And they can experience it for 15 minutes for a mere $200, following so far?pThe main characters in this film is John Cusack, he plays a talented puppeteer who can't seems to get a break, Cameron Diaz plays his animal loving wife (she looks nothing like she did in all her other films, I never thought she can look dreadful). So he took a job as a file clerk (because he's good with his fingers) in an office on the 7 and a half floor. Where he met Catherine Keener who plays Cusack's co-worker and love interest, and John Malkovich plays himself.pAnd one day Cusack's character finds a porthole to John Malkovich's mind in the 7 ½ floor and that's where to the wacky and wonderful story begins. I won't give away the plot twist here because the story is told so beautifully and carefully that it would give anyone a surprise or two.pAs for the acting, it seems that John Cusack isn't capable of bad acting or even alright acting, he is OUTSTANDING. Even Cameron Diaz fits her role perfectly, Catherine Keener deserved her Oscar nomination and John Malkovich should at least get an award just for begin such a good sport, and not forgetting Charlie Sheen, I didn't see that cameo coming, oops. As directions, Spike Jonze has truly put himself on the A-list for new directors; I would never imagine the forth king in Three Kings could make such a wonderful and imaginative film.pBottom line - Forget about all the other Sci-Fi/ Action adventures/ Romantic comedies/ Drama for a few hours and enjoy one of the rarest and best Hollywood export in years. Do You Know What A Metaphysical Can Of Worms This Movie Is? May 5, 2009 JH Dickinson (York, UK) 4 out of 5 found this review helpful I've been putting off writing my review of this film for a while now, because I just love it so much, and wanted to make sure I could do it justice! Admittedly, it will not be to everyone's taste, as you can see from the range of reviews here - in particular, don't look here if you're wanting harsh social reality. br / br /The summary: Craig Schwartz, struggling puppeteer, seeks job; locates job in surreal half-sized floor of office building, working for lovable eccentric Lester, of Lestercorp. Craig falls in love with fellow employee Maxine. Craig's wife, Lottie, also falls in love with Maxine. Craig discovers portal into the mind of John Malkovich. And that's all in the first half-hour! br / br /This all sounds a bit wacky, but there are two main reasons that this movie really works. Firstly, Kaufman and Jonze, the screenwriter and director respectively, start from the concept of this portal, and build everything else around that - beyond that, everything that happens occurs in an entirely believable manner, from that single leap of imagination. There are still some pretty surreal scenes once inside the portal though! br / br /Secondly, the characterization is the most incisive and profound I have seen in any film. There isn't a single character that doesn't feel completely whole and three-dimensional. Dissatisfied and jealous Craig; animal-loving, gender-confused Lottie; ambitious, manipulative Maxine; even the monkey gets a more thorough analysis than most movie characters! br / br /Since this is written by Charlie Kaufman, the same screenwriter who went on to write Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind, fans of that film will also find something to like here. However, since this is directed by Spike Jonze, not Michel Gondry, the wafty, dreamlike style of the latter is mainly done without, leaving a much darker, more emotive film. br / br /Amongst the other highlights, another thing to watch out for is the beautiful, melancholic soundtrack by Carter Burwell. I spent five minutes listening to the music on the DVD menu! br / br /This is probably a film that you can't be certain whether it's for you or not until you've watched it, but I would highly recommend you give it a try! After I'd seen it the first time, it quickly overtook all other films to join my top ten, if not my favorite film of all. Buy it, watch it again and again.... November 24, 2002 10 out of 15 found this review helpful The plot as we all know it - puppeteer Craig(John Cusack) with animal-lover wife(Cameron Diaz) living out a simple but unfulfilled marriage. In more ways than one, we are shown that - her need for a child, his aspirations to make puppetry his rice-bowl, her animals, his stories as performed by his puppets....pThis takes into another world as Craig finds a portal/door into John Malkovich's mind. All the true characteristics of the main characters start coming out. Spike Jonze takes us into a world of confusion, real confusion within the mind trips into being John Malkovich. But all within the confines of achieving what the characters really want for themselves.pJohn Malkovich delights in this "role". He steals the title and the movie!! John Cusack's performance is understated. Diaz and Keener proficient. Watch for the cameos by Charlie Sheen, Hoffman, Sean Penn, Gary Sinise etc....pThe real scene stealers - the puppets. Kudos to the puppeteer!! This is a real movie, watch it and go away thinking. The comedy is incidental. A very well put together film. A classic alongside Gilliam and Kubrick's works. Outrageous and brilliant March 25, 2007 M.W. Thrasher (UK) 6 out of 9 found this review helpful This is a rare gem with Charlie Kaufman's signature. Symbolic and real at the same time, it switches between magical realism and exaggeration with effortless ease, making you laugh out loud in many places and without warning. br / br /This is the story of a puppeteer who longs for recognition. When he gets a job in an obscure floor between floors (7 1/2th) where everyone seems to be delightfully bonkers, he discovers a door in the wall which leads inside John Malkovich for 15 minutes before being spit out by the New Jersey Turnpike. br / br /Sharing his discovery with his cooky wife and his devious co-worker only complicates things, for each of them want to take advantage of Being John Malkovich in their own way. And if you thought that the movie was weird up to then, you've got another thing coming as John Malkovich is now made into an enterprise and invaded by a host of admirers who want to be him for 15 precious minutes. br / br /Poor Malkovich feels that he is being taken over and tries to get to the bottom of this, ending up going inside the portal to his own mind... and I shall say no more. br / br /Identity crisis, manipulation, misrepresentation... they are all investigated in this bizarre comedy. The story has so much potential that it could have in fact been made into an excellent drama/thriller. Yet, Kaufman seems to have a way of weaving jaw-dropping humour in his ingenious screenplays. And it works. One wonders what kind of a hobbit Charlie Kaufman really is. After all, this is a remarkable Alice in Wonderland tale with a post-modern twist. br / br /Hail Malkovich for a brilliant performance: br /1) Of himself br /2) Of himself being possessed by others br /3) Of his many selves (ingeniously done!) br /4) In a conversation with Charlie Sheen br / br /John Cusack is the weakest link, but Cameron Diaz comes across perfectly as a looloo animal lover with a gender identity crisis, and Catherine Keener is wonderfully annoying as a self-centred manipulative witch of a woman. br / br /This is one of the gems of original storytelling and compelling moviemaking and deserves to be seen with an open mind. Malkovich... Showing reviews 1-5 of 42 1 2 3 4 5 6 ...9 Next »

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