Guide Note

The 1999 film Being John Malkovich tells the story of a man (Craig Schwartz) who discovers a doorway in his office that is a gateway into John Malkovich.

Fast Facts

1. Directed by Spike Jonze
2. Produced by Steve Golin, Vincent Landay, Sandy Stern, Michael Stipe
3. Written by Charlie Kaufman
4. Released on September 2, 1999 in the US
5. Starring John Cusack, Cameron Diaz, Catherine Keener, John Malkovich
6. Tag line: "Ever wanted to be someone else? Now you can."
7. Budget: $13 million
8. Domestic Gross: $22.8 million

John Cusack plays Craig Schwartz, an aspiring puppeteer who on the urging of his animal loving wife Lotte, played by Cameron Diaz, takes a filing job at a local company. One day at work he discovers a secret door hidden behind a filing cabinet. Craig opens the door to find a tunnel, and out of curiosity crawls down that tunnel. Before he knows it he finds himself inside John Malkovich's head, staring out to the world through Malkovich's eyes. After 15 minutes of being inside Malkovich, Craig is spit out on the side of the New Jersey turnpike. Craig tells his wife about the portal, even letting her experience the phenomenon and also shares the news with Maxine, played by Catherine Keener, an attractive woman who works in the same office building. Maxine has the idea to sell the Malkovich rides late at night when the offices are closed, for $200 a ride. All is well until Malkovich himself crawls into the portal and he is forced into a Malkovich filled world. Craig later reenters the portal, in an attempt to take over Malkovich's body to become the famous puppeteer he always wanted to be.