IMDb > Being John Malkovich (1999)
Being John Malkovich
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany credits
Awards & Reviews
user reviewsexternal reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guidemessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsmemorable quotes
Did You Know?
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
box office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

Being John Malkovich (1999) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (See all 59 | slideshow) Videos (see all 8)
Being John Malkovich -- A puppeteer discovers a portal that leads literally into the head of the movie star, John Malkovich.
Being John Malkovich -- A puppeteer discovers a portal that leads literally into the head of the movie star, John Malkovich.

Overview

User Rating:
7.8/10   178,282 votes »
Your Rating:
Saving vote...
Deleting vote...
/10   (delete | history)
Sorry, there was a problem
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 19% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Spike Jonze
Writer (WGA):
Charlie Kaufman (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Being John Malkovich on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
19 November 1999 (USA) See more »
Genre:
Comedy | Drama | Fantasy | Sci-Fi See more »
Tagline:
Ever wanted to be someone else? Now you can. See more »
Plot:
A puppeteer discovers a portal that leads literally into the head of the movie star, John Malkovich. Full summary » | Full synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
See more »
Awards:
Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 50 wins & 48 nominations See more »
NewsDesk:
(792 articles)
'F*ck yeah, let's go:' Robin Wright Discusses Playing Robin Wright in Ari Folman's Divisive Cannes Drama 'The Congress'
 (From Indiewire. 20 May 2013, 2:51 AM, PDT)
Cannes: Is Ari Folman's 'The Congress' The Most Anti-Hollywood Movie Ever Made?
 (From Indiewire. 17 May 2013, 5:33 AM, PDT)
The Cannes Diary: May 16
 (From Backstage. 16 May 2013, 4:50 PM, PDT)
User Reviews:
Insanely brilliant and brilliantly insane. See more (802 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

John Cusack ... Craig Schwartz

Cameron Diaz ... Lotte Schwartz

Ned Bellamy ... Derek Mantini

Eric Weinstein ... Father at Puppet Show
Madison Lanc ... Daughter at Puppet Show

Octavia Spencer ... Woman in Elevator (as Octavia L. Spencer)

Mary Kay Place ... Floris

Orson Bean ... Dr. Lester

Catherine Keener ... Maxine Lund
K.K. Dodds ... Wendy

Reginald C. Hayes ... Don (as Reggie Hayes)
Byrne Piven ... Captain Mertin
Judith Wetzell ... Tiny Woman

John Malkovich ... John Horatio Malkovich

Kevin Carroll ... Cab Driver

Willie Garson ... Guy in Restaurant

W. Earl Brown ... First J.M. Inc. Customer

Charlie Sheen ... Charlie

Gerald Emerick ... Sad Man in Line
Bill M. Ryusaki ... Mr. Hiroshi

Carlos Jacott ... Larry the Agent

Richard Fancy ... Johnson Heyward
Patti Tippo ... Malkovich's Mother

Daniel Hansen ... Boy Malkovich

Gregory Sporleder ... Drunk at Bar
Mariah O'Brien ... Girl Creeped Out by Malkovich
Kelly Teacher ... Emily
Jacqueline Benoît ... Lester's Friend (as Jacqueline Benoit)
William Buck ... Lester's Friend (as William N. Buck)
Christine D. Coleman ... Lester's Friend
Jeanne Diehl ... Lester's Friend
Audrey Gelfund ... Lester's Friend (as Audrey Gelfand)
Yetta Ginsburg ... Lester's Friend

Sylvester Jenkins ... Lester's Friend
Roy C. Johnson ... Lester's Friend
Eddie J. Low ... Lester's Friend
Ralph W. Spaulding ... Lester's Friend
David Wyler ... Lester's Friend
Flori Wyler ... Lester's Friend
Kevin Lee ... Ballet Dancer
Marlowe Bassett ... Ballet Dancer
Jennifer Canzoneri ... Ballet Dancer
Kristie Cordle ... Ballet Dancer
Denise Dabrowski ... Ballet Dancer

Kristin Condon ... Ballet Dancer (as Kristin D'Andrea)
Charlene Grimsley ... Ballet Dancer
Christine Krejer ... Ballet Dancer
Erica Long ... Ballet Dancer
Yvonne Montelius ... Ballet Dancer
Jessica Neuberger ... Ballet Dancer
Sara Rifkin ... Ballet Dancer
Elizabeth Rivera ... Ballet Dancer
Chelsa Sjostrom ... Ballet Dancer

