Spike Jonze on Being John Malkovich

"New interview with Jonze in which he discusses his on-set photos", from the Criterion Blu-Ray.

[@geraldmixer]

I worked on this movie and it was a fantastic experience. Johm Malkovich and Spike Jonze were very funny guys. Great script.

[@shineayandrews1869]

Honestly, I didn't know he did anything aside from being in Jackass

[@dsmith3351]

Wow

[@arthritisankle]

Additional Pylons dude, Spike is amazing. He made amazing skate films and music videos before he started directing great movies.

[@svenpoletka5236]

I didn't find them all that funny at the time, but I'm glad you had a good time!

[@SomeFeelTheRain572]

whats spike like on set? what job did you do?

[@wllm4785]

What I find remarkable about this interview is how he barely talks about himself, how he mentions many people by name, what their roles were in making the movie, and gives them credit for the success of the movie. Seems like a great all around, talented guy.

[@jackjackthompson5771]

Paul Bunyan true, although he is literally going through pictures and describing them, but agreed

[@seansense]

It's great, b/c he recognizes his role is to hire the right people for the right roles/jobs and then sort of keep everything moving.

[@day245]

@@jackjackthompson5771 not literally unless he climbed through said pictures, much like Being JM

[@ernestolombardo5811]

After watching "Adaptation", it wouldn't surprise me at all if while writing the "Malkovich" script, Kauffman identified with the puppeteer more than anyone else, as some sort of hack fraud. He even got Cusack in full costume as the puppeteer to look down on and rudely dismiss him in "Adaptation". Kauffman may now be universally recognized as one of the greatest of screenwriters, and maybe even the most original of them all, but to create that content it seems he has to tap deep down into his own personal insecurities and use that as the central pillar around which everything ends up revolving. It's brilliant, and it also sounds harrowing. Hats off to Charlie Kauffman, it takes a brave man to do what he does the way he does it.

[@SONOFABITCH]

Agreed, so you can imagine my disappointment with “I’m Thinking of Ending Things”. Thoughts?

[@martitinkovich4489]

I think "Malkovich" is a prototype for post cinema expression of some kind. There's a strange detached element to alot of the film, but also a great satire of actor/entertainer worship in the segment where he abandons acting for the world of puppetry.

[@alx1719]

@@SONOFABITCH really liked that film.

[@frak7190]

Obvious choice but eternal sunshine is like that too, you can really feel a lot of Kauffman in Carrey's character

[@hvitekristesdod]

I actually don’t get the bits in Adaptation where everyone on the BJM set treats him like crap lol

[@lexiconlover]

I love watching film people reminisce about things.

[@jacedjohnson3541]

lexiconlover it's the closest thing to a time machine we have right now

[@Pimp-Master]

Catherine Keener was fantastic. Yes, some of the frames look murky, but there’s incredible laugh out loud moments-The characters landing in a dumpster in New Jersey; The exit point from Malkovich’s head... Great movie.

[@MrStosh12345]

This movie left a deep impression on my life, not a depression in the slightest, but a bright imprint of sorts upon my mind. Reflecting back on the other side of the door brings me fond memories of my dreams from childhood. Thank you for such a beautiful storyline filled with beautiful people beautifully seen and captured through a lens. This movie captured my imagination then as a kid, films like this amazed audiences. Being John Malkovich’ inspired me to fill everyday of my life with art ambition and beauty. Thank you for a great interview and a freaking fantastically awesome movie!

[@MrStosh12345]

2028...1 min movie! 🤫

[@BillytheEntertainer]

spike seems to be really good at understanding the emotional core of all the people he works with. His language isn't particularly flowery, but it's clear he's extremely observant, and very intelligent.

[@thattimestampguy]

0:30 Vince LanDay - Producer, He was the man on the job 1:25 Malkovich made this all possible (He did not have to do this movie) 2:55 Charlie wrote it for fun, to get jobs (coming from inside of him) 3:40 Mirror thing 4:16 Lance - The Cinematographer, does great work, learning together Catherine Keener - Maxine, effortless powerful woman, making others give her power Cameron Diaz - Lotte , Transformed her 8:52 Take Care of Craig, Take Care of Animals (Method Acting/) 9:48 Trooper The Dog 11:48 A Questioner

[@jasonpeters3558]

Cameron Diaz is vastly undervalued. She was great in Vanilla Sky too round this time

[@MA-dh4bk]

Cameron Diaz always brings it. And I agree, was spectacular in Vanilla Sky. She doens't bullshit. Ever.

