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being_l
THE UNBEARABLE LIGHTNESS OF 'BEING' Malkovich stoops to conquer

Credits

Release Date: Oct 29, 1999; Rated: R; Video Release Date: Oct 31, 2000; Genres: Comedy, Fantasy, Sci-fi; With: John Cusack, Cameron Diaz, Catherine Keener and John Malkovich; Distributor: Gramercy Pictures
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By Troy Patterson
Troy Patterson
Troy Patterson is a critic for EW. He lives in Brooklyn.
Being John Malkovich -- a delicious pretzel of absurdism -- stars Cusack as a frustrated puppeteer who happens upon a gateway into the titular star's consciousness. Hosannas have justly been sung to screenwriter Charlie Kaufman, director Spike Jonze, and costar Catherine Keener. But most impressive is John Malkovich's dead-on impersonation of the deadpan persona of John Malkovich. A master of cool insolence, menacing distance, and glorious hamminess, Malkovich here builds up a satirical version of his actorly self and then hilariously warps it according to the Borgesian demands of the brilliant script. It's a role he was born to play.

Posted May 09, 2000
 

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