Pamela Hayden ... Featured Character Voice (voice)
Jayne Hess ... Featured Character Voice (voice)
Michelle Madden ... Featured Character Voice (voice)
Greg O'Neill ... Featured Character Voice (voice)

Neil Ross ... Featured Character Voice (voice)
Bill Wittman ... Featured Character Voice (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:

Lance Bangs ... Locker Room Bully (uncredited)
Kacee DeMasi ... Cab Driver (uncredited)

Andy Dick ... Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Eddie L. Fauria ... Bartender (uncredited)

David Fincher ... Christopher Bing (uncredited)
Jester Hairston ... Lester's Friend (uncredited)

Isaac Hanson ... Himself at Awards Ceremony (archive footage) (uncredited)

Taylor Hanson ... Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)

Zac Hanson ... Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)

Dustin Hoffman ... Willy Loman (archive footage) (uncredited)
Victor Isaac ... Student (uncredited)

Spike Jonze ... Derek Mantini's Assistant for Emily Dickinson Puppet (uncredited)

James Murray ... Student Puppeteer (uncredited)

Sean Penn ... Himself (uncredited)

Brad Pitt ... Himself (uncredited)

Winona Ryder ... Herself (archive footage) (uncredited)

Gary Sinise ... Stage Role (archive footage) (uncredited)

Trevor Lawrence Young ... Mr. Malkovich Sr. (uncredited)
Create a character page for: ?

Directed by
Spike Jonze 
 
Writing credits
(WGA)
Charlie Kaufman (written by)

Produced by
Steve Golin .... producer
Charlie Kaufman .... executive producer
Michael Kuhn .... executive producer
Vincent Landay .... producer
Sandy Stern .... producer
Michael Stipe .... producer
 
Original Music by
Carter Burwell 
 
Cinematography by
Lance Acord (director of photography)
 
Film Editing by
Eric Zumbrunnen 
 
Casting by
Justine Baddeley 
Kim Davis-Wagner 
 
Production Design by
K.K. Barrett 
 
Art Direction by
Peter Andrus 
 
Set Decoration by
Gene Serdena 
 
Costume Design by
Casey Storm 
 
Makeup Department
Lynn Barron .... makeup artist
David Cox .... additional hair stylist
Pinky Cunningham .... wig maker
Debra L. Ferullo .... makeup artist
Lori Guidroz .... hair stylist (as Lori Guidrez)
Emanuel Millar .... hair designer
John Vulich .... special makeup effects artist
Gucci Westman .... head makeup artist
Victoria Wood .... wig maker
David Beneke .... dental prosthetics (uncredited)
Thomas Floutz .... special makeup effects artist: crew (uncredited)
Rob Hinderstein .... makeup artist (uncredited)
Matthew Jorgensen .... special effects makeup artist: Optic Nerve Studios (uncredited)
 
Production Management
Tim Clawson .... executive in charge of production
Tim Clawson .... unit production manager
Gilly Ruben .... production supervisor
Linda Shamest .... post-production supervisor (as Linda Rae Shamest)
Sean Wimmer .... post-production supervisor
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mark S. Constance .... second assistant director
Melinda Johnson .... dga trainee
Thomas Patrick Smith .... first assistant director
 
