Being John Malkovich
Being John Malkovich
A puppeteer discovers a portal that leads literally into the head of the movie star, John Malkovich.
IMDB rating: 7.8/10Rotten Tomatoes rating: 93% Fresh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UuRFr0GnHM
Cast
John Malkovich
Known for films such as Eragon, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Warm Bodies, RED, and he was Lennie in Of Mice and Men. Last year he came across a man who was bleeding profusely from his neck and applied First Aid until the ambulance arrived. What a hero.
Cast
Known for films such as 2012, 1408, High Fidelity, and many romantic comedies!He is rumoured to be in the next Hunger Games film.I have an old-man crush on him
John Cusack
Cast
Cameron Diaz
Known for films such as Charlie’s Angels, There’s Something About Mary, Shrek, and many others where she does not play the brightest character!Recently announced she will make a sequel to Bad Teacher. I have never seen the first one as it seems insulting to the teaching profession.
Cast
Catherine Keener
Known for films such as The 40 Year Old Virgin, Captain Phillips, Into the Wild, and many independent films. Has worked on many projects with Spike Jonze in her career.
Awards
Won:BAFTA Film Award for Best Screenplay Original and many other Critics’ Choice Awards and Film Festivals
Nominated:Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Best Director and Best WritingGolden Globe for Best Motion Picture, Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture X2, and Best Screenplay Motion Picture
Writer
Charles Stuart "Charlie" Kaufman (born November 19, 1958) is an American screenwriter, producer, director, and lyricist.
Charlie Kaufman - FilmographyYear Title Credit1999 Being John Malkovich Writer and executive producer
2001 Human Nature Writer and producer
2002 Adaptation Writer and executive producer
2002 Confessions of a Dangerous Mind Writer
2004 Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind Writer and executive producer
2008 Synecdoche, New York Writer, director and producer
2011 Kung Fu Panda 2 Script reviser
Plus writing credits for a range of television shows including Ned and Stacey
Reputation
Kaufman is praised for being highly original and imaginative.• Being John Malkovich stars John Malkovich as a fictional version
of himself• Human Nature is mostly told by flashbacks• Adaptation tells the story of Kaufman himself, trying to write the
film itself and to understand the book from which it is adapted with the help of his twin brother fictional twin brother
• Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind mainly takes place in the mind of the main character while his memory is erased
• Synecdoche, New York focuses on a theatre director who blurs the line between reality and his production
Director
Spike Jonze (born Adam Spiegel; October 22, 1969) is an American director, producer, screenwriter and actor, whose work includes music videos, commercials, film and television.
Spike Jonze - FilmographyYear Title Credit
1997 Free Tibet Cinematographer
1999 Being John Malkovich Director
2000 Jackass (TV) Creator and executive producer
2001 Human Nature Producer
2002 Adaptation Director
2002 Jackass: The Movie Producer and actor
2006 Jackass: Number Two Producer and actor
2006 The Fall Producer and actor
2008 Synecdoche, New York Producer
2008 Heavy Metal in Baghdad Producer
Year Title Credit
2009 Where the Wild Things Are Director and co-writer
2009 The 1 Second Film Producer and actor
2009 Jackass 3D Producer and actor
2010 Higglety Pigglety Pop! Or There Must Be More to Life
Producer and actor
2013 Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa Producer and writer
2013 Her Director and writer
Reputation
Jonze is renowned for the many music videos he has directed. Artists he has worked with include Sonic Youth, R.E.M., Bjork, Daft Punk, Puff Daddy, The Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z, Arcade Fire and many more.• Buddy Holly by Weezerhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kemivUKb4f4• Sabotage by Beastie Boyshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5rRZdiu1UE• Praise You by Fat Boy Slimhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruAi4VBoBSM
Why John Malkovich?
I don't know... I thought it was funny. It's hard to explain, but I thought it was funny, but not jokey. Because [John Malkovich] is a serious actor, he is a great actor, but there is something odd about him and there is something behind his eyes that you can't see. And I thought that was a good person for this.And then I think his name is perfect for the title... when we trying to get the movie made... we didn't know if John was going to do it and Spike [Jonze] and I sort of tried to make a list of other possibilities and there are lots of good actors but nobody's name sounded good in the title... so... it was important for that reason.
- Kaufman in an interview with Charlie Rose
Was John Malkovich keen?
Not to begin with. Apparently Malkovich liked the script but did not think he would suit the lead role and offered to produce the film with a different title actor. Kaufman refused and continued to approach Malkovich about is periodically. After many years Malkovich was eventually worn down and agreed to star.
Jonze revealed in a September 2013 interview that this was Malkovich's attitude after filming commenced:Either the movie's a bomb and it's got not only my name above the title but my name in the title, so I'm fucked that way; or it does well and I'm just forever associated with this character.
Did Kaufman consider anyone else?
No! Many people approached Kaufman to make the film if he altered the script for a different actor. Kaufman refused each time. He wanted Malkovich.
After Jonze agreed to direct the film, he put the script to Propaganda Films, which agreed to produce the film in partnership with production company Single Cell Pictures.
Single Cell producers pitched the film to numerous studios, including New Line Cinema, who dropped the project after the chairman asked: "Why the fuck can't it be Being Tom Cruise?".