malkovich give a performance that carry the picture . but the picture go nowhere . i wasn not offend by all the gay stuff in it . but i might have be be i gay . it a bit much . while there be a lot of reference to kubrick movie and there be few and if any and attempt to include any of his cinematic signature while i. e. the tracking shot and the bathroom scene and the sullen stare into the camera . there be repetitive inclusion of music associate with this movie and zarathustra and thieve magpie and sarabande and snippet from wendy carlos clockwork orange score . these become tiresome . the movie fails and because the alan conway character be never explore in any way . this be brian cook fault and not malkovich . here and example represent the high point of this long running con occur in a restaurant and where conway take in super sharp frank rich of the new york time . now and regardless of conway background or motivation and this should have be a great moment for him . be he scar . be he challenge . be he so into the con that it be inconsequential to him . he do go to the trouble of verify rich with the maitre would . the script think it be important . but the scene tell u nothing . it worth see and i suppose and for kubrick fan like myself . but it add nothing to the canon . the screenplay be fine and probably hit the right note and but the direction be fatal .