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Being John Malkovich
What do you get when a down-on-his-heels puppeteer working as a file clerk on the seventh-and-a-half floor of a Manhattan office building discovers a secret portal into the brain of John Malkovich? Hilarity, drama, and perhaps the most unique film of the 90s. Being John Malkovich, which stars John Cusack, Cameron Diaz and, of course, John Malkovich as himself, is Charlie Kaufman's screenwriting debut. The movie premiered to universal acclaim and is guaranteed to become a classic of modern cinema.
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
About the author
Charlie Kaufman
23 books826 followersCharles Stuart Kaufman is an American playwright, film producer, theater and film director, and an Academy Award, BAFTA, and Independent Spirit Award-winning screenwriter. Often regarded as one of the finest screenwriters of the 21st century, his work explores themes of death, insecurity, the artistic process, and the passage of time.
In 2003, Kaufman was listed at #100 on Premiere's annual "Power 100" list. He was also identified by Time Magazine in 2004 as one of the 100 most powerful people in Hollywood.
In 2003, Kaufman was listed at #100 on Premiere's annual "Power 100" list. He was also identified by Time Magazine in 2004 as one of the 100 most powerful people in Hollywood.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
August 16, 2016
good idea but bad story
January 30, 2011
MALKOVICH MALKOVICH MALKOVICH MALKOVICH!
(This is the best review I've ever written.)
P.s. Did anyone else read the early script with Satan in it? And the utopian society with Malkovich cinemas on every street corner? And the juice bar?
(This is the best review I've ever written.)
P.s. Did anyone else read the early script with Satan in it? And the utopian society with Malkovich cinemas on every street corner? And the juice bar?
August 25, 2020
"بهتره آدم یه شمع روشن کنه تا اینکه به تاریکی فحش بده."
(از متن کتاب)
(از متن کتاب)
August 28, 2010
LESTER: Imagine a room full of women. Nubile, blonde, wet with desire, Schwartz. A harem, if you will. Me in leather. A harness, if you like. I am the object of this desire, and all eyes are on me as I speak. "Ladies," I begin. "I am the love god, Eros. I intoxicate you. My spunk is to you manna from heaven . . ."
Bahahaha! Funniest scene in a very quirky, intriguing, darkly humorous flick.
Bahahaha! Funniest scene in a very quirky, intriguing, darkly humorous flick.
July 16, 2013
I watched this in cable years ago, and remembered how much I liked the film. Reading it is something like going into Charlie Kaufman's mind and taking a peek into his insanely creative and wild mind. Saw a copy of this screenplay for fifty bucks in Booksale and couldn't resist buying it. Worth every peso. :)
April 12, 2011
Being John Malkovich is a quirky story with tons of comedic sidecars. I was very interested to see the movie turn out almost completely different than Charlie Kaufman's version. Kaufman created a wild plot with interesting characters. While the film did fairly well in keeping the unusualness of the characters, it dropped the unusual and whimsical plot. Kaufman's creates boring, spineless, miserable characters and when given a little bit of power, are completely overwhelmed and take full advantage. It shows the lack of identity people can have and the vulnerability that they are left with.
July 20, 2013
It was the first draft. And I didn't figure that out until about page 80 or something. It was actually quite different in the second half. It was more comedy. Kind of too much comedy. The main script I think deserves five stars, but not this version. The comedy was balanced in the film. Everything was too hard to believe.
However the ending of this version was a bit more meaningful than the film. I mean, the film left more impression, but this one was more surrealist. In the end it was kind of an infinite loop of people controlling other people controlling other people.
However the ending of this version was a bit more meaningful than the film. I mean, the film left more impression, but this one was more surrealist. In the end it was kind of an infinite loop of people controlling other people controlling other people.
February 23, 2021
What a precious experience it is to read the screenplay of one of your favourite movies. Kaufman's introduction is astonishingly brilliant in its honest, stream-of-counciousness portrayal of the anxious human condition. Can't wait to watch the movie again and read Kaufman's novel!
October 25, 2016
This is what cinema should be about: risk and originality in perfect dosage so as to unsettle and unhinge and, hopefully, transform.
May 26, 2024
I love Kaufman. It's as simple as that. The introduction of this book deserves its own 5-star rating.
October 19, 2009
One of my favorite movies, I read the screenplay on a short flight this weekend. I think this was edited down to match the movie; otherwise, it's the first screenplay I've read that matches the finished product exactly.
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April 30, 2008در صورت تمایل، جهت مشخصات فیلمی که بر اساس این کتاب ساخته شده است؛ میتوانید از لینک زیر استفاده بفرمایید
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120601
December 3, 2009
Have you seen this movie? I hadn't until after I read the script. It's quirky and funny, a little surreal, and completely awesome.
February 21, 2014
Ingenious, bizarre, and funny!
April 10, 2015
Brilliant writing
July 15, 2024
I read this because I was curious on know how good this script was in order to convince John Malkovich to embrace this role but goddamnnnnn the original script is even more wild than the actual movie
Charlie Kaufman is a genius, that’s all I have to say
Charlie Kaufman is a genius, that’s all I have to say
December 28, 2018
For the original script with Satan in it. A true window into Charlie's brilliant mind.
July 31, 2020
To Charlie kaufman,
Please dont add swamp apes and giant puppet battles in your script if you are not gonna use them in the movies. I kept waiting for that part.
Please dont add swamp apes and giant puppet battles in your script if you are not gonna use them in the movies. I kept waiting for that part.
August 15, 2023
Funnier than I remember!
September 13, 2023
The early version of the script is INSANE
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September 13, 2019Not too many differences between this and final movie. Charlie Sheen is in the movie, in the script he's Kevin Bacon.
AND THERE'S A PUPPET SHOW COMPETITION AND SATAN AND A CULT AND THE MOVIE ENDS WITH MALKOVICH ON A THRONE TELLING HIS SUBJECTS TO DANCE BECAUSE HE'S NOW FIFTY PEOPLE IN ONE BODY (B/C KARL MARX) AND LOTTLE MARRIES THE MONKEY AND FLMMER CONTROLS THE GREAT MANTINI WHO CONTROL CRAIG
i luv it
AND THERE'S A PUPPET SHOW COMPETITION AND SATAN AND A CULT AND THE MOVIE ENDS WITH MALKOVICH ON A THRONE TELLING HIS SUBJECTS TO DANCE BECAUSE HE'S NOW FIFTY PEOPLE IN ONE BODY (B/C KARL MARX) AND LOTTLE MARRIES THE MONKEY AND FLMMER CONTROLS THE GREAT MANTINI WHO CONTROL CRAIG
i luv it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 22, 2024
5/5
A perfect screenplay and a wonderful, equally as phenomenal introduction by Kauffman.
A perfect screenplay and a wonderful, equally as phenomenal introduction by Kauffman.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews