Being John Malkovich - The most inventive film ever?

[Raphph]

Ive just reviewed Being John Malkovich R2 for DVD Times. I thought it was one of the most original films Ive ever seen. Check out my review link in my sig!

As per usual, what do you guys think?

[Raphph]

also

If Craig and Maxine run JM Inc through the night between 12-4am, surely the 15 minute trip will be boring as Malkovich will usually be in bed?

[Robby]

Originally posted by Raphph
also

If Craig and Maxine run JM Inc through the night between 12-4am, surely the 15 minute trip will be boring as Malkovich will usually be in bed?

That is a very good point. I'd never thought of that. Although it could be argued that with him being an actor he will most likely travel the world so the time differences would differ. :rolleyes:

As for the film it was one of those ones where i came out of the cinema and pre ordered the DVD straight away. ( I remember recieving it the same day i got the Fight Club DVD...what a day:D ).

I love the fact that it looks like a real arty movie, especially the beginning but it really engrosses the viewer. I particularly like the score which i think captures the mood of the film brilliantly. And kudos to Malkovich to be able to play a part like this.

'Shut up you over rated piece of EDIT' :clap:

A fantastic film and one that gets better each time i watch it. Great use of surround effects too.

[StephenM]

Your review is excellent.

However, the movie was a bit of a let down for me. I think that the premise is brilliant and that the choice of Malkovich was inspired.

I just did not find it as funny or as engaging as I thought it would be. Certain elements worked for me (the secretary, Malkovich's trip, the puppetry) but others (Diaz/Keener, the reason for the portal, a little too long amongst others) did not.

An original and inspired idea for a film that fell flat for me.

Flame on.

[Vinyl-Pants]

I have to say this film didnt really work for me, it was watchable but certainly not a keeper.
What you call imaginative I call far-fetched and sometimes silly. There were no likable characters, everyone was very cold and Diaz and Cusack were annoying at times with their over-eccentricity.

It's certainly a unique film, one that I wouldnt call as a comedy that it's usually classified under.

A film worth watching once.

[cat]

I watched it twice and definitely liked it better second time around. My main problem with it was I don't particularly like Cusack and I thought Malkovich was a plank :D

[JamesW]

I'm another one who was slightly disappointed with this. It's not a bad film, but it didn't seem to match the praise that it had received at the time. I found it to be fairly flat and didn't really engage you. Mind you, I've still got the DVD so maybe another viewing is in order...

[homerjhandley]

Undecided again.

its very strange to watch and understand whats going on.

I think it may be a film that you would buy after you have watched it, rather than a blind buy.

Funny in parts but i have only watched it twice in one year, coz it is not really a film that you can just put on and watch, you have to be in the mood to watch it.

[nc]

Definitely the weirdest film ever. Don't know whether I loved it or hated it. I wouldn't watch it again though,because it was unique.

[Mike]

Sorry, error

[Just Call Me Wanda]

I was blown away with it when I first watched it and I still love the film after multiple viewings.

One of the reason's why I love the film so much is because of its originality, and as you said in your review, Kaufman's script is fantastic.

I think it's one of those films that the majority of people will love or hate.

[kcxdev]

The 'originality' was just too weird for me.

[Michael Brooke]

For probably the first time in the history of these forums, I totally agree with Vinyl-Pants!

Believe me, I wanted to love this film with the same mad passion that others have shown for it (on paper, it looked right up my street), but the combination of mostly dislikeable characters and a surprisingly uninvolving plot (why do people keep calling it "original" when body-swapping has been a staple of children's literature ever since <I>Vice Versa</I> over a century ago?) left me largely cold.

Far from being "the most inventive film ever", I didn't think it was nearly inventive enough - I knew the basic plot premise in advance of seeing it, and once I'd picked that up I thought there was precious little else going for it, with many of the repeated jokes (the 7 1/2th floor gags, for instance) getting very stale very quickly. Watch Buster Keaton's <A HREF="http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/reviews/other/ourhospitality.html">Sherlock Jr</A> if you want to see how a fantastical plot can be enhanced by genuinely dazzling visual and conceptual invention - it's half the length of <I>Being John Malkovich</I>, but has infinitely more ideas.

Credit where it's due, though - the decision to base it around Malkovich was truly inspired. If only the rest of the film was that imaginative.

Oh, and NC - if you really think this is the "definitely the weirdest film ever", can I assume you've never seen anything by David Lynch, Jan Svankmajer, Luis Bunuel or Guy Maddin? My problem with <I>Being John Malkovich</I> was that it was surprisingly ordinary given all the hype!

[Just Call Me Wanda]

***Spoilers***

.

The originality for me wasn't the fact that they 'body swapped' in its general sense, but the fact they 'body swapped' into Malkovic's head. I also liked the bizarre way they got into his head - the 7 1/2 floor orientation; New Jersey Turnpike exit; the eventual realisation of what the portal actually was; and the morality tale, all created a sense of something I hadn't seen or even imagined before.

[Cap'n Al]

Some of it is very, very funny indeed, but the absence of sympathetic characters ultimately spoils it. That said, some of it does stand up to repeated viewings very nicely, especially the Malkovich fantasy scenes.

The big question is; would it have been better with a different director? While I think that Jonze's restrained, almost monochromatic style worked quite well, I can't help feeling that it often stifled the overall effect. Anyone agree?

[Grumpy]

It is a very strange film one that I thought I would not enjoy but had to watch. Once I got over the unusual story line I found it compelling veiwing and decided it is a dvd that I will keep to watch again. I thought JM was a good sport to play the part and not take himself to seriously.

[urruri]

It didn't do anything for me i'm afraid.