[@rb5519]

Didn't I see him in that jewel thief movie?

[@melissahoward7148]

I love spike!! His movies and music videos made my life.

[@ThunderAppeal]

Sounds like you aimed low.

[@jshepard152]

"Low overhead my boy! We pass the savings on to you!"

[@thetruthexperiment]

Adding “fill light” to “make it look like a comedy” would have been such a terrible thing. Spikes saved this movie by standing up for the Photographer.

[@brunocarrillo410]

Underrated director 🖤

[@Ungtartog]

Such a wonderful film! It looks like it was memorable experience for everyone in it as well!

[@deboraceleste]

I love how everyone forgots John Cusack was in that movie while he was literally the main character. He says Craig a lot but he doesn't mention Cusack once!!

[@lilmissrockchick4962]

John Cusack was amazing in Malkovich

[@martitinkovich4489]

He starts as the main character, but that seems to shift somewhere about halfway,no?

[@clutchcarabelli8054]

My favorite movie of all time hands down no way it could have been anyone other than John Malkovich

[@thetruthexperiment]

Way back before the film was released a friend told me about it. He was very excited. And I thought it sounded crazy. But it was the kind of idea you might have as a joke but Hollywood would never make it. So I wanted to see it. I had seen “in the line of fire”. So naturally he seemed like the right actor to play himself. My point is, I imagined a movie with lots of fill lighting. I expected it. When it wasn’t like that I was instantly very pleased. It instantly became one of my all time favorites and it still is.

[@urbutt388]

what an interview! Spike is so unpretentious I love it

[@carlhiller9659]

He didn't talk about John Cusack at all

[@andyscott5277]

noticed that as well...🤔

[@herpsmaltwatta]

It's not about him. The give away is cunningly hidden in the title of the movie.

[@andyscott5277]

hoopsmaltwaiter but it’s about every other actor and crew member that worked on the film...? Spike: *no mention of the actor playing the main character of the film* but “here’s little Timmy, he got me my coffee, such an integral part of the production...” 😂

[@lS-qp6zq]

He's predominantly in the film, yes, but never really registers in my head whenever the thought of the film comes into my head really...

[@blakeblake3303]

he's sort of the guy you jump into the head of the most so we've already heard enough by seeing the movie

[@jasonpeters3558]

Spike Jones is pretty epic. "Buddy Holly," Weezer vid is still to this day his masterpiece

[@guts1258]

It's definitely not better than his movies, especially Her.

[@Egoblivion]

That was just a warm up for his movies, lol.

[@sebeckley]

Not a single mention of John Cusack.

[@ChloeDust]

Yeh that's a shame thought John was great in this movie.

[@Koettnylle]

Who?

[@ChloeDust]

@@Koettnylle John Cusack played the puppeteer Craig in this movie.

[@Koettnylle]

@@ChloeDust Yeah, i was joking

[@ChloeDust]

@@KoettnylleWell...ok

[@pod9363]

Charlie Kaufman has to have an IQ of like 150 or something. His brilliance and inability to fit in with normal people, finding them confusing or something, I'd be surprised if he wasn't a genius.

[@JackHC0]

He's one of the few people I consider a genius. His adaptation and Synecdoche screenplays are exceptional. There's a quote that roughly says "Talent is hitting a target nobody can hit. Genius is hitting a target nobody can see."

[@marissadower-morgan3313]

Spike Jonze is amazing

[@simonpenum]

Kathleen Keener wearing a Pogues T-shirt! Badass!

[@Jahu-qs2us]

1:55 Charlie "Steal your Girl" Kaufman

[@justinguo9984]

lol

[@manuelwardrobe]

Why “steal your girl”?

[@kajgur9237]

Charlie "Steal your sanity and peace of mind" Kaufman

[@all_consuming_images]

I can't imagine trying to watch this movie in less than a second I only really understand it 50% already

[@MagosYCONJUROS]

masterpiece

[@per-bjarnemikalsen3996]

0:17 A chip in the back of your head makes you see the movie in 0.5 seconds.

[@bridgettewessels5307]

he just slipped that in like it was nothing 🤣🤣

[@SalveRegina8]

Jonze still trolling us all these years later. 😎

[@TheBatwave]

Not once does he recognize John Cusack. WHY?!

[@ceselb]

He's a bit of a diva. If you can't say nice things about someone, just shut up. I like Spike, he's good people.

[@leonorrivera6379]

Charlie wrote the weirdest scripts ever made on screen.

