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Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Package Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.32 x 4.19 x 1.12 inches; 6.13 Ounces
Director ‏ : ‎ Spike Jonze
Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 52 minutes
Release date ‏ : ‎ November 5, 2002
Date First Available ‏ : ‎ September 29, 2006
Actors ‏ : ‎ John Cusack, Cameron Diaz, Catherine Keener, John Malkovich, Ned Bellamy
Studio ‏ : ‎ Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Producers ‏ : ‎ Charlie Kaufman, Michael Kuhn, Michael Stipe, Sandy Stern, Steve Golin
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00007AJIT
Writers ‏ : ‎ Charlie Kaufman

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4.6 2,288 ratings

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4.6 out of 5

2,288 global ratings

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Who is pulling my strings?

Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2009

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While I have seen and enjoyed this film many times I figured with Where the Wild Things Are about to come out I'd give this film a re-look-see and write a proper review for it. BJM is on it's surface satirical take on modern famous types, unknown creative types, and what it is that makes those at both ends of the spectrum tick. Now while the true creative type from any discipline is compelled by unknown forces there are also those amongst them that are, shall we say, compelled by less pure forces. Those being fame and money. Still, even the pure artist needs recognition of some sort. After all, art is just another form of communication. Without anyone to communicate with an artist can go ever inwards and mad, I suspect, if one is not understood by others on some level. Craig Schwartz, is a pure artist who is at the start of the film misunderstood and not communicating, no matter how hard he tries, to those around him. As events unfold his wife leaves him and he is eventually thrust into the head of real life actor John Malkovich. This is where the film departs from what is typical in mainstream movies. Ambiguity, symbolism, and exploration of existential concepts is not what most people go to the films to enjoy decoding, thinking about, or passively watching. Soon sexuality and the male and female body types we are born into are questioned and subsequently broken down. Also challenged is talent, fame and the notion that recognition comes from good art or just any established face in the public eye with some money to spend to explore any whim. Finally the film brings into question our very lives and if in fact we are in control of anything, or if some unseen force controls us. Craig Schwartz is a puppeteer who in fact winds up controlling John Malkovich and using his fame and money to further his personal self indulgent need to be a puppeteer is a never ending tunnel of mirrors like the very universe itself, where particles and matter are seemingly infinite outwards and inwards. This same topic is explored in other films written by Kaufman, Synecdoche, New York being the first that comes to mind with the never ending warehouses and smaller and smaller paintings.

In ending we see a new life born, unaware that it is controlled by hidden forces. Is this each and every one of our experiences? This is food for thought in BJM. The film never fully explains itself and that is why the film is so great. For if everything were explained and summed up then there would be no reason to re-watch the film again and agin, seeing it fresh each time it's explored down the road.

The inclusion of animals and higher primates in the film is symbolic. I suspect it alludes to our evolution, base animal nature and how we so often deny that we are in fact just another animal on this planet, albeit a creative one, apart but the same from all other creatures.

The 1/2 floor represents our subconscious, and also animal side. Much is explored and hashed out in the 1/2 floor of that building. things go in and things go out. Personalities and desires, thoughts, hopes, dreams. The characters want to go back to the portal that is in there. The portal to ones true self.

Comedy, a trait that most likely developed as a result of our higher brain functions, is explored as well. Comedy in this film is approached as absurdity. Existence is a bit absurd and this film takes it head on. Comedy probably developed as a buffer from the complex human brain running itself mad with endless thoughts about the nature of existence. These thoughts are explored and bubble up and out of the subconscious to the surface.

This film is a masterwork by the writer and director. It will be remembered long after the drivel of the day is long forgotten. This is one of the great films of our times.

7 people found this helpful

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Diablo53

Great imagination movie

Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2023

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Love this movie. I’m not going to one of those who tells anything about so I won’t. If you like weird highly imaginative movies that have a strange twist all the time, this one is for you. Really liked the casting with upcoming people at the time. Cameron Diaz is almost unrecognizable at first but you finally realize it’s her. Liked all the acting by all in this that I felt that nobody out did the others, all were great.
Really good comedy and fantasy movie!

Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2023

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A great movie in every way. Legitimately one of the most creative and unique movies ever made.

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Rocky Wu

A tale that complements "I think therefore I am"

Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2022

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Descartes argues that the truth of our physical existence is only validated by our conscious mind -- without the ability to think, our bodies are no different than a stump of wood, or a computer, for better or for worse. Being John Malkovich provides a fascinating perspective from the flip side, that no matter how rarified our conscious mind seems or how much agency it appears to possess, it is ultimately gifted this position thanks to the physical laws in this universe. For if we were put inside the universe Malkovich lives in, where it is physically possible to make all humans but newborns vessels of a host mind--puppets controlled by hosts' mental strings--then free will is but an illusion, and morality, as we saw shone and lost in Craig and Lotte before they opened the proverbial can of worm, becomes baseless, gone and reduced to the whim of the original "gods". In this sense, if in this reality we are our own boss (hopefully), then perhaps consciousness and physical existence are not just causal like Descartes proposed, but more symbiotic than we previously believed, supporting the very fabric that weaves the reality that we live in.

Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2023

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Surreal and absurd, cutting to the core. We are passengers on the Being John Malkovich train taking a journey into the wildly imaginative vision of screenwriter Charlie Kaufman's existential fantasy world. Spike Jonze picked a doozy of a script for his directorial debut and actors John Cusack, Cameron Diaz, Catherine Keener, and John Malkovich himself bring this mind bending romp to life. Do not miss the experience of Being John Malkovich.

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Doktor von Pain

Eine herrlich schräge Komödie, die sich das Anderssein traut

Reviewed in Germany on November 12, 2022

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Es gibt Filme, die sind einfach anders als die anderen - und das im absolut positiven Sinne. Zu diesen gehört Being John Malkovich von Regisseur Spike Jonze und Drehbuchautor Charlie Kaufman aus dem Jahr 1999, für beide war es das Spielfilm-Debüt. Es geht um den erfolglosen Puppenspieler Craig Schwartz (John Cusack), der mit Lotte (Cameron Diaz) verheiratet ist, die sich in der gemeinsamen Wohnung um allerlei Tiere kümmert. Da es mit der Karriere als Puppenspieler nichts wird, nimmt Craig auf Drängen seiner Frau einen Bürojob in Manhattan an. Die Firma hat ihre Räume im siebeneinhalbten Stock, in dem die Decke gerade einmal gut eineinhalb Meter hoch ist, weswegen alle gebückt gehen müssen. Bei der Arbeit lernt Craig seine Kollegin Maxine (Catherine Keener) kennen, von der er ganz hingerissen ist, umgekehrt ist das aber nicht der Fall. Eines Tages entdeckt Craig hinter einem Schrank in seinem Büro eine seltsame Tür, hinter der sich ein langer Tunnel befindet. Wer diesen durchquert, landet auf unerklärtliche Weise für kurze Zeit im Bewusstsein des Schauspielers John Malkovich (als er selbst). Bald darauf machen Craig und Maxine daraus ein Geschäftsmodell, auch Lotte probiert es aus. Ihr gefällt es aber ein bisschen zu gut, John Malkovich zu sein, mit dem Maxine noch dazu ein Techtelmechtel anfängt. Craig hingegen gelingt es mit der Zeit, nicht nur als Besucher in Malkovichs Verstand zu sein, sondern ihn sogar zu kontrollieren - allerdings hat Craigs Boss Dr. Lester (Orson Bean) seine ganz eigenen Pläne mit John Malkovich.

Das klingt jetzt vielleicht mehr als ein bisschen wirr, aber die Story funktioniert tatsächlich. Being John Malkovich ist eine wunderbar schräge Komödie voll mit originellen Ideen und gut geschriebenen, herrlich schrulligen Figuren. Schon allein die Idee, John Malkovich sich selbst spielen zu lassen, der aber von einer anderen Person kontrolliert wird, ist grandios. Regie, Drehbuch und schauspielerische Leistungen sind allesamt auf Top-Niveau. Wäre das auch nur bei einem der Punkte nicht der Fall gewesen, hätte Being John Malkovich wahrscheinlich nicht funktioniert. Doch zum Glück tut er das. Weil diese Komödie so anders ist, wird sie sicherlich nicht jedem gefallen. Ich aber liebe diesen Film, ich sehe ihn mir immer wieder gerne an und kann ihn nur wärmstens empfehlen. Dafür gibt's auch volle fünf Sterne.

2 people found this helpful

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Mr. D. V. Belfield

an important and entertaining book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 7, 2006

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This is a well written and interesting book. It will be required and important reading for anyone wanting to keep up to speed with the Ivory-billed woodpecker story thus far.

Jackson has many hours of distinguished service under his belt, searching for, and researching these fascinating birds and woodpeckers in general, so you can be sure that his thoughts and findings are well worth consulting.

In many ways I have as much, if not more, respect, admiration and affection for Jackson as a long-standing tracker of ivory-bills as their declared finders (although Gallagher's book is an undoubtedly good read). Over several decades of pursuit, Jackson may not have "found" them officially but he can relate a gripping story of tantalisingly close encounters. His stalwart devotion thus counts for just as much in the long term.

