The Movie Guys: ‘Being John Malkovich’ is a transforming experience

Friday, Nov. 5, 1999 | 10:41 a.m.

The Movie Guys, starring Jeff Howard and Dave Neil, appears Fridays in the Sun (Movie Buzz written by Thomas Feeney). They can be seen on the 11 a.m. Friday newscast on KVVU Channel 5. You can also read their capsule reviews of movies in Las Vegas Weekly magazine. Plus, check them out online at lasvegassun.com /sun /sunlife /movies and themovieguys.com.

Grade: Jeff, A; Dave, A

Starring: John Cusak, Cameron Diaz, Catherine Keener, Mary Kay Place, Orson Bean, and John Malkovich

Screenplay: Charles Kauffman

Director: Spike Jonze

Rated: PG-13

Running time: 115 minutes

Playing at: Regal Cinemas Village Square 18, Gold Coast Twin

Synopsis:

Craig Schwartz is an out-of-work puppeteer who finds a hidden doorway that leads into the mind of actor John Malkovich. Now, for a small fee, anyone can travel through the door and into the mind of Malkovich for 15 minutes and see and feel what he does, before being discarded onto the New Jersey Turnpike.

Jeff: If you could choose to be anyone else in the world for just one day -- no, scratch that -- just for 15 minutes, who would it be? Bill Gates? Albert Einstein? Steven Spielberg? The president of the United States? And what if all you would have to do to be that person was to walk through a door? Would you do it? Choosing which person says a lot about yourself. That is the premise behind what is sure to be the most talked-about film of the year, "Being John Malkovich."

John Cusack plays Craig Schwartz, an expert puppeteer (a vocation that isn't in too much demand these days) who discovers a doorway leading to the mind of actor John Malkovich. Once inside his mind, we see what Malkovich sees and feel what he feels (in 15-minute intervals) before being dropped from the sky onto the side of the New Jersey highway. We told you this was strange, but oh, what a jovial welcome, a breath of fresh air, if you please, of imagination and originality. "Being John Malkovich" is a comical, neurological nightmare, a dark journey into the hidden desires of the human mind and a venue for the ultimate invasion of privacy.

Dave: To set this up properly, we must describe the list of characters and intricate plot twists that take us into the conscious mind of one of the most respected American actors of the 20th century, John Malkovich.

Unfulfilled in his 10-year marriage to Lotte (Cameron Diaz), an animal enthusiast whose job at the pet store has her bringing her work home, and dispirited by his own profession as an artist, Schwartz is forced to seek employment as an entry-level filing clerk at the peculiar LesterCorp, on the 7th and 1/2 floor of Manhattan's Mertin-Flemmer office building. Fittingly, the floor has everyone hunched over as they pass through the halls and conduct business as usual. After interviewing with Dr. Lester (a delightful performance by Orson Bean), who believes he suffers from a speech impediment, Schwartz meets the sexy Maxine (Catherine Keener), another newly-hired office worker who sends him into obsessive and chaotic bliss.

Jeff: Soon everyone is going through the portal. Maxine (whose fetish is to have Lotte inside the mind of Malkovich as she makes love to him), soon becomes obsessed with this strange parallel universe. We see the lovemaking sessions firsthand with what can be described as "Malkovich-Cam," where it puts you in the action. (Director Spike Jonze prefers to keep mum on how he actually photographed those personal sequences.) But there is a reasoning behind this madness, as Dr. Lester is part of a select group that secures portals for a chosen group of elderly folk. Their plan is to permanently occupy their fall guy and start life over again in a new body. It's kind of a depraved version of "Heaven Can Wait."

Soon all of the tourists vacationing in his mind start to do more than observe and begin to take over certain Malkovich bodily functions, such as his speech. He soon catches on and tries to put a stop to the exploitation of his mind and personal life. But the question is: What would happen if Malkovich traveled through his own portal? That you have to see for yourself, and it is one of the highlights of the film. It's a trip that is well beyond any "Twilight Zone" episode. "Being John Malkovich" is one of the most original films of the year, if not the decade, a masterpiece, and will be well remembered come Oscar time next year.

Dave: Truly one of the darkest comedies I have ever seen and destined for cult status, "Being John Malkovich" is an amazing display of sophisticated storytelling and imagination. To pitch such an idea to a studio head in 20 words or less (or more, for that matter) would be as mind boggling as the film itself, which raises the question of how this project ever got made to begin with.

Making their feature film debuts are award-winning video director Jonze (who recently co-starred in "Three Kings"), and screenwriter Charlie Kaufman. The film possesses the sort of individuality that differentiates itself from mainstream offerings such as your normal, weekly Hollywood box-office draw. One of many examples that define the film's profound nature and strange dialogue is when Schwartz describes his fondness for puppets as a way to be "in somebody else's skin."

He eventually finds himself taking advantage of that opportunity and selfishly capitalizes on the fame and fortune it brings him. All of this at the expense of his art, his miserable wife, his equally miserable life and, of course, at the expense of John Malkovich. Masterfully original and definitely a unique sort of high/low-brow comedy, you'll never find yourself curious as to what it is like "Being John Malkovich." Frankly, as the movie says, the title actor "would have been my second choice."

Jeff: For me, Dave, I would be Bill Gates for 15 minutes. You can bet that I would make darn sure that I cashed my paycheck before I was dumped out onto the freeway. Hey, call me materialistic.

Movie Buzz

"Eyes Wide" Bio?: One of the world's greatest film directors has become the subject of a motion picture. A big-screen version of Frederic Raphael's "Eyes Wide Open," a controversial biography of late director Stanley Kubrick, is set to be directed by acclaimed 75-year-old helmer Stanley Donen ("Singin' in the Rain," "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers").

Pre-exorcist: Break out the pea soup! A prequel to the classic horror film "The Exorcist" is moving forward. The film, currently called "Exorcist: Dominion," now has a director. Tom McLoughlin ("Jason Lives: Friday the 13th, Part VI") has been selected to helm the feature. William Wisher ("Terminator 2: Judgment Day") has penned a script which is said to tell the story of Father Merrin's journey to Africa and his first encounter with demonic forces. Shooting will begin on location in Africa next spring. No cast has been set.

Unnecessary Remake File: According to trade publication Hollywood Reporter, director Gary Ross ("Pleasantville") has signed on to direct the Warner Bros. remake of "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory." Why meddle with a classic? If they must, we recommend Kevin Spacey for the candy-coated lead role. Also, Vernon Troyer, who played Mini-Me in the "Austin Powers" sequel, would make a great Oompa-Loompa.

Name That Flick

Who would win in a fight to the death between Jason of "Friday the 13th" and Freddy Kruger of "A Nightmare on Elm Street"? Well, after we tallied up the votes, Jason came out the clear winner. Go get em', Jason!

For this week, in the film "Planes, Trains and Automobiles," what was the occupation of John Candy's character, Del Griffith? If you think you know, call the Movie Guys' Hotline at 225-9026, or log onto our website at www.themovieguys.com to leave your answer.

Don't forget to pick up this week's issue of the Las Vegas Weekly, where you can read our interview with Cameron Diaz, co-star of "Being John Malkovich." See you next week!

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