Art Department
Fanée Aaron .... set designer
Robert W. Anderson .... set dresser (as Robert Anderson)
Jess Anscott .... greens foreman
Elisa Bussetti .... set designer
Allan Davis .... set dresser
Brian Derfer .... set dresser
James A. Fleming .... set dresser
Chris Forster .... construction coordinator (as Christopher Forster)
Scott Head .... propmaker foreman
Ramiro Hernandez .... propmaker
Philip C. Hurst .... greens
Andy Jenkins .... graphic illustrator
Chiaki Kanda .... art department production assistant
Ritchie Kremer .... property master
Diana Kunce .... sculptor: ballet set sculptures
Michael Leblovic .... charge painter
Christopher Lee .... propmaker
Chantz McCall .... propmaker
Alistair Milne .... illustrator
Jose G. Morales .... construction laborer
Elizabeth Nagle .... greens
Ron Patterson .... assistant props
Bobby Pollard .... set dresser
Tom Price .... construction laborer
Nicholas Radell .... propmaker
Peter Ramsey .... storyboard artist
Gary Rizzo .... leadman
Anders Rundblad .... propmaker
Martin Russell .... propmaker
Grant Samson .... on-set dresser (as Grant D. Samson)
Andrew Schultz .... propmaker
Abigail Sheiner .... art department coordinator
Rick Staves .... set dresser
David M. Steiner .... paint foreman
Sloane U'Ren .... set designer
Jamie Upham .... construction foreman
Scott Williston .... set painter
Dennis Young .... greens
Karen Agresti .... buyer (uncredited)
Edward Tamayo .... set dresser (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
David W. Alstadter .... foley mixer (as David Alstadter)
Richard L. Anderson .... supervising sound editor (as Richard Anderson)
Victoria Bowes .... utility sound technician (as Victoria Thoma-Bowes)
Forrest Brakeman .... production sound mixer
Joseph A. Brennan .... sound engineer (as Joe Brennan)
Mark Coffey .... sound transfer
John T. Cucci .... foley artist (as John Cucci)
Malcolm Fife .... special sound designer: Mit Out Sound
Jack Ford .... sound engineering support
Gary Gegan .... sound re-recording mixer
Matthew Iadarola .... sound re-recording mixer
Robin Johnston .... stage recordist
Ren Klyce .... special sound designer: Mit Out Sound
Elliott Koretz .... supervising sound editor
Kevin Kubota .... utility sound technician
B.J. Lehn .... additional sound mixer (as B.J. Lehn Jr.)
Linda Lew .... foley recordist
Mark Lindauer .... sound engineering support
Dan O'Connell .... foley artist
Nick Peck .... special sound designer: Mit Out Sound
Curt Schulkey .... supervising dialogue editor (as Curt Shulkey)
Debbie Spinelli .... boom operator
Ralph Stuart .... assistant sound editor
Marvin Walowitz .... sound effects editor
Robert Zubia .... stage recordist
David Abrahamsen .... sound (uncredited)
Rick Mitchell .... foley editor (uncredited)
 
Special Effects by
Ryan Arndt .... special effects technician
John E. Gray .... special effects coordinator (as John Gray)
John Ziegler .... special effects foreman
Jason Barnett .... special effects: Malkovich masks (uncredited)
Ben Chester .... special effects costumes (uncredited)
Damian Fisher .... special effects technician (uncredited)
Karin Hanson .... special effects hair (uncredited)
 
Visual Effects by
Mike Davis .... digital compositor: View Studio
Bob Engelsiepen .... supervising digital compositor: View Studio
Lori Freitag-Hild .... flame artist: Gray Matter FX
Bryan Grill .... flame artist: Gray Matter FX
Margaux Mackay .... visual effects producer: Gray Matter FX
Gray Marshall .... compositor: Gray Matter FX
Gray Marshall .... visual effects supervisor: Gray Matter FX
Daniel Radford .... visual effects supervisor
Howard Shur .... digital still compositor: View Studio
Robert Small .... 3d animator: Gray Matter FX
Scott Suess .... digital compositor: View Studio
Floyd Burks .... digital scanning and recording: Cinesite (uncredited)
Jason Dost .... digital recording operator (uncredited)
Adam Francis .... motion control technician (uncredited)
Anthony Mabin .... flame artist (uncredited)
 
