Showing posts with label john cusack. Show all posts
Showing posts with label john cusack. Show all posts

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Two Line Reviews - #381

Movie: Being John Malkovich(1999)

Plot:
An unsuccessful puppeteer, in his new workplace, accidentally bumps on to a portal that shall lead one directly into actor John Malkovich's senses. Along with a worker from his own building who he starts loving, he uses the portal as a consumer business. His wife, during one such portal experience understands she is aroused by John and her husband's partner lady. A multi-way battle for love and the puppeteer's ability to control Malkovich's behaviour compound the situation and it's confusion all the way!

What Works?

  • The insanity that Spike Jonze brings works wonderfully well! The initial portions of weirdity are absolute fun.
  • John Cusack, John Malkovich, Camerone Diaz and the Miss.Maxine lady all have equal footing and come up with lively performances.
  • The conversations in the 71/2 th floor, interview room, roadside puppet scene etc. evoke instant laughter.
What Doesn't?
  • The film's intensity loses steam as soon as Malkovich realises what's being done about him.
  • Also, the sudden focus on seriousness after about a hour doesn't augur well for sustaining the interest levels.
Strange concept, fair execution!

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Two Line Reviews - #270

Movie: Bullets Over Broadway (1994)


 
Plot: A budding writer is forced to give chance to a useless actress wife of a don for getting the financial support for a film he wishes to cast some promising names. When these actors rehearse, the don's aide - a bodyguard to the wife-actress - corrects some badly written scenes & soon it becomes a norm with the aide becoming the writer & the writer becoming a help-seeker.

 
Highlights:
  • The message - the difference of looking at things wearing a different hat - is superbly delivered by Allen & the title is a brilliant fit.
  • John Cusack & Chazz play the main roles convincingly & Dianne West reminds one of Sunset Boulevard's protagonist.
  • The screenplay, which gradually shifts focus from the rehearsals to the message, is smartly knitted.
An unconventional Woody Allen film!