Director Spike Jonze
Writer Charlie Kaufman
Stars John Cusack, Cameron Diaz, Catherine Keener, John Malkovich
Certificate 15
Running time 112 mins
Made US, 1999

"New York City, a puppeteer, a tragic marriage, a chimp, a boss, a receptionist, another woman, an actor, the New Jersey Turnpike, and a plate of lasagne." - Spike Jonze

FRUSTRATED puppeteer Craig Shwartz (John Cusack) works as a filing clerk, but yearns to be famous. He sees his opportunity when he discovers a secret portal into the head of actor John Malkovich. He hopes this discovery will win him the heart of sexy work-mate Maxine (Catherine Keener), however, she seems more interested in Craig's rather plain, pet-shop-owner wife, Lottie (Cameron Diaz).

This wonderful, highly original film is the first effort of both writer Charlie Kaufman, and director Spike Jonze, already famed for his pop promos. Kaufman's dazzlingly fresh script takes us into a world filled with weird characters in bizarre situations. Cusack is his own entertaining self, Keener smoulders seductively, and Diaz proves that she is still watchable when not completely gorgeous. There are also enjoyably self-parodying cameos from Brad Pitt, Sean Penn and Charlie Sheen, while John Malkovich - without whose co-operation the film would have been impossible - is excellent as many different versions of himself in the largest cameo ever. His John Cusack impression is particularly impressive.


Nicholas Dawson

Read The Wolf's review of Being John Malkovich
Read Katherine M Reynolds review of Being John Malkovich