[@cactaceous]

Still at it. His last film I'm Thinking of Ending Things is pretty great and Kaufmannesque.

[@15minuteenlightenment41]

I aspire to be like Spike

[@SlowVillageBand]

dude looks so young because he has his tunnel... it's obvious!

[@reallyharsh]

14:46 🤣perfect

[@BIgBass255]

I needed some help with this movie, I had never seen it. After watching it, I said to myself WTF did I just watch!. I had no idea it was such a great movie. Well done...

[@williamwoody7607]

Did he Mention Cusack? Did I fall asleep?

[@jeffkoons001]

the Jones Kauffman collaboration should not have ended -- Charlie's work as a director leaves me completely cold and I've pretty much loathed everything post "eternal sunshine"

[@codyt.346]

Ohh man, I got a duplicate of this documentary on my chip! EYJC

[@jnich16]

There was an old big band comic band leader that was known for these outrageous songs and music who’s name was Spike Jones. I doubt this is a coincidence but maybe so. I haven’t found any info but then again I haven’t looked too hard. Anybody know why Spike chose Spike?

[@day245]

He used to have crazy hair and when he was in high school working as a photographer on a back magazine, the older guys there nicknamed him spike. Not sure why he chose the last name

[@23nanabananna2]

Anyone else just look at Cameron Diaz and automatically think ditzy lost in translation Anna Faris?

[@Rexis95]

Evelyn Waugh! (just watched Malkovich and learned that it was directed by Jonze.. and was his debut film! - after being obsessed with LIT for years)

[@barthglennh]

I didn’t recognize Cameron Diaz either...13:35

[@lichtfilme]

and it was good.

[@Nightowl-wp6fv]

Thought it was tony hawk for a sec

[@jqyhlmnp]

2028 and they’re still re-releasing movies ;)

[@Brascofarian]

30 year anniversary? You what???

[@joecook5689]

In the movie Coffee and Cigarettes, how funny was the scene when Steve coogan didn't want to give his phone number to the guy until he realized he was good friends with spike jonze. Ha. Try to hit like if you've seen it.

[@MarkTarmannPianoCheck_it_out]

Children of x-gens, like me son, they dinnae care too much for Jarmusch and Waits and all that gen-x stuff. Yes, it is the first and last thing I think of when I hear Spike Jonzey's name. That his name was well used in that bit. I can't bring to mind even one frame "Being John Malkevich". I remember vaguely, maybe liking it, but not sure. Jackass was annoying crap for over entertained children of x_gens, needing ever grosser cringe crap entertainment. Groundbreaking crap, leading the way to reality tv and faux docu and cringe humor, alongside crap action and superhero films, and the "stupid is the new smart" ethic replacing ....everything. Yuk.

[@jasonpeters9865]

Spike Jonze, Godfather of the "hipster nerds finally getting laid" revolution in mid90s-prsnt. Rivers Cuomo his wing man.

[@andrewaronson3364]

he always reminded me of the kony 2012 guy is that unfair?

[@ivannparker4073]

So we're just gonna blow past that chip implant thing hunh?

[@SalveRegina8]

It’s all true.

[@RSousa-ru7xi]

the late 90s are so the late 90s

[@jadedrealist]

Spike Jonze is hot.

[@eddrupz1805]

I'm changing my name to Stalactite Jownz

[@CyphersBasement]

To anyone else listening to this and getting confused, at 10:00, Spike says that a job someone had on set was to WALK the dog twice a day. It sounds like Spike is saying "fucking", but he isn't, I promise.

[@AndreasDevig]

That's hilarious. "One of my brothers' responsibilities was fucking Trooper, twice a day."

[@richardwilmotph.d6747]

"ANIMAL PEOPLE"!! LOL!

[@jcvdchuck7915]

Never mentions John Cusack 🤔

[@greenfez2121]

Ok dude

[@urbanwarior3134]

Why does he think its 2028 and what is he saying about a microchip that uses 5g speeds to let youview a movie in 2 seconds

[@jshepard152]

Those things are called jokes.

[@thetruthexperiment]

3:56 Scott Wieland?

[@leigh6417]

Damn, Spike is the youngest looking 50 year old I’ve ever seen. You’d think the stress of a directing career 30+ years would put some heavy lines on your face. Not this guy.

[@fascinatinglist9654]

2028 ??

[@Eightsixseven23224]

My daughter was born that year. Hell of a year with Kanye's second term ending.

[@trnkabarfilm]

@@Eightsixseven23224 This guy know the future, keep your eyes on that guy.