Stunts
Dan Bradley .... stunt coordinator
Eric Chambers .... stunt performer
Jani D. Davis .... stunt performer (as Jani Davis)
Bob Elmore .... stunt performer
Ray Lykins .... stunt performer
Grant Mathis .... stunt double: Mr. Malkovich
Bobby Ore .... stunt performer
Darrin Prescott .... stunt rigger
Scott Rogers .... stunt performer
Cris Thomas-Palomino .... stunt performer (as Cris Palomino)
Lee Waddell .... stunt performer
Alexa Sheehan .... stunt double: John Malkovich (uncredited)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Samantha Bahramian .... electrician (as Samantha N. Bahramian)
Laura Mae Bobick .... second assistant camera
David Burrows .... gaffer (as D.B. Burroughs)
Brent Bye .... rigging gaffer
Joseph P. Clem .... electrician (as Joe Clem)
Sal Coniglio .... first assistant camera (as Salvatore Coniglio)
Jim Fealy .... additional photographer
Kirk R. Gardner .... Steadicam operator (as Kirk Gardner)
David González .... key rigging grip
Jack M. Guberman .... electrician
Peter Gulla .... camera operator
Doug Houston .... electrician
Ben Kaller .... camera production assistant
Ken Longballa .... electrician
Mark Marchetti .... best boy electric
Keith A. Markham .... best boy grip (as Keith Markham)
Michael McGarry .... grip (as Mike McGarry)
Joseph Messier .... dolly grip
Melissa Moseley .... still photographer
Anthony G. Nakonechnyj .... additional camera operator (as Tony Nakonechnyj)
Gino Nix .... key grip
Caitlin Phillips .... camera loader
Erik Wolford .... grip
James Frederick .... lighting technician (uncredited)
Dan Hofstad .... set lighting (uncredited)
Daniel P. Moore .... video operator: additional photography (uncredited)
Paul Taylor .... Steadicam operator (uncredited)
Jimi Udel .... grip (uncredited)
 
Casting Department
Victor Isaac .... extras casting assistant
Cecily Jordan .... extras casting (as Cecily T. Jordan)
Michelle Madden .... casting associate
Michelle Madden .... casting researcher
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Anita Louise Brown .... set costumer (as Anita Brown)
Shari Gray .... wardrobe supervisor
Marina Marit .... set costumer
David Wallace .... tailor
 
Editorial Department
Phillip J. Bartell .... assistant editor (as Philip Bartel)
Keith Brachmann .... first assistant editor
Joseph Butler .... apprentice editor
Joe Hutshing .... additional editor
Gloria Kaiser .... color timer
Glenn Kiser .... post-production executive
David Orr .... color timer
Theresa Repola Mohammed .... negative matcher
Stefan Sonnenfeld .... colorist: videotape
John M. Vitale .... assistant editor
Sara Hyoun .... assistant editor (uncredited)
 
Music Department
Carter Burwell .... conductor
Carter Burwell .... orchestrator
Michael Farrow .... music scoring engineer
Sandra Park .... music contractor
Dean Parker .... music copyist
Adam Milo Smalley .... music editor (as Adam Smalley)
Dawn Soler .... music supervisor (as Dawn Solér)
Tony Finno .... music preparation (uncredited)
Christoph von Dohnányi .... conductor: Bartok excerpt (uncredited)
 
Transportation Department
Michael 'Crash' Anderson .... driver (as Michael Anderson)
Greg Bauer .... driver
Andrew Broomhead .... driver
Jesse Cartwright .... driver
Krister C. Johnson .... transportation co-captain (as Krister Johnson)
Paul Jones .... driver
Donald B. Martin .... driver (as Don Martin)
Morgan McGuinness .... driver
Antonio Molina .... transportation coordinator
Sean J. Moore .... driver
Luis Mussenden .... driver
Griff Ruggles .... transportation captain
John Simanovich .... driver
Michael Jon Sparks .... driver
Gregg Videgain .... driver (as Buster Videgain)
Sarah Voigt .... driver
Rick Womelduff .... driver
 
