"Being
John Malkovich,"
Craig Schwartz (John Cusack) is nearing the end of his rope. The down-and-out-of-work street puppeteer, although talented and entertaining, goes home most days empty-cupped. His ten-year marriage to Lotte (Cameron Diaz), a workaholic pet store employee who literally brings her work home with her, is habitual at best. They have no money, no passion, no escape. With no other prospects, the nimble-fingered Craig takes a job as an entry-level filing clerk at Lester Corp, a "small" company located on the 7 1/2 floor of a Manhattan office building. At his orientation, he meets a beautiful staffer, Maxine Lund (Catherine Keener), and for Craig, it's obsession at first sight. To him, Maxine is an object just waiting to be affected, a woman just waiting to get...loved. For Maxine, however, there's no way, no chance, no how. Dejected, Craig retreats to his office to file. In a moment of exasperation, he slams the drawer causing some of his index cards to fall behind the cabinet. Upon moving it, a small boarded-up door is revealed. Prying open the door, Craig uncovers a passageway. Cautiously, he climbs Into the seemingly harmless hole and, suddenly, is sucked through the dark, wet tunnel beyond. Then, a flash of bright light. No context, no control, no ifs, ands or buts. Craig has discovered a portal to the inside of the unique experience that is John Malkovich. It makes no sense. It has no limits. It is no joke. And this is just the beginning...