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You will twist you mind getting hold of this unique storylineJul 11, 2010 I don't think I have seen a film like Adaptation. It is unique. It is a film about the difficulty of screen writing a film based on a plotless book which is the film that you are actually viewing. Did you follow that? Actually it is a funny film with Nicholas Cage playing a totally insecure screenwriter, Charlie Kaufman. Screenwriter Kaufman and director, Spike Jonze, have produced a film full of irony. Nicholas Cage's performance was perfect, filling me with anxiety as I watch the character Charlie Kaufman in all his insecurity and self-defeating life choices. Charlie Kaufman has been asked to write the script for a book that is actually more about reflection than about any discernable structured narrative. The task is driving him crazy since he sees the art in the original book, The Orchid Thief, but he struggles to figure out how to make it into a script for a film. He is plagued by a twin brother who wishes to become a screenwriter and is taking a class on screenwriting. Cage plays both roles perfectly. The twin brothers, Charlie and Donald, must be enough alike to appear as realistic twins but yet different enough for the viewers to easily distinguish them. Kaufman, Jonze, and Cage pull off this difficult task perfectly. The book, The Orchid Thief, written by New Yorker writer Susan Orlean, is based on real events but the events don't add up to a film. Eventually the film spins into wild fiction after Charlie gets the advice of a screen writing seminar teacher.
Meryl Streep is excellent as Susan Orlean, the sophisticated writer, who feels passionless and thus is fascinated by those folks who do feel passion in their life. Chris Cooper, possibly the best actor in Hollywood, plays the orchid thief. After seeing Cooper in this role, I am convinced he can play any part to perfection.
The title of the film, Adaptation, has multiple meanings in the film, both in regard to biological evolution and human growth. The first 80% of the film is about Kaufman's inability to write the script, however after he gets advice from the screenwriter instructor, the last 20% becomes pure wild Hollywood with car chases, car crashes, attempted murders, and romantic resolution. The last 20% is pure ironic commentary on film-making as well as a perfect contrast to the previous 80% about writer's block. The film is unique, clever, thought-provoking, and wonderfully acted. It is highly recommended.
Mindbending OdysseyMay 18, 2010
Nicholas Cage plays twin writers in this crazy surreal porridge of creativity. Adaptation follows the ending of the movie "Being John Malkovich" and stars (along with Cage) Meryl Streep, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Chris Cooper, John Malkovich and Cara Seymour. The noted Spike Jonze directs this ensemble.
Charlie Kaufman and Donald Kaufman twins are wickedly identical writers, yet have markedly different personalities. Donald is outgoing and a steadfastly cheerful freeloader in Charlie's home. He is working on a serial-killer movie script and picks constantly at Charlie's brain for ideas. Charlie has neuroses and worries and struggles to shape a novel about flowers, "The Orchid Thief" written by Susan Orlean (Streep) into an interesting screenplay.
Charlie is obsessed by the novel and writes himself into story of Orlean (Streep). She is a weary writer that is hunting for passion in life and connects with a Florida orchid-hunter named Laroche (Chris Cooper) who loves the journey in finding treasures (Orchids, Fish, Porn) he wants. She envys his lust for life and wants to feel a part of his mileu. She feels meaningless and boring although she leaves a comfortable married life to stretch and grow. The movie has many layers and is like the rock formations from the dawn of time.
Adaptation is a mindbending odyssey that has wry humor, narration of Charlie's wild thoughts and fulfilling originality.
AdaptationMay 14, 2010 Charlie Kaufman (Nicolas Cage) is trying to adapt the book The Orchid Thief from Susan Orleans (Meryl Streep) about John La Roche (Chris Cooper) who goes to various places in Miami to find orchids to cultivate, but doesn't want to add much to the actual story. Because of this he's having a hard time adapting the book to movie form. He's also living with his brother Donald (Nicolas Cage) who has decided that he will become a screenwriter and is working on a screenplay about serial killers called "The Three".
Charlie Kaufman (yes, that's a real person) is a brilliant screenwriter. Having written the little seen Human Nature, the quirky Being John Malkovich, and the critically acclaimed and brilliant Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Charlie was trying to come up with something new with his adaptation of Susan Orleans' book The Orchid Thief. He was having a very difficult time with adapting the book the way he wanted, but eventually came up with this idea to meld real life with fiction with a little help from his (fictional) brother, Donald Kaufman (who also earned a co-screenwriting credit).
Adaptation is a brilliant film, as are most of Kaufman's works, melding together his real world works at adapting The Orchid Thief with the fictional account seemlessly. Throughout the film you get that this is a true story, especially when you review to realize that the character names are names of real people (with very few exceptions, such as Donald Kaufman), and then at the end, once you realize that this is a work of fiction, you can still see the work of Donald Kaufman on the film as if Charlie was channeling the character's ambitions in an effort to figure out how to end the movie. Naturally, in the end, when you find out more about the movie this only works to the story's advantage.
Nicolas Cage isn't typically the actor that you'd look to to portray a character like this, or I should say, character's like this. Charlie and Donald are two totally different characters with separate sensibilities, but Nic plays them with amazing affinity for the shortcomings and strengths of the characters. Naturally, Oscar winning actress Meryl Streep throws herself fully into the game as always, and you also have a dose of the amazing Brian Cox, which is always worth noting. Chris Cooper as the eccentric orchid thief John La Roche steals the show though.
This is a movie that I have to highly recommend. It's funny and stylish but doesn't lose it's focus on story and character building. The movie does a great job at remaining faithful to the material Charlie was originally trying to adapt by focusing some of the attention and narration on passages of the book, while also remaining entertaining, especially in the relationship between the two brothers. I only wish more screenwriters could be as inventive as Charlie Kaufman.
4.5/5
Witty and deep!Apr 07, 2010 Having never truly been a fan of Nicolas Cage (and even less so after his stint into action movies!) I had not expected to enjoy this movie as much as I did. I actually saw it mainly to re-see Chris Cooper who in my mind is one of the best actors of our time.....
The movie will seem odd and the characters exagerated to those looking for a 'conventional movie' to see and it is important you are not looking for a story line but rather for little gems among the lines and parts of the characters you can recognise in yourself or those around you!
Great!
AMAZINGFeb 12, 2010 This doesn't cater to the crowd that just wants to enjoy a movie, but as a screenwriter myself whose allegiance always skirts the line between mainstream contrivance and indie banality I felt less alone after watching this movie, and that's what great art does for people. I didn't even get it the first time, but I wasn't so quick to call it "pretentious" because I don't take incomprehensible things as a shot to my ego like some of the reviewers here. Don't watch this expecting to be wowed, and you will be if you're any type of artist who's ever struggled with the choice between populism and possibly alienating self-expression.
based on 323 reviews
