Stream Selected Films of John Malkovich

The Sheltering Sky 1990 Based on the novel by Paul Bowles. Directed by Bernardo Bertolucci. Port Moresby (John Malkovich) and his wife Kit (Debra Winger) arrive in Oran (Algeria) in 1947. Their friend George Tunner (Campbell Scott) joins them for the  initial leg of what’s planned as an extensive trip. The film begins with romantic misinterpretations between the three.

First Port, then Kit, end up on their own in town and then the desert among Arab Bedouins. Did they arrive alienated or pick up a pervasive mood? Danger seems to lurk around every unknown turn. Not a lot happens but you feel as if you’ve made the trip. Vincent Canby called it “A beautifully modulated cry of despair.” Rent on Amazon Prime.

The Object of Beauty 1991 Directed by Michael Lindsay Hogg. A fish eye view of our acquisitional culture. Commodities trader Jake Bartholemew (John Malkovich) and his extravagant wife Tina (Andie MacDowell) are living beyond their means in a five star hotel, perpetually skirting the management. Jake has all his money tied up in a stalled deal.

The only thing between the couple and the street is a Henry Moore sculpture given to Tina by Jake in better times. Just when they resolve to pretend it’s stolen and collect on the insurance, the housekeeper (Rudi Davies) actually steals it. It’s lost, found, returned, stolen and… With Joss Ackland, Bill Patterson, Peter Reigert. Rent on Amazon Prime.

Of Mice and Men 1992 Based on the John Steinbeck novella. Directed by and co-starring Gary Sinise. The Great Depression. George (Gary Sinise) and mentally challenged Lennie (John Malkovich) are itinerant farm workers with a dream of owning their own land. George protects his friend as best he can but with good intentions Lennie frightens and hurts people. At their new place of employment, George tells the farm owner that his companion got kicked in the head by a horse.

The boss’s wife (Sherilyn Fenn) is seductive/promiscuous/lonely; his son Curley (Casey Siemaszko) takes an instant dislike to anyone bigger than him. (Lennie is usually played by someone outsized – a large man with the mind of a child who has no sense of his own strength.) George instructs Lennie to stay away from both. Volatility and miscommunication result in unintentional violence, then multiple tragedies. A painful/poignant ending. Sinise is splendid, Malkovich excellent, but his size is an issue. Free with HBO Trial.

Ripley’s Game 2002 Based on the book by Patricia Highsmith, this is the fourth Ripley novel to be made into film. Directed by Liliana Cavani. In odd-choice partnership with crass gangster Reeves (Ray Winstone), the very polished Tom Ripley (John Malkovich) is now an extremely successful dealer of art forgeries. Having raised and been refused the price of some artwork, he kills a man with the audacity to pull a gun, then takes both the money and the drawings in question. Ripley then gives the money to Reeves without telling him what occurred and will secretly resell the art. He dissolves their association.

Three years later, Ripley is living with his professional musician wife/ partner in an opulent villa outside of Venice, Italy. He returns home one day to find Reeves in his kitchen. The thug needs someone assassinated. Ripley refuses. Attending a party given by his neighbor Jonathan Trevanny (Dougray Scott), a modest picture framer, Ripley walks into the kitchen just as the host is mocking Ripley for having money but no taste. This being Highsmith, future revenge is implicit.

Trevanny is dying of leukemia leaving a wife and son. Ripley correctly parses the ill man will need money and recommends him to Reeves as the assassin. The framer feels forced to accept and gets drawn into a web of killings he finds psychologically wrenching and then unexpectedly freeing. His wife recoils from constant subterfuge. A succession of violent murders occur under Ripley’s direction. Ultimate revenge is insidious. Malkovich is malevolent as you’ve ever seen him. Rent on Amazon Prime.

Secretariat 2010 Based on Secretariat: The Making of a Champion by William Nack. Directed by Randall Wallace. When Penny Chenery (Diane Lane) tries to bring her family’s horse farm back to profitability, she finds she has to fire a dishonest trainer. Upon recommendation, she  then hires idiosyncratic French Canadian Lucien Laurin (John Malkovich). There are jockey issues, money issues and family issues, but Penny sticks to her belief in the horse. A solid look at racing and southern horse culture. Heartwarming and traditional.  Rent on Amazon Prime.

The Wilde Wedding 2017 Written and Directed by Damian Harris. Movie star Eva Wilde (Glenn Close), getting married for the fourth time, invites her children, their significant others, in some cases their exes, their children and notably her first husband, theater actor Laurence Darling (John Malkovich) who has given her away at each ceremony. Also arriving are the incipient groom, novelist Harold (Patrick Stewart with hair), his two daughters and a friend of theirs. The house and guest house (beautiful) are filled to the brim with attractive people with great bodies who fall in love and/or lust at the drop of a hat (or, later mushrooms).

Oddly, though formulaic, it’s more fun than irritating. A colorful respite helmed by Close and especially Malkovich (actually charming rather than slimy for a change) whose acting holds. With Minnie Driver (who can really sing!), Jack Davenport, Grace Van Patten, Noah Emmerich, Peter Facinelli. Free with Amazon Prime.

ALSO Dangerous Liaisons 1988 Based on the Christopher Hampton play Les liaisons dangereuses. Directed by Stephen Frears. Wonderful script and aesthetics, but I prefer 1989’s Valmont which is based on the same source material. Directed by Milos Forman.

AND Being John Malkovich 1999 Directed by Spike Jonze. A hoot. Rent on Amazon Prime.

The Great Buck Howard 2008, a very good character turn, can be found in Stream Films About Magicians

Color Me Kubrick 2007 COMING to PRIME ON MARCH 31

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