Adaptation

Spike Jonze, USA, 2002, 114 minutes

I have just given myself a headache trying to write a review for the film Adaptation. In an ironic twist, a film primarily conceived because of writers block has induced in me writers block.

Adaptation can be neatly summarised: Charlie Kaufman (Nicholas Cage) is trying to adapt the novel "The Orchid Thief" for the screen. His twin brother, Donald, is having slightly more success with his brainless blockbuster screenplay "The 3". Charlie goes a bit loopy and decides to stalk the novel's writer, Susan Orlean (Meryl Streep). Voila!

Now comes the difficult part: just leave it there and I've totally misrepresented the movie; try and explain it further and I may re-enact a scene from Scanners. Bullet points may help for the major issues:

1. Charlie Kaufman is the real person who wrote the script.

2. Susan Orlean is also real and did write a book called "The Orchid Thief".

3. Kaufman knows bugger all about flowers, so was a bit screwed when he was asked to adapt "The Orchid Thief".

4. Kaufman is more imaginative than most.

5. There is no Donald Kaufman.

6. Susan Orlean is not planning to sue for defamation of character.

This is a fabulous, funny, total screw-up of a film. Chris Cooper, playing the actual orchid thief, John Laroche, completely deserved his Oscar, and Nicholas Cage reminds us all that he can actually act. Just remember during the odd but hilarious final third of the film - Donald is co-credited as writer!

Review by Claire Devlin
Written for EUFS Programme Autumn 2003