At last, a movie for anyone who ever wanted to be someone... else.

Craig Schwartz (John Cusack) is nearing the end of his string. A gifted street puppeteer, Craig nonetheless is coming up empty-cupped. New York City has little use, or tolerance, for his special talents. His ten-year marriage to Lotte (Cameron Diaz), a workaholic, pet store employee who literally brings her work home with her, has become habitual at best. They have no money, no passion, no escape.

With no other prospects, the nimble finger Craig takes a job as an entry-level filing clerk at LesterCorp., a small company located on the 7 ½ floor of Manhattan's Mertin-Fiemmer office building. At his orientation, he meets the beautiful Maxine (Catherine Keener), and for Craig it's obsession at first sight. To him, Maxine is a woman just waiting to get loved. To Maxine, however, Craig is a no go.

Dejected and rejected, Craig retreats into his office to file. In a moment of exasperation, he slams the drawer, causing a folder to fall behind the cabinet. Upon moving the cabinet, he discovers a boarded up passageway, which he opens and cautiously enters. Craig has discovered a portal that is an all-access pass to the unique experience that is John Malkovich! He is being John Malkovich...

And this is just the beginning...

Being John Malkovich is an outrageous comedic fantasia which is the first feature film to be helmed by award-winning director Spike Jonze. Being John Malkovich is a darkly compassionate exploration of love and identity.

Being John Malkovich can be so many things to so many people.

John Cusack (Craig Schwatz), himself an accomplished screenwriter, calls the movie:

"the sickest film I could never conceive of, totally original, totally new, intricate, twisted, sophisticated, and lowbrow - all at the same time. It's like an Escher painting. It has doors and stairways leading into themselves. It's totally wild."

Asked to describe Charlie Kaufman's unique screenplay, producer Vincent Landay defers to the director's own synopsis:
"I think Spike summed it up best when he said the film is about New York City, a puppeteer, a tragic marriage, a chimp, a boss, a receptionist, another woman, an actor, the New Jersey Turnpike, and a plate of lasagne."

Cameron Diaz, Lotte Schwartz
"I had heard all these things about Spike, how cool and talented he was. Then I met him, and he wasn't anything like I thought he would be. I walked into the Pacific Dining Car, a few minutes late for our meeting, and was escorted to the table. There was Spike, in one of those big, high-backed chairs, nodding off. All I could think was, 'Gosh, who is this guy? Then I realized he looked like Robert De Niro. That's another of his hidden talents, one of his endearing qualities: he can look like anybody.

Catherine Keener (Maxine) referring to her first meeting with Jonze
"It must have lasted a couple of hours, which I hear is not unusual for Spike. I kept feeling like I should leave, but he made me feel like I didn't have to. After the audition process, I thought doing this great script with this cast would be a lot of fun - plus I'd get to work with Spike. His personality is kind of like the story. His personality mirrors the script somewhat, in that they are both continually surprising."