The “witty” movie John Malkovich calls a “gripping thriller”
There are some faces in the world of Hollywood that precede their respective filmographies, with the likes of Steve Buscemi, Sissy Spacek and John C. Reilly having such curious mugs you could seemingly find the universe nestled into their pores. Another such star is John Malkovich, the face behind Spike Jonze’s Being John Malkovich, which placed the actor as the subject of a supernatural identity crisis.
A two-time Oscar nominee, Malkovich climbed to success in the 1980s thanks to almost immediate critical success with supporting roles in Robert Benton’s Places in the Heart, Roland Joffé’s Killing Fields and Steven Spielberg’s Empire of the Sun. By the end of the decade, after receiving an Oscar nomination for Places in the Heart, Malkovich was a popular name, slipping effortlessly into Stephen Frears’ celebrated Dangerous Liaisons.
In the decades that followed, Malkovich effortlessly built a cult following thanks to his idiosyncratic performance style, thriving in such movies as the beloved action flick Con-Air with Nicolas Cage and the aforementioned Oscar nominee Being John Malkovich. Known for his magnetising personality and spine-tingling intonation, a monologue from Malkovich can be compared to no other industry star.
Speaking to Rotten Tomatoes in 2009, Malkovich treated fans to a rundown of his favourite movies, providing some insight into the personality of one of Hollywood’s most beloved stars.
Included in the list is the classic 1940 Carol Reed movie Night Train to Munich, which told the story of the German and British intelligence forces who try to capture a Czech scientist who has created a brand new revolutionary technology. Starring the likes of Margaret Lockwood, Paul Henreid and Rex Harrison, the film is regularly considered to be one of the greatest romance thrillers, even being nominated for an Oscar at the time.
Speaking about the film, Malkovich stated: “In black and white, made in 1940 by Sir Carol Reed, who of course also did The Third Man, Odd Man Out, Oliver!, etc. Night Train to Munich is a witty and quite gripping thriller. Intricate and romantic with very amusing performances”.
Elsewhere on his list of all-time favourites are the likes of Bernardo Bertolucci’s The Conformist, which he called “ravishingly beautiful”.
Take a look at the trailer for 1940’s Night Train to Munich below.