[@PotatoJonson]

I’m afraid artists like Spike Jonze will disappear with the access and ease that current tech provides. Now people just flip on a webcam and eat mystery candy.

[@PotatoJonson]

Steven Glansberg I didn’t mean all artists will disappear, just that the creative stage has been shortened by access. Most great stuff comes from hard work and time, neither of which are required anymore. I know I sound old.

[@ParkerPPipe]

2028?

[@MultiAustin86]

Title is misleading. Spike obviously doesn’t really think he is John Malkovich.

[@workemail7016]

I LOVED Eternal sunshine but this movie I just couldn't get...

[@matthewhampshire1088]

work email what didn’t you get?

[@Egoblivion]

You know Spike Jones didn't do ES, right?

[@workemail7016]

@@Egoblivion Charlie kaufman wrote both!!

[@dgodiex]

​@@Egoblivion Michel Gondry

[@Egoblivion]

@@workemail7016 Oh, ok...my mind was stuck on directors...

[@txzz4688]

What happened to Spike Jonze?

[@Coicoy]

He made a film called Her a few years ago. It's fascinating and an all-too-realistic near-sci-fi film. He bounces between projects, short projects, commercial projects, and film.

[@krashd]

Shit, Spike Jonze really speaks like that? I thought he was always putting on a fake voice in Todd Margaret 0_o

[@jasper24601]

But he isn’t

[@jag0937eb]

fak dat chip

[@urbanwarior3134]

Why are our recent comments not going to the top because we are talking about the fucking chip

[@jasonpeters3558]

Catherine Keener,....strange. BJM was my first introduction to her. I thought she was sexy, but after this movie not so much.

[@zoezzzarko1117]

Watch Living in Oblivion 😎

[@dragonking7092]

Why is this in my recommended lol?

[@syntaxerorr]

I kinda feel like Jonze stole and built off of Malkovich's success. But I've watched Malkovich's take on the film and he kinda says the opposite. This is a conspiracy!

[@stee8345]

Spike Jonez was directing famous music videos and tons of other stuff way before they made this movie. He was already an established director

[@BEdwardStover]

Annoying when critics or just anyone talking about a film say SCIENCE FICTION when what they are talking about is FANTASY. It is outrageous that a director would do the same. No, science can never let you in someone's head like this. Thus it is fantasy. Fantasy is NOT limited to Tolkien or anything with elves or dreamstates. For example Star Wars is fantasy. (This is where my annoyance at the confusion comes from as so very many people seem to think that Star Wars is Sci-Fi because they fly in space. Star Wars is fantasy because of the force and light sabers. That and the fact that is so endlessly talked about, so it is the sheer volume of misstatements that then become annoying.) Some would also place FTL travel as fantasy but it is a common Sci Fi trope, so it is accepted. In other words, Spike, I expected better from you. Love, your dearest fan.

[@zoezzzarko1117]

And this comment is High Drama. 😎

[@Sam_on_YouTube]

I always thought Joan Cusack would have been the ideal Lotty. Not sure if she and het brother would have been willing to do that film together and it might have been weird and distracting for them to play husband and wife. But the two of them independently would have been great at those characters.

[@Lizzy720]

Jesus Christ. He talks at great length about everyone connected with this film including the goddam COSTUME designer but never even mentions the star of the movie, John Cusack. He was the linchpin of this film, he made it work and he doesn't get so much as a by-your-leave from the director. They must have ended up on bad terms. Thumbs down for this slight.

[@rotcod2886]

I was about to make a similar comment. Strange he doesn't mention him at all.

[@comeyouspirits]

I hear you. So odd that I wonder if it was the editing of this epk, and not Spike's choice, as they may have cut a separate whole video on the bluray where Spike talks about John?

[@urbanwarior3134]

What about the microchip wake up

[@quietfi123]

Very strange and almost kind of rude not to acknowledge John Cusack at all. Perhaps they didn't get on but I would have liked to have the heard something about the character he played.

[@jonsellas]

Rubbish Heap

[@riobrasilsambashowssambist1453]

Sorry to burst your bubble, all actors are overrated. How do you praise someone for pretending

[@ThunderAppeal]

Sorry but this movie made zero sense. John Malkovich was an *ok* actor. The fact that anyone would think actors are 'so great' today is sad and shows how empty people are today.

[@neenlancaster]

You know, perhaps if you watch it again it will click that what you're saying is exactly what the movie attempts to show. So.

[@zoezzzarko1117]

The film is a philosophical statement about many levels of humanity.... and some monsters as well 😎