Other crew
Paul Abraham .... craft service
David Alexander .... additional puppeteer
Gina Amoroso .... associate: Mr. Golin
Lee Armstrong .... additional puppeteer
Lance Bangs .... behind-the-scenes documentarian
Kent James Stewart Barber .... assistant location manager
Michael Berry .... set medic
Rosemary Bock .... marionette construction: Images in Motion
David Boyle .... legal counsel
Michael Brosilow .... photo supplier
Nancy Burch .... computer supplier: Intergraph Corporation
Paul Cafferty .... post-production accountant
Barbara Calloway .... payroll accountant (as Barbara D. Calloway)
Shannon Clark .... associate: Mr. Malkovich
Luman Coad .... additional puppeteer (as Luman R. Coad)
Lisa Croisette .... stand-in: Ms. Diaz
Nour Dardari .... production accountant
Anne Devereux .... associate: Mr. Cusack
Matt DiFranco .... assistant production coordinator (as Matt Difranco)
Colleen Dina .... set intern
Shawn Driscoll .... stand-in: Mr. Cusack
Lisa Ebright .... photo supplier
Joe Everett .... unit publicist
William P. Ferguson .... marionette construction: Images in Motion
John R. Fifer .... puppet maker: ballet Craig (as John Fifer)
Mike Freedman .... security officer
Lawrence Garcia .... associate: Spike
Will Gatlin .... craft service (as Will Roy Gatlin Jr.)
Karen Ruth Getchell .... production coordinator
Susan Giordano .... first assistant accountant (as Susan L. Giordano)
Barbara Gordon .... animal trainer
Paul Green .... legal counsel
Timothy Greenfield-Sanders .... photo supplier
Brett Greenstein .... associate: Mr. Golin
Lynn Gustafson .... marionette construction: Images in Motion
Larry Gutherie .... stand-in: Mr. Bean
Paul Hargrave .... executive location manager
Sharon Hartman .... marionette construction: Images in Motion
Wendy Horton .... animal trainer
Phillip Huber .... puppeteer
Andy Jenkins .... title designer
Kathi Kelly .... office intern
Brigitte Lacombe .... photo supplier
Greg Lazzaro .... location manager
Carol Lille .... head animal trainer
Greg Lille .... animal coordinator: Goin' Ape
Maxine Mahon .... choreographer: ballerina, California Ballet
Becky Malkovich .... photo supplier
Joe Anne Malkovich .... photo supplier
Tony Maxwell .... choreographer
David Mesa .... security officer
Timothy K. Miller .... additional puppeteer
Eric Miracle .... computer supplier: Intergraph Corporation
Hilary Momberger .... script supervisor
Smriti Mundhra .... production secretary
Mary Hildebrand Nagler .... marionette construction: Images in Motion
Susan Nickerson .... research and clearance
Charley Pavlosky .... stand-in: Mr. Malkovich
Victoria Pellman .... office intern
Chrissy Phelan .... set production assistant
Kamela Portuges .... additional puppeteer (as Kamela B. Portuges)
Kamela Portuges .... marionette designer (as Kamela B. Portuges)
Jennifer Pyper .... associate: Vincenzo
Betty Radice .... translator: The Letters of Abelard and Heloise
Jennifer Reiss .... set production assistant
Joel A. Resendiz .... caterer
Misha Rudolph .... office production assistant
Sunaina Sharma .... set intern
Gregory J. Smith .... key set production assistant (as Gregory Smith)
Victor Solorzano .... caterer
Sam Spiegel .... set production assistant
Jo Anne Swartz .... post-production accountant
Eric Vignando .... caterer
Christopher Vitale .... office production assistant
Lisa Marie Wilkinson .... stand-in: Ms. Keener
Diane Wooldridge .... marionette construction: Images in Motion
Farley Ziegler .... creative executive: Single Cell
Cristiana Caimmi .... publicist (uncredited)
Jack E. Herman .... extras set coordinator (uncredited)
Christopher Neil .... rehearsal advisor (uncredited)
Lowell Northrop .... production assistant (uncredited)
Michael Sellers .... production assistant: second unit, New York (uncredited)
Shea Varge .... production assistant (uncredited)
 
Thanks
Leanne Amos .... thanks
Susan Applegate .... thanks
Andrea Borrero .... thanks
Adam Budzins .... thanks
Tom Burrows .... thanks
Andy Dick .... acknowledgment
Stephen Dickstein .... thanks
Jon Timothy Evans .... thanks
Dan Field .... thanks
David Fincher .... thanks (as Fincher)
Ray Gillon .... thanks
Philip Glass .... acknowledgment
Jon Graff .... thanks
Isaac Hanson .... acknowledgment (as Hanson)
Taylor Hanson .... acknowledgment (as Hanson)
Zac Hanson .... acknowledgment (as Hanson)
Steve Harrow .... thanks
Paul Hastings .... thanks
Evan Hecox .... thanks
Dustin Hoffman .... acknowledgment
Greg Kozikowski .... thanks
Carolyn Kulett .... thanks
Alain Lévy .... thanks
Geoff McFetridge .... thanks
Patrick O'Neill .... thanks
Sean Penn .... acknowledgment
Michelle Pfeiffer .... acknowledgment
Brad Pitt .... acknowledgment
Deannie Pruss .... thanks
Daniel Radford .... in memory of
John Ross .... thanks
Nancy Ross .... thanks
David O. Russell .... thanks (as D. Russell)
Robin Ruzan .... thanks
Winona Ryder .... acknowledgment
Greg Shewchuk .... thanks
Gary Sinise .... acknowledgment
Jim Tauber .... thanks
Mark Van Horne .... thanks (as Mark Van Horn)
Sly West .... thanks
 

