Being John Malkovich

REVIEW
Wild, dark, mysterious and, at times, uproariously funny, this profane little gem is one of the most unprecedented movies ever made. Cusack is the hapless Craig Schwartz, an immensely talented, but overly morose puppeteer who toils in obscurity. He lives in a shabby New York City apartment with his wife Lotte (an almost unrecognizable Diaz), a pet shop proprietor and animal enthusiast. Desperate for an escape, Cusack takes a menial job with a filing agency on the seventh-and-a-half floor (literally a half-floor!). While retrieving a lost file, he discovers a hidden doorway behind a filing cabinet which, when entered, transports people into the psyche (body?) of John Malkovich and then, after about 15 minutes, spits them out on the Jersey turnpike. Sound strange? Well, strange is just the beginning as Cusack joins forces with Keener (as the cold-hearted, manipulative operator Maxine) to market this “portal” in the off-hours. Whatever twists and turns can be imagined from this odd setup cannot possibly compare with what director Jonze has in store. It's part comic romp, part fractured fairy tale and part existential howl. The performances are all good; however, special mention to Malkovich himself for being such a good sport about being "that guy in the jewel thief movie." His "Malkovich" scene is an instant classic.