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Post by tao on Aug 31, 2019 20:16:53 GMT -5
1. What, if anything, is the symbolism or importance behind LesterCorp and J.M. Inc. being on floor 7 1/2?
2. Many, if not all, of the characters in the film are deliberately unlikable. Does this work to the film's advantage, or would you have preferred the characters to being more endearing in some way?
3. What are your thoughts on the film's treatment of sexuality?
4. At the beginning of the film, Craig tells Elijah that he is cursed with consciousness. Do you think he is cursed with consciousness in general or simply his own?
5. What answers does the film provide to the philosophical questions raised by the "metaphysical can of worms" that is the portal into John Malkovich's mind?
6. None of the personal relationships depicted in this film come across as deeply intimate. What, if any, solution does the film propose for the dilemma of human isolation?
7. Here's a good one I found online: "Craig states that he likes puppetry because it gives him an opportunity to get inside someone else’s skin, to think differently, move differently and feel differently. This is evidently the same pleasure that people get when experiencing John Malkovich’s life. It is also behind John Malkovich’s enjoyment of being an actor, and Lottie’s empathy with animals. In each of these cases, though, the vehicle is just as miserable as the spectator (think of how Craig’s puppet characters were all tormented, and the psychological ailments that Lottie’s animals had). How, then, could such an experience be a source of comfort?"
8. Would you take the portal into John Malkovich? Why or why not?
9. If you could have such a portal into the mind of any living person, who would it be? Why? Sort of a lot, so feel free to skip some if you don't have any thoughts on a particular point. I will return tomorrow to discuss and post my thoughts on the film in general. 1) I don't think it stood for anything in particular, I think it was a quirk in the story. 2) Yes, I think the unlikability of the characters really helped to enhance the questions and suggestions the story wanted us to focus on. 3) Kind of a means to an end, and yet somewhat anti-climactic. No one was able to achieve a sense of satisfaction or completeness to it until the end when Lotte and Maxine got together and left Craig. 4/5/6) I got nothing for ya, chief. 7) The experience is a source of comfort because it's pretty much the same reason you listen to music, read a book or watch a film: these methods, among others, provides an escape, at least mentally, from the constraints and frustrations of your own life and allow you to partake in this fantasy, which is a form of, for lack of a better term, freedom. 8) Eh, maybe before he did the "Red" series of films; "Con Air"-era Malkovich would've been a blast. 9) I dunno, seeing as outside of my parents, most of the people I admire, even from an artistic standpoint, are already dead, so... Thom Yorke might be interesting.
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Post by Ghosty on Sept 4, 2019 23:09:25 GMT -5
1. What, if anything, is the symbolism or importance behind LesterCorp and J.M. Inc. being on floor 7 1/2?
2. Many, if not all, of the characters in the film are deliberately unlikable. Does this work to the film's advantage, or would you have preferred the characters to being more endearing in some way?
3. What are your thoughts on the film's treatment of sexuality?
4. At the beginning of the film, Craig tells Elijah that he is cursed with consciousness. Do you think he is cursed with consciousness in general or simply his own?
5. What answers does the film provide to the philosophical questions raised by the "metaphysical can of worms" that is the portal into John Malkovich's mind?
6. None of the personal relationships depicted in this film come across as deeply intimate. What, if any, solution does the film propose for the dilemma of human isolation?
7. Here's a good one I found online: "Craig states that he likes puppetry because it gives him an opportunity to get inside someone else’s skin, to think differently, move differently and feel differently. This is evidently the same pleasure that people get when experiencing John Malkovich’s life. It is also behind John Malkovich’s enjoyment of being an actor, and Lottie’s empathy with animals. In each of these cases, though, the vehicle is just as miserable as the spectator (think of how Craig’s puppet characters were all tormented, and the psychological ailments that Lottie’s animals had). How, then, could such an experience be a source of comfort?"
