Adaptation (movie) - Definition and Overview

Adaptation. is a 2002 film directed by Spike Jonze and written by Charlie Kaufman. The fictional character Donald Kaufman is also given writing credit.

Charlie Kaufman (Nicolas Cage), the screenwriter, is having problems adapting The Orchid Thief, a book by Susan Orlean, into a movie. Meanwhile, Charlie's twin brother, Donald (also Cage), wants to be a screenwriter as well. Where real life ends and adaptation begins is the question, as Orlean herself (Meryl Streep) and the orchid thief, John Laroche (Chris Cooper), are drawn into the story.

Other members of the cast include Cara Seymour, Tilda Swinton, Ron Livingston, Brian Cox, and Maggie Gyllenhaal.

There are some who believe that, like in many Kaufman films, the story is deeper than it appears. The film is self-referential, in that we watch the creative process for the very movie that we are currently watching. At one point, Charlie is unable to think of a satisfactory ending for the script, and asks Donald how he would end it. At that moment, the style of the movie changes to Donald's style of scriptwriting, with intrigue, sex, car chases, and guns instead of abstraction and angst. As the movie does contain large elements of self-reference, there is also speculation that Donald, the character who writes about split personalities and imaginary characters, might himself be nothing more than another aspect of Charlie's personality (as he is in real life).

Actors

• Nicolas Cage - Charlie Kaufman;
• Meryl Streep - Susan Orlean;
• Chris Cooper- John Laroche;
• Cara Seymour;
• Tilda Swinton;
• Ron Livingston;
• Brian Cox and;
• Maggie Gyllenhaal.

Awards

The film won one Academy Award (Cooper for Best Supporting Actor) and was nominated, but did not win, for 3 others (Cage for Best Actor, Streep for Best Supporting Actress, and both Kaufmans for Adapted Screenplay). Donald became the first truly fictitious person nominated for an Oscar.

It won the BAFTA, Boston Society of Film Critics, Broadcast Film Critics Association, Chicago Film Critics Association, Florida Film Critics Circle, Golden Satellite, National Board of Review, USA, New York Film Critics Circle, Online Film Critics Society, PEN Center USA West Literary San Diego Film Critics Society, Southeastern Film Critics Association, and the Toronto Film Critics Association awards for the best adapted screenplay.

External links

• Adaptation (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0268126/) at the Internet Movie Database
• Adaptation (http://www.beingcharliekaufman.com/movies/adaptation.htm) at BeingCharlieKaufman.com