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Adaptation

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Original title

Adaptation.

Year

2002

Running time

114 min.

Country

United States

Director

Spike Jonze

Screenwriter

Charlie Kaufman. Novel: Susan Orlean

Cast

Music

Carter Burwell

Cinematography

Lance Acord

Producer

Columbia Pictures, Intermedia Films

Genre

Comedy. Drama | Comedy-Drama. Film In Film. Literature. Satire. Psychological Drama. 1990s

Synopsis

Despite the success of his first produced script, for which he received an Academy Award® nomination for best original screenplay, Charlie Kaufman (Cage) is plagued by insecurities, both in his career and his personal life. When he is hired to adapt The Orchid Thief, a non-fiction book about a fanatical orchid breeder, John Laroche (Cooper), he is completely stumped. Though, on the surface, the book is about Laroche’s flower poaching adventures in the Florida Everglades, on another level it’s also about the desire in all of us to experience passion. This longing plagues the book’s author, Susan Orlean (Streep) and, Charlie realizes, himself as well.
Charlie’s twin brother, Donald (Cage), only makes things worse when he moves in with Charlie and announces he’s going to be a screenwriter too. As Charlie battles his severe case of writer’s block, Donald cheerily types away on a script about a serial killer with multiple-personality disorder. Donald’s script immediately sells, making him the "hot" new writer in town. Then, one day, Charlie has a last ditch inspiration. He’ll use his own dilemma as a framework for the script about Laroche and Orlean. But as the words start to flow and the story takes shape, Charlie inadvertently sets in motion a chain of events impacting on the lives of all the characters.

Awards: 2002: Oscar: Best Supporting Actor (Chris Cooper). 4 Nominations

2002: Golden Globes: Best Supporting Actor (Cooper) and Actress (Streep). 6 Nom.

2002: BAFTA Awards: Best Adapted Screenplay. 4 Nominations

2002: 2 Awards National Board of Review: Best Screenplay, Supporting Actor

2002: Los Angeles Film Critics Association: Best Supporting Actor (Chris Cooper). 2 Nom.

2002: New York Film Critics Circle: Best Screenplay. 2 Nominations

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Critics' reviews

"An illuminating and entertaining film (...) As in 'Malkovich,' Kaufman’s imaginative leaps are perfectly served by Jonze’s quicksilver directing style"

Todd McCarthy: Variety
"A bewilderingly brilliant and entertaining movie (...) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 4)"

Roger Ebert: rogerebert.com
"Features what is surely the funniest and most accurate depiction of writer's block ever."

Jonathan Foreman: New York Post
"Few scripts toss more challenging balls in the air, and Jonze juggles them all with artful, light-stepping ease. It’s magic (...) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 4)"

Peter Travers: Rolling Stone
"This is epic, funny, tragic, demanding, strange, original, boldly sincere filmmaking."

Wesley Morris: Boston Globe
"The movie is better at the beginning, when the novelty is still fresh (...) 'Adaptation' was an idea worth following, but it leads to a dead end."

Mick LaSalle: SFGATE

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Ranking Lists Position

15 My Top 10 Movies from 2002 (214)
30 Most Original Movie Posters Ever (5)
62 The Weirdest Movies I Have Ever Watched (63)
71 Movies with Great Screenplays (51)

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Adaptation

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