BEING JOHN MALKOVICH
Jonze’s Mise En Scene in Being John Malkovich
The Spike Jonze film, Being John Malkovich opens with the proscenium arch of a theatre indicating viewers are watching a play and the show is about to begin. Jonze uses angle shots in his opening scene to depict the puppets in their world. With Jonze’s displaying eye level shots, high angle shots, and low angle shots, the audience can identify with the puppets viewpoint and is foreshadowing what viewers are about to see with the characters in the film. Jonze uses tight shots in many scenes to give the audience a feeling of confinement, entrapment, and a claustrophobic sensation of the characters specifically drabby married couple Craig (John Cusack) and Lottie Swartz (Cameron Diaz). Jonze has created a very dark and dismal environment for Craig and Lottie’s apartment with their numerous exotic pets consuming their space, the mismatched ripped furniture, and very little lighting. The highlight of color is only apparent when Maxine (Catherine Keener) enters the lives of Craig and Lottie. Maxine’s sharp wardrobe is reflected in Craig and Lottie’s eyes as both characters fall in love with her. When Maxine comes to dinner at the Swartz household, there is finally exuberance in the apartment with light, candles, and flowers. Jonze uses the diversion of the portal into John Malkovich’s brain as his tool to reshape the lives of Craig, Lottie, and Maxine. The characters are trapped within themselves and by capturing a part of Malkovich’s mind, body, and soul they finally learn to be free. All of these elements contribute to the originality of Jonze’s vision and enhance the film.
The Spike Jonze film, Being John Malkovich opens with the proscenium arch of a theatre indicating viewers are watching a play and the show is about to begin. Jonze uses angle shots in his opening scene to depict the puppets in their world. With Jonze’s displaying eye level shots, high angle shots, and low angle shots, the audience can identify with the puppets viewpoint and is foreshadowing what viewers are about to see with the characters in the film. Jonze uses tight shots in many scenes to give the audience a feeling of confinement, entrapment, and a claustrophobic sensation of the characters specifically drabby married couple Craig (John Cusack) and Lottie Swartz (Cameron Diaz). Jonze has created a very dark and dismal environment for Craig and Lottie’s apartment with their numerous exotic pets consuming their space, the mismatched ripped furniture, and very little lighting. The highlight of color is only apparent when Maxine (Catherine Keener) enters the lives of Craig and Lottie. Maxine’s sharp wardrobe is reflected in Craig and Lottie’s eyes as both characters fall in love with her. When Maxine comes to dinner at the Swartz household, there is finally exuberance in the apartment with light, candles, and flowers. Jonze uses the diversion of the portal into John Malkovich’s brain as his tool to reshape the lives of Craig, Lottie, and Maxine. The characters are trapped within themselves and by capturing a part of Malkovich’s mind, body, and soul they finally learn to be free. All of these elements contribute to the originality of Jonze’s vision and enhance the film.
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