2. Being John Malkovich
A puppeteer discovers a portal that leads literally
into the head of the movie star, John Malkovich.
IMDB rating: 7.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 93% Fresh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UuRFr0GnH
M
3. 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.
4. 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
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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 Writing
Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture, Best Performance
by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture X2,
and Best Screenplay Motion Picture
8. Writer
Charles Stuart "Charlie" Kaufman (born November 19, 1958) is an
American screenwriter, producer, director, and lyricist.
9. Charlie Kaufman - Filmography
Year Title Credit
1999 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
10. 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
11. 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.
12. Spike Jonze - Filmography
Year 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
13. 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
14. 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 Weezer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kemivUKb4f4
• Sabotage by Beastie Boys
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5rRZdiu1UE
• Praise You by Fat Boy Slim
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruAi4VBoBSM
15. 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
16. 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.
17. 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?".
