# Being John Malkovich (1999)

> A frustrated puppeteer finds a portal into an actor’s mind and turns a metaphysical identity crisis into a wickedly funny battle over love, embodiment, and control.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/movie/388

## Facts

- Runtime: 113 min
- Genres: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
- Director: Spike Jonze
- Cast: John Cusack, Cameron Diaz, John Malkovich, Catherine Keener, Orson Bean, Mary Kay Place, W. Earl Brown, Carlos Jacott
- TMDB rating: 7.4/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120601/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: strong
- Complexity: layered
- Violence: mild
- Mood: witty, absurdist, surreal, curious movie night, late night cinephile viewing

## Synopsis

A surreal journey into the mind of a celebrity reveals the complexities of identity and desire.

## Movies like Being John Malkovich

- [The Nines (2007)](https://ember.film/movie/7435)
- [Cold Souls (2009)](https://ember.film/movie/18744)
- [Synecdoche, New York (2008)](https://ember.film/movie/2843)
- [The Good Night (2007)](https://ember.film/movie/7819)
- [Dream a Little Dream (1989)](https://ember.film/movie/9034)
- [The Cobbler (2014)](https://ember.film/movie/136339)
- [Adaptation. (2002)](https://ember.film/movie/1830)
- [Pushing Tin (1999)](https://ember.film/movie/7232)
- [A Life Less Ordinary (1997)](https://ember.film/movie/3945)
- [Deconstructing Harry (1997)](https://ember.film/movie/1774)

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