Cady's Take:

Confused? Just wait until you rent this movie!

Adaptation is an allegory of Kaufman’s thinking process, a metaphor for the screenwriting method of adapting a book into a movie. He is determined to make the ultimate anti-Hollywood film: “No action, no romance, and no structure, i.e. nothing "phony”. The film is about the perils and needs for an artist to create.

Kaufman is fat, bald, whiny, intelligent, and insecure… an unlikely but wholly unique protagonist, who is completely burnt out. He constantly strives for perfection in his work but often is completely unaware of the world around him. Charlie lives with his twin brother Donald (also played by Cage) who is also trying to become a breakout screenwriter in his own right.

Adaptation has many witty moments, most of which are at Kaufman/Charlie’s expense. But that is just the icing of a cleverly written script that pieces many unbelievable situations together to make Charlie’s experience funny, interesting and yet realistic. Meryl Steep, so excellent in comedies, brings an intelligent every day woman’s charm to Susan Orlean. Chris Cooper delivers a great supporting performance- he was by far my favorite character in this film. And Jonze manages to pull off what he just missed with Being John Malkovich - a satisfactory ending.

I will admit it. I had to mull “Adaptation” over for a few weeks before I decided I could write the review. My initial reaction to this movie was mixed. The plot is baffling but the acting is superb. We have here a “thinker” and ultimately I have decided – it is well worth the brain-juice. The script is written by Charlie Kaufman, who created a twin brother Donald for himself to star in “Adaptation” – both played brilliantly by Nicholas Cage – anyone who saw “Face/Off” will appreciate his adeptness at the dual role. The script leaves us begging for answers from start to finish because each scene leaves us with a new set of questions to be answered. It has been so long since a movie kept me at “What Is Going To Happen Next” so consistently throughout. It was delicious.

The movie centers on the novel “The Orchid Thief” by Susan Orlean (Streep), which follows an orchid hunter John Laroche (Cooper who won Best Supporting Actor at this year’s Oscars for his performance – after you see “Adaptation” you will see why) as he searches for rare and beautiful orchids in the Florida swamps. Charlie is commissioned to write the screenplay and the movie is propelled by his writer’s block – another wonderful irony amongst many with which we are confronted.

There are so many stories here, so many performances and different aspects of the film that to discuss would be to spoil – or confuse further. Suffice it to say this is a must-rent rental and I do not think I could ask for a more thought-provoking experience for my rental dollar.