MOVIE REVIEW

Adaptation  (2002)

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep, Chris Cooper
Director: Spike Jonze

Rating: R

Studio: Columbia

Review Posted: 12.6.02

Spoilers: None

By Sara Michelle Fetters

"Crazy, Mixed-Up and Brilliant Adaptations"

Charlie Kaufman (Nicholas Cage) has a problem. Well, he’s actually got more than one, but then who doesn’t? No, his main problem right now revolves around his chosen profession. He’s a screenwriter, see, and he’s been contracted to do an adaptation of Susan Orlean’s (Meryl Streep) nonlinear and nonfiction novel The Orchid Thief and it is literally driving him insane.

The story of John Laroche (Chris Cooper), a toothless Florida flower breeder, is the stuff of real people and real lives. “Why can’t there be a movie simply about flowers?” Charlie asks a smarmy studio executive (an excellent Tilda Swinton). Why can’t there indeed, Charlie.

Adaptation is the best film of the year. I can’t imagine another film coming down the pike this smart, inventive, exciting and audacious. But how to describe it? Better yet, how do you come up with it?

With writer’s block, that’s how. Screenwriter Charlie Kaufman really didn’t have a clue as to how to adapt The Orchid Thief. His solution, he wrote himself into the story, and created a script all about the art of writing screenplays. And then, he turns that on its head, too, by bringing the real people involved with trying to bring the novel to the screen into it as well, but fictionalizing (sort of) how they all went about doing it.

Make sense? Not to me, either, but I adored it anyhow. The wacky team behind Being John Malkovich really comes out swinging this time. Director Spike Jonze hasn’t met a camera angle or a quirky perspective he hasn’t fallen in love with, and Kaufman might just be the most inventive screenwriter out there right now. I wasn’t all the enamored with the over-praised Malkovich after it came out, but it really grew on me over time. Adaptation struck me as the best thing I’ve seen in ages right away. I can only imagine how much better it will look with a few years on its side.

Kudos must go all around. It is hard to believe Oscar can’t help but come calling on Cage, Streep and especially Cooper (who is long overdue for recognition). For Cage (in dual roles!), this is the most alive and intoxicating he’s been on film in ages. It’s nice to have the hyperactive charmer of Vampire’s Kiss, Face/Off and Moonstruck back at full tilt. Kaufman’s script brings out the best in him, so much so Sean Penn might have to take back his harsh diss of the made a couple of years ago or so.

I’m not going to try and explain too much about Adaptation. It would be impossible to do so as it is. Just go see it. Immediately. Today. There are far too few films that make one giddy and excited about the art of making movies. Adaptation is one of them, and it is for the ages.

Rating: 4 out of 4

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