The visionary 1999 classic Being John Malkovich is being released on Blu-ray & DVD today, as part of the prestigious Criterion Collection.  Starring John Cusack as a struggling puppeteer who finds a portal that literally takes him into the mind of actor John Malkovich, the strikingly original film was deservingly nominated for three Academy Awards including Best Director.

Director Spike Jonze and screenwriter Charlie Kaufman reunited in 2002 with the equally excellent companion piece of sorts, Adaptation.  Brilliantly inventive and endlessly original, Being John Malkovich is a smart head trip that gets into the mind of the audience by going into the brain of a great actor, delivering plenty of fascinating twists that leave us with a lot of profound questions to think about, before an unforgettable conclusion.

The Blu-ray includes commentary with filmmaker Michel Gondry, a “behind the scenes” documentary and another on the art of puppeteering, interviews with John Malkovich and Spike Jonze as well as two short films featured within the film.  Also included is a booklet with the uncensored transcripts of a conversation between Spike Jonze and pop culture critic Perkus Tooth.

Being John Malkovich is 113 minutes and rated 14A.

-John C.