First, John Malkovich's performance is incredible. He is one of the greatest actors today, and maybe in all cinematic history, and proves it in this movie.
How is that someone can honestly believe that they are doing good when in fact all they are doing is harm? This is the theme of this movie. John Malkovich gives a commanding and chilling performance as a man who is frightening and engages in harmful behavior but has no insight as to the abominable nature of his conduct. The Malkovich character is utterly depraved yet his depravity is not driven by animus which makes it even harder to figure out. He wraps himself up in some kind of fantasy world but he is not psychotic, is essentially mild mannered and deferential to authority and does not seem intent on hurting anyone. Yet, everywhere he does people get hurt because of him. He believes that he is doing good when he is doing bad. This what the Nazi war criminals apparently believed. They believed that they had a mission to accomplish and had no problem rationalizing and denying the destructiveness of their program. In fact, they vigorously defended their actions as being in the best interest of humanity. The Malkovich character thinks in much the same way and not surprising is equally warped.
How is that someone can honestly believe that they are doing good when in fact all they are doing is harm? This is the theme of this movie. John Malkovich gives a commanding and chilling performance as a man who is frightening and engages in harmful behavior but has no insight as to the abominable nature of his conduct. The Malkovich character is utterly depraved yet his depravity is not driven by animus which makes it even harder to figure out. He wraps himself up in some kind of fantasy world but he is not psychotic, is essentially mild mannered and deferential to authority and does not seem intent on hurting anyone. Yet, everywhere he does people get hurt because of him. He believes that he is doing good when he is doing bad. This what the Nazi war criminals apparently believed. They believed that they had a mission to accomplish and had no problem rationalizing and denying the destructiveness of their program. In fact, they vigorously defended their actions as being in the best interest of humanity. The Malkovich character thinks in much the same way and not surprising is equally warped.