8. Would you take the portal into John Malkovich? Why or why not?
9. If you could have such a portal into the mind of any living person, who would it be? Why? My thoughts: 1. I think it's just another quirk to add to the film's off-kilter atmosphere, like the old man's insistence that he has a speech impediment or his receptionist's apparent hearing problem. I saw some speculation elsewhere on the internet that the half-floor forces them into the position of an inert puppet, but I don't think there's much to go on there. 2. Personally, I found that it worked. Nobody (other than Malkovich himself) was really likable which made their bumbling antics more entertaining. 3. Agreed with v9733xa, pretty progressive and tasteful for 1999. Could probably go into more depth but I think anything I'd get at has been touched on already. 4. I think he believes that consciousness in general is a curse, but he's actually only dissatisfied with his own situation in life. As soon as he steps into the mind of Malkovich and learns to control him as he does his puppets, he is more satisfied with that consciousness, probably as a way to escape his strained marriage and failed career as a puppeteer. 5. Admittedly too deep of a question for this form of discussion. 6. I'm not really sure if it qualifies as a solution, but none of the personal relationships depicted in the film come across as loving and genuine until Maxine and Lottie's union at the end of the film, which was sparked by their honesty with themselves and one another. So perhaps the "solution" is being honest with yourself rather than living a lie like Craig was trying to do through Malkovich. Important to note that Craig was still pining after Maxine despite her happiness with Lottie at the end of the film. 7. Definitely a source of comfort in an escapist fashion. The vehicle might be miserable but they seem to allow the spectator to distance themselves from their own problems and thrive on the novelty factor of being inside another's skin. 8. Absolutely, seems like it would be a fun, if not thought-provoking, 15 minutes. 9. Probably Donald Trump because I'm curious what, exactly, goes on inside that head.
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Post by tao on Sept 5, 2019 17:11:53 GMT -5
1. What, if anything, is the symbolism or importance behind LesterCorp and J.M. Inc. being on floor 7 1/2?
2. Many, if not all, of the characters in the film are deliberately unlikable. Does this work to the film's advantage, or would you have preferred the characters to being more endearing in some way?
3. What are your thoughts on the film's treatment of sexuality?
4. At the beginning of the film, Craig tells Elijah that he is cursed with consciousness. Do you think he is cursed with consciousness in general or simply his own?
5. What answers does the film provide to the philosophical questions raised by the "metaphysical can of worms" that is the portal into John Malkovich's mind?
6. None of the personal relationships depicted in this film come across as deeply intimate. What, if any, solution does the film propose for the dilemma of human isolation?
7. Here's a good one I found online: "Craig states that he likes puppetry because it gives him an opportunity to get inside someone else’s skin, to think differently, move differently and feel differently. This is evidently the same pleasure that people get when experiencing John Malkovich’s life. It is also behind John Malkovich’s enjoyment of being an actor, and Lottie’s empathy with animals. In each of these cases, though, the vehicle is just as miserable as the spectator (think of how Craig’s puppet characters were all tormented, and the psychological ailments that Lottie’s animals had). How, then, could such an experience be a source of comfort?"
8. Would you take the portal into John Malkovich? Why or why not?
9. If you could have such a portal into the mind of any living person, who would it be? Why? My thoughts: 1. I think it's just another quirk to add to the film's off-kilter atmosphere, like the old man's insistence that he has a speech impediment or his receptionist's apparent hearing problem. I saw some speculation elsewhere on the internet that the half-floor forces them into the position of an inert puppet, but I don't think there's much to go on there. 2. Personally, I found that it worked. Nobody (other than Malkovich himself) was really likable which made their bumbling antics more entertaining. 3. Agreed with v9733xa , pretty progressive and tasteful for 1999. Could probably go into more depth but I think anything I'd get at has been touched on already. 4. I think he believes that consciousness in general is a curse, but he's actually only dissatisfied with his own situation in life. As soon as he steps into the mind of Malkovich and learns to control him as he does his puppets, he is more satisfied with that consciousness, probably as a way to escape his strained marriage and failed career as a puppeteer. 5. Admittedly too deep of a question for this form of discussion. 6. I'm not really sure if it qualifies as a solution, but none of the personal relationships depicted in the film come across as loving and genuine until Maxine and Lottie's union at the end of the film, which was sparked by their honesty with themselves and one another. So perhaps the "solution" is being honest with yourself rather than living a lie like Craig was trying to do through Malkovich. Important to note that Craig was still pining after Maxine despite her happiness with Lottie at the end of the film. 7. Definitely a source of comfort in an escapist fashion. The vehicle might be miserable but they seem to allow the spectator to distance themselves from their own problems and thrive on the novelty factor of being inside another's skin. 8. Absolutely, seems like it would be a fun, if not thought-provoking, 15 minutes. 9. Probably Donald Trump because I'm curious what, exactly, goes on inside that head. Now that you mention it, I can kinda see the "inert puppet" idea now that I'm thinking about it. Damn, I'll have to rewatch the film again lol!