Inevitably, the story of the Ivory-bills' eradication is a crushingly sad tale of mindless greed, waste and stupidity. But especially dismal is the realisation that if they should still survive, the 'Lord God Bird' of rakish hue, exuberant demeanor and majestic trumpeting will certainly have long departed the scene. The survivors now will be the ones who keep their damn heads down, quell any calls or drummings, and hide. The Lord God got Himself shot. "Collected" into oblivion. So now our world is very very much the poorer and less exciting due the trigger-happy depredations of 'sportsmen' and egg thieves.

Are there others, I wonder, who find themselves similarly mired in long-term grieving for the massive loss of sheer wonderfulness we and our ancestors are responsible for inflicting on the world? Was the trade-in of wild woodlands with massive trees, wolves, pumas, and countless fungi, lichens, insect varieties for a few board-yards of timber - really worth it? Must wild forests always be reduced to standing inventories of chip-board, parquet flooring and toilet paper?

If Ivory Bills do still persist, and Jackson is amongst the foremost of those who hope they do, their indictment of modern humanity's profligacy must be an awesome thing to behold.

4 people found this helpful

SLIM

pas accessible à tous

Reviewed in France on March 8, 2023

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pour ceux qui aiment les curiosités.ofni!!? objet filmique non identifiable !?? mais quel originalité !!

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Josh

Brilliantly original with a slight hint of madness

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 22, 2013

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The concept of the film is a strange and wonderful one. After watching it for the first time a few weeks ago, I didn't know what to expect when I first removed the packaging and placed it in the DVD player. After watching the film, I was genuinely entertained and quite confused at the same time, Its very rare to have that combo within one film but, somehow, Being John Malkovich did it perfectly. The cast worked well together, with some surprisingly good performances from Cameron Diaz and John Malkovich himself.

The film, without giving too much away for the people who haven't watched it, follows the life of a puppeteer Craig Schwartz (played by John Cusacks) who ends up getting a new job at the Lester Corporation on Floor 7½ where he discovers a hidden door that leads into the mind of John Malkovich. If you reading this, then yes the film is crazier than it sounds! I would strongly recommend this film to anyone. It is funny, weird, disturbing, slightly wrong in some areas and all in all a great watch.

It is brilliantly original with a slight hint of madness!!

4 people found this helpful

Bernhard Abbass

Mal wieder "gewunken"....

Reviewed in Germany on July 7, 2006

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(statt "gewinkt", wie es in korrektem Deutsch heißen muss) wird, wie in so vielen schlampig übersetzten Büchern, in diesem Buch. Das liegt leider daran, dass wohl nicht mehr so sehr auf Qualität geachtet wird, wenn ein Verlag einen Übersetzer anstellt. Die Übersetzung des Originaltitels mit dem Wortspiel "Trojan Odyssey" ist nicht sehr glücklich gewählt; ein "Troja-Mission" habe ich im Buch nicht gefunden. Der Roman selbst ist ausgezeichnet geschrieben. Der Inhalt ist wie gewohnt spannend erzählt. Zwei Parallel-Handlungen wechseln sich ab, immer wenn es gerade sehr spannend wird. Dass Clive Cussler (oder der Übersetzer?) den Trojanischen Krieg drastisch von 10 Jahren auf 10 Wochen verkürzt hat, mag man verschmerzen, wenn man die geniale nur 22 Seiten lange Darstellung von Ilias und Odyssee liest. Dass so etwas möglich ist, Homers Epen so zusammenzufassen und dennoch den Inhalt ziemlich umfassend zu beschreiben, hätte ich nicht gedacht. Hut ab! Ob nun aber wirklich Ilias, Odyssee und die Geschichte der Kelten neu geschrieben werden müssen, bezweifle ich. Wenn man aber die Erklärungen Cusslers, vor allem zu den Stationen von Odysseus' Irrfahrt liest, könnte man fast glauben, dass Odysseus der Erste war, der... .Halt! Das sollte geheim bleiben. Was noch positiv erwähnt werden sollte, auch wenn es nur eine Kleinigkeit ist, das Buch hat ein Bändchen als Lesezeichen.

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Format	Color, NTSC, Closed-captioned, Original recording reissued
Contributor	Michael Kuhn, John Malkovich, Mary Kay Place, Charlie Kaufman, Byrne Piven, Michael Stipe, Vincent Landay, Orson Bean, Spike Jonze, Ned Bellamy, Catherine Keener, Steve Golin, John Cusack, Sandy Stern, Octavia Spencer, K.K. Dodds, Cameron Diaz, Madison Lanc, Eric Weinstein See more
Language	English
Runtime	1 hour and 52 minutes

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Being John Malkovich [VHS]

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