For many, it must be strange to hear that I hadn't seen Being John Malkovich until very recently, despite it being a film I've forever heard of throughout my life. There's no specific reason as to why I never saw it, and that alone made me realise that, well, perhaps I finally should.
I have to say, the film pleasantly surprised me, although I knew roughly what the film was about already from the years of hearing of it. I found its concept ripe, its screenplay -- Charlie Kaufman, as always, provides an excellent screenplay -- filled with enough detail into the characters to keep you interested and questioning just what might be in store next with its subtle hints.
With a lead performance by John Cusack, playing the role of a depressed puppeteer that's struggling with unemployment despite his overwhelming ambition, the film has you feeling sympathy for the protagonist despite his constantly questionable actions, as he, and those around him, tackle general morality as their own selfish deeds carve them into their true nature with the concept of them living the life of another person. A common theme throughout: nobody wants to be who they are, because they are not entirely appreciated or accepted in society.
Despite its overall depressive themes, Being John Malkovich covers up that note with many comedic elements, breaking the fourth wall and opening itself up to general mockery. It's self-aware in the best way possible. Allowing John Malkovich to play himself adds a layer of idiocy to the film as we see his supposed day-to-day lifestyle and the obscure events that fill it, as if his body being taken control of slightly is just another strange event that he will deal with alongside and move on from, only to have another strange event enter his life.
Being John Malkovich is a timeless film, for sure. It's carried by Charlie Kaufman's ability to write characters and narratives that remain unique, strange, but consequently engaging and entertaining. It's easy to connect with them despite their strange personalities and interests, and that's certainly where this film shines. There's simplicity in its most complex themes; the thought of being placed into another's mind is conveyed to the viewer through nothing more than a strange portal, and that's all we need to know.