Production CompaniesDistributorsSpecial EffectsOther Companies
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
See more »
MPAA:
Rated R for language and sexuality
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
112 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Dolby Digital
Certification:
Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Belgium:KT | Canada:14A | Canada:G (Québec) | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Germany:12 (w) | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:15 | Italy:T | Netherlands:AL | New Zealand:M | South Korea:18 | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #36965) | Norway:11 | Iceland:L (original rating) | Iceland:LH (video rating) | Singapore:M18 (DVD rating) | Singapore:R(A) | Portugal:M/16 | Philippines:R-18 | Brazil:18 | Peru:14
Filming Locations:
Ambassador Hotel - 3400 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USASee more »
Company:
AstralwerksSee more »

Did You Know?

Trivia:
In the scene in the Merton-Flemmer building lobby, when Craig browses the floor listings to find LesterCorp, the camera scrolls past the listing "Eric Zumbrunnen, CPA". Eric Zumbrunnen is the film's editor.See more »
Goofs:
Continuity: When Craig Schwartz is about to enter the portal for the first time, he's kneeling. In the next shot, he's squatting.See more »
Quotes:
[first lines]
Lotte Schwartz:Craig, honey, it's time for bed.
[fade out and in]
Orrin Hatch the bird:Craig, honey, time to get up, Craig, honey, time to get up, Craig, honey, time to get up, Craig, honey, time to get up,
Craig Schwartz:Lotte...
Lotte Schwartz:I'm sorry. I didn't know Orrin Hatch was out of his cage.
See more »
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Silent Hill 4: The Room (2004) (VG)See more »
Soundtrack:
Malkovich MalkovichSee more »

FAQ

Why John Malkovich?
See more »

User Reviews

   (Review this title)
98 out of 140 people found the following review useful.
Insanely brilliant and brilliantly insane., 29 June 2001
Author: Inky Pockets (inky.pockets@poo.co.uk) from Oxfordshire, England

All hail Spike Jonze for he is a genius. Not content with being the undisputed king of music videos, he's set his sights on full-length-feature-films. One might imagine that the often surreal, always innovative humour of his short music promos might not transfer across to a much longer production – like hell. ‘Being John Malkovich' is a fresh exciting stroke of genius.

John Cusack is Craig Schwartz, an unemployed puppeteer looser guy. In order to earn a living he is forced to find himself a regular job, only it soon becomes apparent that regular it is not. Working as a filing clerk on floor seven and a half, Craig stumbles across a portal into John Malkovich's head. No, really, that's what happens. Anyway, he turns this into a business venture with help from the beautiful Maxine (Catherine Keener), whom he lusts after. Maxine is more interested, however, in his wife, Lotte (Diaz, like you've never seen her before) but only when she's being John Malkovich.

Don't worry if this all sounds a little strange to you, it should do, it's probably the most surreal film ever made. I obviously can't give all the credit for this to director Spike Jonze; Charlie Kaufman is the genius that wrote this insanity. He's the most acutely imaginative and ingenious man of our time.

With such a fantastic cast the acting is of course superb; everyone's brilliant, especially Malkovich himself. Well obviously, you say, he's playing himself – yes, but he's also playing himself being played by an increasingly psychotic puppeteer.

Monkey flash backs and a restaurant full of Malkoviches are highlights of the insanely brilliant and brilliantly insane movie. If you thought that Spike Jonez could never top the Daft Punk talking dog video, you have never been so wrong in your life.

10/10

Was the above review useful to you?
See more (802 total) »

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Being John Malkovich (1999)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Craig Schwartz is NOT trapped and Dr. Lester book explanation f-rodrigues-380-578927
Catherine Keener as Maxine? metanthrax
Why John Malkovich? miles_fierce_larson
Highly Overrated chironaphelion
remake redmen64
This is a f~ckinG horror movie! stunnersmp
See more »

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Freeway The Big Lebowski Scott Pilgrim vs. the World Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind The Rules of Attraction
IMDb User Rating:
 IMDb User Rating:
 IMDb User Rating:
 IMDb User Rating:
 IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Comedy section IMDb USA section

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Edit page' button will take you through a step-by-step process.