Being John Malkovich
Being John Malkovich is a 1999 American surrealist fantasy comedy-drama film written by Charlie Kaufman and directed by Spike Jonze, both in their feature film debuts.
Being John Malkovich is a 1999 American surrealist fantasy comedy-drama film. It was written by Charlie Kaufman and directed by Spike Jonze, both making their feature film debuts. The film stars John Cusack, Cameron Diaz, Catherine Keener, and John Malkovich, who plays a fictionalized version of himself. The plot follows a puppeteer who discovers a portal into John Malkovich's mind.
Plot
The film follows Craig Schwartz, a puppeteer who discovers a hidden portal that leads into actor John Malkovich's mind. The discovery leads to a scheme involving repeated access to Malkovich's consciousness.
Production
Being John Malkovich was written by Charlie Kaufman and directed by Spike Jonze, and both were making their feature film debuts. The film is widely identified with their early career breakthroughs.
Cast and characters
John Cusack plays Craig Schwartz, Cameron Diaz plays Lotte Schwartz, Catherine Keener plays Maxine Lund, and John Malkovich plays a fictionalized version of himself.
Reception and legacy
The film is commonly described as surreal, original, and influential, and it has been widely discussed for its concept of identity and consciousness. The film is part of mainstream international cinema and is often studied in Canadian film courses for its surreal style, screenplay, and themes of identity and consciousness.
Key facts
- The film was directed by Spike Jonze and written by Charlie Kaufman, both making their feature film debuts.
- John Malkovich appears as a fictionalized version of himself.
- John Cusack plays Craig Schwartz, a puppeteer who finds the portal.
- The film also stars Cameron Diaz and Catherine Keener.
- The story centers on a business and identity scheme built around entering Malkovich's mind.
The film is part of mainstream international cinema and is often studied in Canadian film courses for its surreal style, screenplay, and themes of identity and consciousness.
Frequently asked questions
What is Being John Malkovich about?
Who directed Being John Malkovich?
Who wrote Being John Malkovich?
Who stars in Being John Malkovich?
Is John Malkovich playing himself?
References
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Being_John_MalkovichSupports: Basic film identification, cast, director, writer, and premise
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/Being-John-MalkovichSupports: Film description, premise, and John Malkovich’s fictionalized role
- Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/being_john_malkovichSupports: Plot synopsis and central characters
- IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120601/Supports: Director, writer, stars, and plot summary