Film

Being John Malkovich 1999

Directed by Spike Jonze

  • Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
  • 113 min
  • R

Ever wanted to be someone else? Now you can.

One day at work, unsuccessful puppeteer Craig finds a portal into the head of actor John Malkovich. The portal soon becomes a passion for anybody who enters its mad and controlling world of overtaking another human body.

ComedyDramaFantasywitchsexual identityindividualsecret lovetransvestismidentitysubconsciousnessnew identitypetchimpanzeepuppeteerappropriation of another human being

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Where do you stand?

Three questions people argue about. Answer first, then see how your circle and the community split.

  • Is it the best comedy film of its decade?

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  • Would Being John Malkovich hit harder if it came out today rather than in 1999?

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  • Is this Spike Jonze's best work?

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Answered from the reviews and content notes on file, never made up. If nothing on file settles it, it says so.

Character

Contemporary, meticulous, open-ended and intimate.

  • contemporarynostalgic
  • rawmeticulous
  • resolvedopen-ended
  • intimateepic
  • unpretentiousprestige

Who loves it, who doesn't

The ProvocateurThe Provocateur: loved by 14The Provocateur: disliked by 214 / 2The Prestige HunterThe Prestige Hunter: loved by 1010The IronistThe Ironist: loved by 8The Ironist: disliked by 18 / 1The FormalistThe Formalist: loved by 88The Comfort SeekerThe Comfort Seeker: loved by 6The Comfort Seeker: disliked by 16 / 1The ArchivistThe Archivist: loved by 5The Archivist: disliked by 15 / 1The Genre DevoteeThe Genre Devotee: loved by 4The Genre Devotee: disliked by 14 / 1The Thrill ChaserThe Thrill Chaser: loved by 4The Thrill Chaser: disliked by 14 / 1loved (4★+)disliked (2.5★ or less)

99 profiled raters. Loved most by The Provocateurs; disliked most by The Provocateurs.