Being John Malkovich (HD-DVD)

 

Picture: B     Sound: B     Extras: C     Film: C-

 

 

I like Spike Jones work.  You can even see an extensive set of it from the DVD collection of a series he launched at this link:

 

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/464/Work+of+Spike+Jonze+(Director

 

 

However, I was one of more than a few who found his feature film Being John Malkovich (1999) predictable, overrated and nothing more than “post-modernism 101” in a way that never added up.  The film about people getting into each others mind, consciousnesses and souls is nearly two-hours long and seems longer.  Malkovich even appears as himself, while John Cusack, Cameron Diaz, Catherine Keener, Orson Bean and Mary Kay Place give their best in this surreal comedy that is darker than many people realize.

 

Cusack and company find a portal that seems to put them in Malkovich’s mind and chaos ensues.  The outrage just builds and builds until the film’s awkward conclusion, which at least did not go the David Cronenberg route, though that might have made me respect the film more.  Otherwise, this is for the most curious only and once you get it, it is just not that impressive.

 

The 1080p 1.85 X 1 VC- 1 digital High Definition image is decent, but could have been better.  Lance Acord did the cinematography for this and it is one of the reasons it was as critically successful as it was.  The Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 sounds like the 5.1 soundfield is pulled in versus my first experience with the film, leading to the conclusion that this must be an early HD master and/or second–generation version thereof.  Carter Burwell’s score is not bad and also helps.  Extras include the hilarious dance troop at a movie theater driving ticket buyers nuts with their bad dancing piece Jonze made a while ago, puppeteering featurette, Spike’s Photo Album, TV spots, trailer, Jonze on camera interview and three additional featurettes.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo