Being Any Number of Versions of the Self He Has Invented [NYT: France Kicking Out John Malkovich]

The NYT Sunday Magazine ^ | Sunday, April 27, 2003 | Lynn Hirshberg

[summer]

John Malkovich is an actor, an expatriate, a clothing designer, a director with an art-house film opening this week and a man still game to try anything.

From The NYT Sunday Magazine:

Being Any Number of Versions of the Self He Has Invented

By LYNN HIRSCHBERG

John Malkovich may have to leave his life. Or at least the part of his life -- no small part -- that is his home in the south of France. Except when he's making a movie on location, Malkovich and his family live here, near Provence, year round. But lately he has been involved in a dispute with the French government -- one he'd rather not go into detail about -- and now Malkovich may have to look for another home. ''I'll probably have to leave,'' Malkovich, who is 49, says softly, sitting in the enormous kitchen that took him two years to get just right....

Even more disappointing is that Malkovich and his family, who do not share the anti-Gallic fervor that has gripped America, may have to leave this house sooner than they thought. The French government is being difficult, and Malkovich may move by June. ''My kids would like to go back to America,'' he says. ''They'd like to live in my hometown. But we are talking about living everywhere. I like the idea of China. Or South America. Or maybe Hawaii. ...

[summer]

Does anyone have any idea why the French government is kicking John Malkovich out of France? This 6-page article in the NYT Sunday Magazine omits any details about France's decision, but I found the entire notion rather odd -- I mean, didn't Mid East terrorists flock to France for cover? Didn't the Philadelphia murderer Ira Einhorn live in the South of France for a long time? So, what's the dispute between the French government and John Malkovich???

[summer]

Do you happen to know anything more about this?

[Scothia]

Oh, just leave, John, before the whole freakin' thing caves in.

[summer]

LOL....

[Samizdat]

What a putz. Maybe China or maybe Hawaii? I vote for Communist China.

[summer]

ROTFLMAO...

[Steel Wolf]

It may be nothing at all, and he's just playing it up for media attention. Perhaps he'll move to China as he indicated. I hear that Hong Kong is lovely this time of year...

[summer]

It sounds like something, though I can't imagine what it could be in a country where you can kill your lover and avoid jail by claiming the murder was a "crime of passion."

[Behind Liberal Lines]

Approximately two weeks ago, Malkovich was openly critical of France's actions regarding the gulf war.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/892756/posts

Perhaps Europe is not as tolerant of dissent as liberals like us to think.

[summer]

Wow -- fascinating thread. Thanks for posting. I almost wanted to joke that maybe he is getting kicked out for SUPPORTING America. And, it seems that may be it:

From your link:

"Why should America listen to what France now has to say?" Malkovich asked when we spoke to him the other day.

[hellinahandcart]

Can you please post the entire article? I refuse to register with the NYT, and the member ID "billclinton" and password "isahounddog" wouldn't open the magic portal for me...

[Lockbar]

Maybe Malkovich could consider a even more interesting place thats in the news.

[summer]

FYI, as you posted on the thread linked in post #9 above.

[hellinahandcart]

. I almost wanted to joke that maybe he is getting kicked out for SUPPORTING America. And, it seems that may be it

He said last year that he wanted to punch Robert Fisk and George Galloway in the noses.

It's almost a sure bet he's more liberal than me, but after expressing a sentiment like that, how can I do anything but love the guy?

Come home to America, John, and shake the dust of that place off your shoes...

[summer]

I usually do post entire NYT articles, but, this was an extremely long 6-page article, and all it basically did was review his entire acting career.

[summer]

Perhaps Sean Penn is considering a vacation there as we speak....

[Lawgvr1955]

Does anyone have any idea why the French government is kicking John Malkovich out of France? This 6-page article in the NYT Sunday Magazine omits any details about France's decision,

I am friends with his brother and will ask him tomorrow. Good journalism. A six page article and they fail to cover why they are kicking someone out of the country. Figures

[aculeus]

Remember, JM was quoted as saying he'd like to shoot Robert Fisk.

[summer]

Come home to America, John, and shake the dust of that place off your shoes...

I think these ultra liberal actors would faint if they realized how loving and forgiving America can be. I always thought Alec Baldwin's biggest mistake was not apologizing for his crazy rant. Even my dad tossed out Alec's video movies after he heard Alec's rant, and my dad really liked Alec's acting. Yet, Alec never made an effort to apologize, even to appease moderates like my dad. Big mistake, Alec, IMO.

[hellinahandcart]

6 pages and they never covered the issue of why John Malkovich has to leave France?

Jeez Louise, my junior-high journalism teacher would weep...