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Post by stuartoxlade on Sept 6, 2019 5:45:02 GMT -5
1. What, if anything, is the symbolism or importance behind LesterCorp and J.M. Inc. being on floor 7 1/2?
2. Many, if not all, of the characters in the film are deliberately unlikable. Does this work to the film's advantage, or would you have preferred the characters to being more endearing in some way?
3. What are your thoughts on the film's treatment of sexuality?
4. At the beginning of the film, Craig tells Elijah that he is cursed with consciousness. Do you think he is cursed with consciousness in general or simply his own?
5. What answers does the film provide to the philosophical questions raised by the "metaphysical can of worms" that is the portal into John Malkovich's mind?
6. None of the personal relationships depicted in this film come across as deeply intimate. What, if any, solution does the film propose for the dilemma of human isolation?
7. Here's a good one I found online: "Craig states that he likes puppetry because it gives him an opportunity to get inside someone else’s skin, to think differently, move differently and feel differently. This is evidently the same pleasure that people get when experiencing John Malkovich’s life. It is also behind John Malkovich’s enjoyment of being an actor, and Lottie’s empathy with animals. In each of these cases, though, the vehicle is just as miserable as the spectator (think of how Craig’s puppet characters were all tormented, and the psychological ailments that Lottie’s animals had). How, then, could such an experience be a source of comfort?"
8. Would you take the portal into John Malkovich? Why or why not?
9. If you could have such a portal into the mind of any living person, who would it be? Why? Sort of a lot, so feel free to skip some if you don't have any thoughts on a particular point. I will return tomorrow to discuss and post my thoughts on the film in general. So I finally found time to watch this last night. It'd been about 15 years since I last saw it, so thanks for the prompt to stick it back on. I forgot how much fun it is to watch John Cusack and Cameron Diaz in the late 90s, Keener has never looked more provocative and Malkovich is just a lot of fun throughout the course of the movie. Even funnier for me was seeing Charlie Sheen playing himself, and with his preference for a witch with lesbian tendencies, especially given what has come out about him since this movie was released. Onto the Q's: 1 - I honestly don't know if there is much importance other than it being a quirky idea and 'low overhead' joke was part of the script? 2 - I think it works in this film as they're all desperate to be someone else, and the reason for that is that they're not content in their own skin. Keener seemed to be the only character who seemed self-assured, and even she wouldn't get into a relationship with a women unless it was through the eyes of a man 3 - It's actually really progressive for the time it was released. I like the idea that regardless of sexuality, if you love someone then it doesn't matter what sex, colour or personality they have. You just love them for who they are. It's also funnier when that person is in the mind of someone else's body 4 - I just thought Craig was a massive dick in this. He's cursed with just being a dick, plain and simple 5 - I'm not sure I'm educated enough to get into this one 6 - Buy a monkey, and a dog 7 - As you're not the one having to make any of the decisions in life? Just sit and spectate 8 - Hell yes, although I wouldn't wear my best clothes like they all seemed to 9 - My wife, just so I can see myself from her perspective. I'd probably learn a lot about myself pretty quickly
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