If this was a real website as opposed to egotistical haranguing, then I might've had some special Halloween oriented theme with spooky fonts, animated ghost gifs, and cackling witch .wavs, but it ain't so there aren't. The weekend is for ghouls. Time to hide in the skin of someone or something we are not. Time to get away. Time to be John Malkovich, if I may be forgiven for jumping on that, or who knows, maybe Gary Sinise for the daring. Whoever you are, do me a favor and beat up any Sith Lord you encounter. Grease painted geeks with horns will not be tolerated on my block. Feed the Darth Mauls of our world poisoned apples. Slip those Dark Jedis a razor blade in their Pixie sticks.
(Any sys. admins. named Jim are exempt from the above rantings. -ed.)

Speaking of 'Being John malkovich,' I went to it today and give it both my and John's thumbs up. Yes, I like the movie despite the hype claiming it to be a one of a kind original. We all know the language to counter anyone making that claim about anything, right? In unison now, "Bullshit!"
The pattern of the movie is modeled after geeky and or troubled adolescent pictures like "Last Star Fighter," "Never ending Story," or even "Wizard of Oz." John Cusack, Charlie, is the perfect middle aged equivalency of the adolescent character as he desires to be a success as a puppeteer in a world with no need or sympathy for the struggling puppeteer. He is forced to conform and that conformity forces the fantasy world, or is it, in which to escape to. While performing the mundane tasks of the work-a-day job, Charlie, finds a golden ticket, er, a secret doorway that leads to another man's head. For a brief time he can experience, first hand the subjectivity of another while still being somewhat aware he is himself. A concept based upon the life of Ronald Reagan.The wonder of what has happened awakens in Charlie a series of metaphysical questions on the nature of selfhood, afterlife and soul. In Maxine, played by Cathereine Keener, who is never J.M., it merely suggests a means to financial gain. Maxine and Charlie partner up and charge folks 200 per fifteen minute Malkovich dose.

The stage is set. Although the film remains a comedy throughout, the middle aged fantastical escape escalates in ways it does and can not in similarly themed adolescent comedies. In 'Weird Science' say, the two geeks who long for hot chicks and cool guys to like them, have all the chaos caused by their desire reversed, literally. Consequences are greater in adult life. Malkovich brings out spousal battery and wrongful imprisonment as Charlie beats and locks up his wife in a cage. The director, some guy named Spike Jonze that has nothing to do with the Weird Al of yore, directs the scenes with dramatic intensity to not let go of the fact that these are still real people and only the situation is fantastic.

The story evolves along the lines of Charlie's unrequited love for Maxine who is also lusted after by Charlie's wife after she realizes her desire to be a man after being J.M. This turns in to a love rhombus involving J.M. as the conduit through which Charlie and his wife fuck Maxine. Soon, Charlie is able to take permanent control over Malkovich. Charlie, however wants to be himself. That is not to say that he cannot and is not 100^% capable of being himself through J.M. J.M. becomes a puppeteer. J.M. ends up being a world reknowned puppeteer. Charlie can change the course of Malkovich's life.

Now, the problem is the group of oldsters who need to use Malkovich to live forever since he is the current person in the lineage of who can be entered through the portal. If this 'Being J.M.' is the adolescent fantasy movie for the middle aged then 'Coccoon' was similar but for the geriatric. The gang of old folks travelling in other's bodies gain immortality by voyaging into others as opposed to the stars. Well, in a sense through Malkovich they do both.

Enough with plot. The film is wonderful exploration of the concept of self and subjectivity. It is not, like many critics have claimed, a statement on celebrity. Malkovich is a celebrity by comedic device default. In otherwords, it helps make it funny. The screenplay writer's obvious love of the Monty Python troop also helps to make the film succeed. The only real problematic element in the movie is Cusack's character who is unable to succeed and find happiness as himself, but through the disguise of Malkovich can crawl to international fame as a puppeteer. In the end, Charlie is imprisoned, with no control in the body of a female infant, the next in the portal's lineage. But why? He knows who he is and who he wants to be. He can, however, only get what he wants by being John Malkovich. What the movie tells us is that those who are unhappy with themselves, who, what, where, and how they are will end up finding happiness, eternal life, love and companionship. Whereas if you know what you want, where you want to be going, how you want to be and strive towards that goal regardless of what other's tell you about your chances, then you will be doomed to isolation, loneliness, love for but not loved and failure. I'd also like to know what happens to the John Malkovich who is John Malkovich? Where does he go. Unwitting victim loses life to voracious pack of geriatric immortals? Hardly seems fair. Who said life is fair?

Yeah, they want me. They all want me simultaneously. They all call for me on the same day: Earthlink and AT&T. Hmmm...I can either be a jack off temp. working for an outservice business hired by AT&T worldnet to do their dirty business or I can work directly for an ISP. Think I'll take the boys at earthlink up on their offer. It's further away in Pasadena as opposed to Burbank, but fuck Burbank. Their just a bunch of Nazis. The drive to Pasadena is worth it. Earthlink is bound to pay me more and I'll have benefits, which is good since I'm slowly falling apart. Sooner than I want to be but in the nick of time none the less, I'll be employed. Happy Halloween.

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