first i love this movie
it got me thinking for QUITE a while
but i still dont get it
can someone explain the major scenes and purpose?
eg. the ape recollection scene, john going in his own head,
why is the ceiling low? etc.
A major theme in the film is the common desire many, if not all, people have or have had at one point in life or another - to be someone else for lack of satisfaction with one's own life, I'd say.
I don't think a film must have a point in order to be good, but when it comes to this particular one, this would be my take on it.
Furthermore, a film is more than the sum of its parts, so not every scene must have a significant story of its own to tell, as much as it receives meaning when looked at within the context of the whole, and even then a highly subjective one, as everyone has a different understanding of it.
That said, my opinion is an entirely subjective one, but what the hell.
As for the ceiling being low, it might be symbolic of feeling constricted in one's own skin, which, I believe, is backed up by the portal which leads directly from that claustrophobic space into the skin of another person.
The ape recollection might be symbolic of getting over personal issues, I suppose.
As for what happens when John enters his own mind, it might be a humorous depiction of him as a very egocentric and narcissistic person, with everything in his world revolving around himself. He got to see himself for what he is. Or it may have just been a random thought that popped into Kaufman's head and he thought it would be cool.
Again, just my point of view, I'm sure there's lots of different explanations for every aspect of this film. For what it's worth though, hope I was able to help.
are you Werner Herzog?!
share"Or it may have just been a random thought that popped into Kaufman's head and he thought it would be cool."
I think that about sums up the entire movie.
I love your opinions and the fact that you leave it open for other opinions! As an English teacher, this is so important to literature (and by extension, film). We all bring our experiences to our interpretations, and if they make sense, then you get an A! For taking the time to write this (and within the scope of this film, it seems logical) I give you an A.
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I don't blame you... why would anyone want to care about John Malkovich? or worse, get inside his head? He's one of the worst actors that ever lived.
sharePeople do care for this movie and 100% people never like/hate a movie/actor, this movie is liked by many and Mallkovich acted well his part.
Why so Serious ?
Your opinion is not everyone's opinion.
shareno one said that their opinion was everyone else's opinion, and everyone has a right to their own opinion
and misc-sm was just trying to explain, as best he could, his perception of what the movie meant which can be different to someone else's and/or to what the movie actually meant
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Obviously you know nothing about acting.
shareYou don't have to 'get' anything. You can still enjoy a film without delving into it philosophically lol.
shareWasn't the ape recollection scene just a way to explain how an ape would know that Lotty was captured against her will and that he needed to free her? And more importantly, the fact that he couldn't save his parents made him that much more determind to free her? That's what I got *shrug*
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Honestly?
I don't think you're supposed to get it. They go out of their way to avoid explaining anything, pointing out rather bluntly that the concept of the portal "opens a whole metaphysical can of worms" then outright ignoring that theme.
After the wife has her experience she creates this whole sexual connotation involving John having both a penis and vagina which makes little sense... but to her it makes perfect sense.
I think this movie is making fun of people (lightly of course) that feel the need to explain everything. This movie can't be explained because the events in it are never explained... each person simply has their own interpretation, just like the characters in it create their own interpretations of what it's like being John Malkovich.
No rights, no wrongs, just a bizarre experience.
Btw, John Malkovich is a terrible actor. OH YEAH. I WENT THERE!
The point of the "ape scene" is that they're trying to show you where Elijah's "childhood trauma" came from. The issues he is working through, the reason he has a stomach ulcer. Lotte being tied up next to him reminded him of it, and he decided that he could actually help untie her, unlike his parents. Perhaps, overcoming some of that trauma for himself. That's all, there's no deeper meaning to that scene. It's nothing philosophical.
As for when J.M. goes into his own portal... he is just entering his own subconscious for the first time. There's no telling what to expect. It made for a very hilarious scene though..
You don't get this movie.
But you don't understand why you don't get the movie - and that is your problem.
You think it's because you couldn't figure out scenes like the Ape's memory and because the film didn't show Craig going back into the portal... you couldn't figure out how he got into emily's vessel. That is wrong. As if every scene had a purpose and was some deep philosophical meaning. Remember, this is a comedy... it's supposed to be funny... and it's a fantasy. It's not real!
