Adaptation - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Janice · 05-31-2003, 04:26 PM

Has anyone seen the movie, Adaptation? Nicolas Cage is terrific as the tormented screenwriter with the wacky twin brother. He deserved the Oscar nomination that he received as his performance was incredible. His portrayal as twins was so convincing that I forgot Nic Cage was only one person. I highly recommend this film.

The movie received a 91% on the Tomatometer on rottentomatoes.com
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/Adaptation-1118700/

Adaptation
Synopsis

The creative team behind Being John Malkovich -- director Spike Jonze and screenwriter Charlie Kaufman -- return with this equally offbeat comedy, in which Kaufman himself becomes the leading character. Charlie Kaufman (Nicholas Cage) is a gifted but profoundly neurotic screenwriter who, after the success of Being John Malkovich, has been hired to write a script adapted from the non-fiction book The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean. But while Charlie is obsessive about his work, he's also intensely paranoid, given to deep depression, socially inept, and terrified of talking to women, qualities which are making it difficult to get on with his work or hold on to his tenuous relationship with girlfriend Amelia (Cara Seymour. Meanwhile, Charlie's identical twin brother Donald Kaufman (also played by Cage) has shown up to move in with his brother. Emotionally, Donald is Charlie's polar opposite - a loudmouthed, over-confident, superficial party animal who has an easy way with the ladies. Donald has decided to follow his brother's footsteps and take up screenwriting as well, but embracing the dictates of screenwriting tutor Robert McKee (Brian Cox), he's cranking out a cliché-ridden serial-killer thriller when not busy making time with new g.f. Caroline (Maggie Gyllenhaal). As Donald blazes through his screenplay, Charlie slowly picks away at his story, in which author Susan Orlean (Meryl Streep) chronicles John Laroche (Chris Cooper), a scruffy but devoted plant enthusiast who tries to save rare species of orchids by stealing them from their natural home in the swamps of Florida. As John and Susan become better acquainted, they find themselves attracted to one another; similarly, Charlie finds himself increasingly fascinated with Susan, and finds himself falling in love with her, even though he's only seen her photo on the dust jacket of her book. Charlie arranges to meet Susan, but is too nervous to confront her face to face, so he sends Donald (who has just scored a seven-figure deal for his script) in his place, while he attends a screenwriting seminar held by McKee. Adaptation also features Tilda Swinton, Judy Greer, and Stephen Tobolowsky. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

TJL · 05-31-2003, 04:36 PM

I haven't sen it yet, but I hope to catch it next weekend when it come out on video.

Janice · 05-31-2003, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TJL
I haven't sen it yet, but I hope to catch it next weekend when it come out on video.

It's on video now. I think you'll enjoy it considering your good sense of humor and your interest in screenwriting.

TJL · 06-08-2003, 10:00 PM

Finally Janice, I watched "Adaptation" tonight and i enjoyed it. I must say Charlie Kaufman and Spike Jones are two of the more unique people working in movies today.

I don't know, for some reason I could really relate to the neurotic, self loathing writer.

05-31-2003, 04:26 PM	#1
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	Adaptation Has anyone seen the movie, Adaptation? Nicolas Cage is terrific as the tormented screenwriter with the wacky twin brother. He deserved the Oscar nomination that he received as his performance was incredible. His portrayal as twins was so convincing that I forgot Nic Cage was only one person. I highly recommend this film. The movie received a 91% on the Tomatometer on rottentomatoes.com http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/Adaptation-1118700/ Adaptation Synopsis The creative team behind Being John Malkovich -- director Spike Jonze and screenwriter Charlie Kaufman -- return with this equally offbeat comedy, in which Kaufman himself becomes the leading character. Charlie Kaufman (Nicholas Cage) is a gifted but profoundly neurotic screenwriter who, after the success of Being John Malkovich, has been hired to write a script adapted from the non-fiction book The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean. But while Charlie is obsessive about his work, he's also intensely paranoid, given to deep depression, socially inept, and terrified of talking to women, qualities which are making it difficult to get on with his work or hold on to his tenuous relationship with girlfriend Amelia (Cara Seymour. Meanwhile, Charlie's identical twin brother Donald Kaufman (also played by Cage) has shown up to move in with his brother. Emotionally, Donald is Charlie's polar opposite - a loudmouthed, over-confident, superficial party animal who has an easy way with the ladies. Donald has decided to follow his brother's footsteps and take up screenwriting as well, but embracing the dictates of screenwriting tutor Robert McKee (Brian Cox), he's cranking out a cliché-ridden serial-killer thriller when not busy making time with new g.f. Caroline (Maggie Gyllenhaal). As Donald blazes through his screenplay, Charlie slowly picks away at his story, in which author Susan Orlean (Meryl Streep) chronicles John Laroche (Chris Cooper), a scruffy but devoted plant enthusiast who tries to save rare species of orchids by stealing them from their natural home in the swamps of Florida. As John and Susan become better acquainted, they find themselves attracted to one another; similarly, Charlie finds himself increasingly fascinated with Susan, and finds himself falling in love with her, even though he's only seen her photo on the dust jacket of her book. Charlie arranges to meet Susan, but is too nervous to confront her face to face, so he sends Donald (who has just scored a seven-figure deal for his script) in his place, while he attends a screenwriting seminar held by McKee. Adaptation also features Tilda Swinton, Judy Greer, and Stephen Tobolowsky. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

05-31-2003, 04:36 PM	#2
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	I haven't sen it yet, but I hope to catch it next weekend when it come out on video.
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06-08-2003, 10:00 PM	#4
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	Finally Janice, I watched "Adaptation" tonight and i enjoyed it. I must say Charlie Kaufman and Spike Jones are two of the more unique people working in movies today. I don't know, for some reason I could really relate to the neurotic, self loathing writer.