John Malkovich seems equally at home on stage, in big-budget Hollywood films, and in low-budget Independent films. He inhabits the character he is playing with unerring accuracy. Barbara and I have loved him and followed his career since he left college to join Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago in 1976. Malkovich is “The Great Buck Howard,” an entertainer who has been playing to the back row both on and off stage his entire career. Buck Howard is loosely based on the Amazing Kreskin, former “superstar mentalist extraordinaire” who was himself inspired by a famous comic strip character, Mandrake the Magician. In better days Howard played to full houses and appeared 61 times for Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show. His enthusiasm has not waned and his act has not changed, but he now plays to half-full theaters in places like Bakersfield. Co-staring with Malkovich is Colin Hanks, Tom Hank’s son. Colin Hanks is handsome, lovable, and a credible actor. He even gets to play a couple of scenes in the film with his father. Barbara and I liked the film and if it doesn’t appear in a theater near you, we recommend you watch for it when it comes out on DVD. When that happens we will remind you. GRADE B