You need to learn to suspend disbelief (look up what that is if you don't know) - something that films often require of their audience.
There is a great deal of symbolism here. And if you try to think too hard about how the portal works, shut your brain off. You'll never "get" the film if you are trying to wonder "what if" and "how come". Just go with the film and stop thinking about it. Suspend Disbelief! Then... maybe your mind will open up to the bigger picture and see what the 7 1/2 floor represented... what being in someone else's body says about ourselves.
Dr. Lester explains the portal. The film can't tell and show us everything so at the end you have to figure that part out on your own and deduce that Craig went back into the portal after John's 44th birthday (right after he saw Lotte and Maxine together and get away in a car on the turnpike) and as Lester already told the audience... if you go in after that person's 44th birthday you'll get stuck in the portal for the next person... who turned out to be Emily.
As for the ape memory - you are looking too deep into this film in all the wrong places. It simply showed you how the chimp knew to untie Lotte. That's all. We also see into why he's depressed and sick - the chimp never was able to save his parents. But the scene is really there so the plot can move forward... so he can untie Lotte so she can go to Dr. Lester and he can explain how the portal works and how he lives forever.
Suspend your disbelief and quit examining this film too much looking for meaning in all the wrong places. :-)
It seems to me that you're not even talking about suspension of disbelief. Of course, you can just sit and enjoy every movie and not analyze it further, it works great for all fans of major Hollywood-movies, but it's not wrong to try to analyze a movie.
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lol, i don't think john malkovich is a good actor either. OH YEAH. I WENT THERE! LOL
shareCheck out some of the art - novels - and cinema of the "absurd". You'll probably want to look at non-Hollywood, European, South American, Russian, and Japanese films of the 60's to begin with - back when artists were experimenting with the artform and genre - to get a feel for something a lot more profound than the simple minded eye-candy with inane plots and ridiculous special effects spilling out of Hollywood now (with few exceptions) - for one purpose - distraction for the price of a ticket - and don't forget about all of that merchandising...
Don't analyze the film - experience it - then chat about your experience with friends - there are themes - metaphors - symbolism - and so forth - but the true value of the film is in its ever-lasting niche it carved in your psyche.
I think Spike Jonez was influenced by the Surrealist and Dada art movements, as well as the films of Luis Buñuel. Check out "Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie" or "That Obscure Object of Desire" which are Buñuel's influential surrealist films of the early Seventies. Buñuel's films had more in the way of political commentary but absurdist themes of "Malkovitz" are similar to those of Buñuel.
I think Jonez was also making a satirical comment on the celebrity obsessed culture in modern day America.
Oh, I've seen some older foreign films, along with a lot of pre-1970 Hollywood movies.
I have no interest in fancy special effects.
And yet....this movie didn't appeal to me at all.
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💕 JimHutton (1934-79) and ElleryQueen 👍
good for you for asking. Most people are too smug to admit that sometimes they didn't get something
shareI think the malkovich sequence was the equivalent of my guess for what would happen. This being that it would be akin to making your camcorder record a live feed of itself on television and turn into a fractal. I think it was an amusing portrayal of that.
HAIL SAGANshare
Exactly my thoughts. I just saw it for the first time. Just a physical 'file corruption' from him going into his OWN portal.
And the chimp was just flashbacking, lol.
In the end, Okonkwo threw the Cat.
Speaking of the Malkovich sequence, have you ever tried looking into a mirror with another mirror behind? You'll see hundreds of thousands of yourself reflected in the mirror. My guess maybe that's the metaphor the director wanted to express.
I just finished watching this movie. Didn't expect it to be such intriguing. Can't stop thinking that everyone is accomplished in his own life(or skin) and meanwhile restrained by it, too. Like Craig wouldn't have become such a talented puppeteer if he hadn't led his own life, but the very same life restrained him from shining out his full potential. He had to wear Malkovich's skin to brake out of his shyness.
In the end, finding a portal to live in someone else's skin is not a solution for real life. I guess everyone has to be yourself yet be beyond yourself some times.
Brilliantly written.
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