DVD Review: Criterion Offers Great Insight Into ‘Being John Malkovich’

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CHICAGO – Only The Criterion Collection can do a film like “Being John Malkovich” justice. Not only has the film held up remarkably well since its 1999 release (and even somes somewhat ahead of its time given our ability to invade the privacy of celebrity more than ever) but Criterion has assembled a stellar collection of special features that display that unique sense of personality that Spike Jonze’s debut film embodies for its fans.

HollywoodChicago.com DVD Rating: 4.5/5.0
DVD Rating: 4.5/5.0

One of the highlights of these special features is a half-hour interview with Malkovich conducted by the great John Hodgman. Not only do both men offer fantastic insight into what the film is about and why it still resonates but the great actor drops some incredible history about the film, including the fact that he approached Charlie Kaufman about directing it himself before Jonze was involved but there was a catch — they had to change who it was “about.” (I suppose John Malkovich’s “Being John Malkovich” would have sounded silly). One can only marvel at the alternate universe version of this film that exists in which Malkovich directed “Being Gary Sinise” or something similar. It’s an awesome interview.

But it’s only one of several great special features. Filmmaker Lance Bangs filmed a ton of behind-the-scenes footage and it’s been assembled into a great documentary called “All Noncombatants Please Clear the Set.” Fans of the film should pick up this release JUST for that special feature and the Malkovich interview. The rest of the special features on the second disc of the DVD release are quirky and fun, directly in the spirit of the film, and the first disc includes scene-specific commentary.

As for the movie itself, “Being John Malkovich” is much better than I remembered and I was always something of a fan. I was startled at how great the performances have held up — it has to be considered top five for John Cusack, Catherine Keener, and Cameron Diaz — and how confidently directed. Spike Jonze has directed three films in 13 years — this one, “Adaptation,” and “Where the Wild Things Are.” One hopes that Criterion gets the rights to the other two.

Being John Malkovich was released on Criterion Blu-ray and DVD on May 15, 2012
Being John Malkovich was released on Criterion Blu-ray and DVD on May 15, 2012
Photo credit: Courtesy of the Criterion Collection

Synopsis:
Have you ever wanted to be someone else? Or, more specifically, have you ever wanted to crawl through a portal hidden in an anonymous office building and thereby enter the cerebral cortex of John Malkovich for fifteen minutes before being spat out on the side of the New Jersey Turnpike? Then director Spike Jonze and writer Charlie Kaufman have the movie for you. Melancholy marionettes, office drudgery, a frizzyhaired Cameron Diaz- but that’s not all! Surrealism, possession, John Cusack, a domesticated primate, Freud, Catherine Keener, non sequiturs, and absolutely no romance! But wait: get your Being John Malkovich now and we’ll throw in emasculation, slapstick, Abelard and Heloise, and extra Malkovich, Malkovich, Malkovich.

Special Features
o New, restored digital transfer, supervised by director Spike Jonze, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
o New selected-scene audio commentary featuring Jonze’s friend and competitor the filmmaker Michel Gondry
o New behind-the-scenes documentary by filmmaker Lance Bangs
o New conversation between actor John Malkovich and humorist John Hodgman
o New interview with Jonze in which he discusses his on-set photos
o Two films within the film: 7½ Floor Orientation and “American Arts & Culture” Presents John Horatio Malkovich: “Dance of Despair and Disillusionment”
o An Intimate Portrait of the Art of Puppeteering, a documentary by Bangs
o Trailer and TV spots
o PLUS: A booklet featuring a conversation between Jonze and pop-culture critic Perkus Tooth

“Being John Malkovich” stars John Cusack, Catherine Keener, Orson Bean, Mary Kay Place, Cameron Diaz, and John Malkovich. It was written by Charlie Kaufman and directed by Spike Jonze. It was released on Criterion Blu-ray and DVD on May 15, 2012.

HollywoodChicago.com content director Brian Tallerico

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

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