Anastos Blogspot: Adaptation (2002): Film Review

Figure 1: Film Poster.

Adaptation (2002) is an American drama film directed by Spike Jonze and written by Charlie Kaufman. The film stars Nicolas Cage as Charlie and Donald Kaufman. The story is about Charlie Kaufman who is hired to write a screenplay based on the book “Orchid Thief.” Charlie Kaufman struggles to write the screenplay. The plot of the movie is puzzled. This is obvious from the beginning of the film. During his struggle with writing the screenplay his twin brother Donald (same actor Nicolas Cage) has moved in his house and decides to be a screenwriter just as his brother. The movie has won many awards and is very successful.

Figure 2: Nicolas Cage performing the role of the twin brothers.

Charlie Kaufman finds that the book he has to write the screenplay is impossible to turn into a film. He is experiencing a serious case of writer’s block.

Figure 3: Charlie Kaufman expieriencing writer's block.

In the beginning of the film we are being introduced to John Laroche (Chris Cooper) who is a rare plant enthusiast being arrested. After some time Laroche meets the famous book writer of the “Orchid Thief” Susan Orlean (Meryl Streep) and eventually they fall in love. The film’s plot is very confusing and is being consisted of many layers as the story takes place.

Figure 4: Susan Orlean and John Laroche.

While these are happening Charlie Kaufman is attending in a seminar in New York and meets Robert McKee. He asks him for advice for his screenplay. Charlie is very confused the whole time with the writing of the screenplay while his brother is trying to write a script about mainstream ideas.

Figure 5: Charlie Kaufman seeking for advice from Robert McKee.

We see a contrast between Charlie and his brother. Charlie is a depressing and melancholic character who tries to express and reference his character with the screenplay of the book. In the end he self-references his character with the screenplay. On the opposite side his brother David is an easygoing person and gets on with women better than Charlie. David writes a script with mainstream ideas about gun fires, car chases and drugs. Eventually David sells his screenplay for many millions.
The director shows us the two brothers because he wants to show us the difference and wants to point out the useless and mainstream screenplays that are being “accepted” without any deeply meanings in the filming Industry. “But, really, did we need Kaufman to point out how boneheaded Hollywood can be? And does he do all that much better when, ultimately, he looks to mainstream conventions for the means to put the finishing touches on his tale?” (Kisonak, 2003). Charlie decides to go in New York and find the writer of the book. He takes his brother with him as he is too shy to interview her. His brother as interviewing her suspects that she is hiding something because all the events she is telling him are too perfect for a storyline. The twin brothers sneak in Susan’s house while they discover that her lover John Laroche is using the orchid plant to create a narcotic substance. Susan and John find the two brothers who have sneaked in the house and decide to kill them. Adaptation (2002) is a postmodern film. “Adaptation, a film which deftly mixes the present with not only the past and future, but also with the imaginary, which often takes the viewer by surprise, reminding them that "the world is no longer one or even Unifi able” (Gray, 2006)

Figure 6: Susan snorting the narcotic substance from the orchid.

The whole plot of the movie is twisting. “"Adaptation" is some kind of a filmmaking miracle, a film that is at one and the same time (a) the story of a movie being made, (b) the story of orchid thievery and criminal conspiracies, and (c) a deceptive combination of fiction and real life.”(Ebert, 2002) In the end Charlie’s brother David is being killed in a car accident and Susan’s lover John Laroche is being eaten by an alligator. Orlean is being arrested. After the death of his brother Charlie finds his former lover and tells her that he is still interested and also announces that he has written the screenplay. I enjoyed the film although the plot confused me a bit.

Illustration List:

Figure 1: Adaptation (2002) Film Poster.

http://gobias19.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/206716-1020-a.jpeg

(Accessed: 8/10/2012)

Figure 2: Adaptation (2002) Nicolas Cage performing the role of the twin brothers.

http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMTI2NDQ4Nzc3OF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTYwNTEzNTc2._V1._SX485_SY292_.jpg

(Accessed: 8/10/2012)

Figure 3: Adaptation (2002) Charlie Kaufman experiencing writer’s block.

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2011/4/20/1303307491097/Nicolas-Cage-in-Adaptatio-007.jpg

(Accessed: 8/10/2012)

Figure 4: Adaptation (2002) Susan Orlean the writer and John Laroche.

http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMTM4MDA3NTU2OV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTYwMjMzNTc2._V1._SX485_SY320_.jpg