How exactly do you describe the plot of Adaptation'? It is the work of Charlie Kaufman, the mind behind the delightfully weird Being John Malkovich', a screenwriter who a while ago was struggling to adapt Susan Orlean's rambling, philosophical novel The Orchid Thief' into a script. So instead Kauffmann decided to write a screenplay about himself struggling to write a screenplay. Sound warped? Well, in the movie Charlie (an outstanding Nicholas Cage), describes his decision as self-indulgent, narcissistic, impossible to film' fortunately he's wrong. What we get is an amusing, interesting, sometimes moving and above all clever film. It's centred around the struggles of Charlie, portrayed as an overweight, balding, self-loathing introvert, and his relationship with his fictional twin brother Donald (Cage again), who is Charlie's opposite: outgoing, confident, charming, a bit thick. Donald is also writing a screenplay a hilariously corny and clichéd thriller that naturally sells for megabucks. This is Kauffmann contrasting the artistic and commercial sides of himself Donald is also credited as writing the screenplay. Intertwined with the story of the Kaufmans is the tale of the troubled Susan Orlean (Meryl Streep) and her relationship with the bizarre, egotistical subject of her novel, John Laroche, the actual orchid thief.
What we have is a movie that works on several levels, blending fiction and reality in an entertaining mix. It's about flowers, it's about screenwriting, it's about loneliness, love and a bunch of other things. It does not hang together perfectly, but it is a tribute to Kaufman's skill and that of the actors that it's a coherent and enjoyable as it is. Like Memento' playing time backwards or Groundhog Day' repeating the same day over and over, Adaptation' is one of those concept movies that's worth going to see just to admire how something so unusual is made to work. Unfortunately it is let down by the climax, which is unsatisfying. Seen in relation to a conversation Charlie has with a screenwriting guru and some of the comments both make about plotting, it is a clever way to bring the strands of the plot together, but it is perhaps too clever. With a too-sudden change from the tone of the rest of the movie it is neither comic enough to be funny nor believable enough to be satisfying. However overall Adaptation' is a very good film and one film fans with a taste for post-modern culture will particularly like.
7/10
What we have is a movie that works on several levels, blending fiction and reality in an entertaining mix. It's about flowers, it's about screenwriting, it's about loneliness, love and a bunch of other things. It does not hang together perfectly, but it is a tribute to Kaufman's skill and that of the actors that it's a coherent and enjoyable as it is. Like Memento' playing time backwards or Groundhog Day' repeating the same day over and over, Adaptation' is one of those concept movies that's worth going to see just to admire how something so unusual is made to work. Unfortunately it is let down by the climax, which is unsatisfying. Seen in relation to a conversation Charlie has with a screenwriting guru and some of the comments both make about plotting, it is a clever way to bring the strands of the plot together, but it is perhaps too clever. With a too-sudden change from the tone of the rest of the movie it is neither comic enough to be funny nor believable enough to be satisfying. However overall Adaptation' is a very good film and one film fans with a taste for post-modern culture will particularly like.
7/10
