Being John Malkovich (1999)

This crazy, surreal comedy dazzles with originality as a daring metaphysical fantasy that probes identity and gender while remaining gripping and subversive throughout its twists.

The critic calls the film an outrageously funny comedy with a brilliantly simple and unanswerable premise that delivers pure comic gold in every scene and line. It is praised for its light touch on themes of celebrity and identity, its inspired casting of Malkovich, and for being one of the funniest and cleverest films of the year.

The critic hails the film as a twisted, smart, funny, demented and hugely entertaining surreal comic fantasy and one of the most thrillingly original movies Hollywood has produced. They single out Cameron Diaz's gleeful trashing of her sweet image in an edgy role and John Malkovich's willingness to send up his persona.

The critic praises the film as a delirious, subversive extension of Jonze’s music-video sensibility into feature length, celebrating its illogical premise and philosophical playfulness. He singles out the inspired casting of Malkovich as perfectly capturing the actor’s enigmatic allure and the film’s exploration of identity and desire.

The critic praises the film as a clever, outrageous, and unique whimsical fantasy that makes a surreal premise feel plausible and raises philosophical questions about reality and identity in a genially unhinged way. It singles out the director's light touch with the unusual scenario and the writer's singular imagination, while noting a minor flaw in the explanatory ending.

The film is an eccentric, rich metaphysical screwball comedy and inquiry into personality and fame that subverts Malkovich's image while delivering a formally sober yet tonally shifting experience with standout casting.

The critic calls the film an irresistibly nutty and fun first feature that turns identity inside out in a contemporary fun-house ride more entertaining than similar efforts like The Truman Show. It singles out the inventive screenplay and direction for making the surreal premise work through a mix of puppetry, voyeurism, and technology-obsessed culture.

The critic calls the film a triumph of imagination as the debut feature for both director Spike Jonze and writer Charlie Kaufman. They single out John Malkovich's graceful and humorous performance amid the surreal humiliations he endures.