Adaptation (released in theaters on Dec. 6, 2002) directed by Spike Jonze and written by Charlie Kaufman (and his fictional twin brother Donald), is a brilliant, dizzying, and utterly unique piece of meta-cinema. It is a film that defies categorization, blending absurd comedy, profound self-analysis, and eventually, a surprisingly conventional thriller plot—all while telling the story of a screenwriter trying to adapt a book he believes is unadaptable.
The film centers on Charlie Kaufman (Nicolas Cage), a fictionalized, deeply anxious, and self-loathing version of the real screenwriter. Charlie is hired to adapt Susan Orlean’s non-fiction book, The Orchid Thief, into a screenplay.
The book details the life of John Laroche (Chris Cooper, in an Academy Award-winning performance), a charismatic, toothless eccentric who specializes in stealing rare orchids from the Florida Everglades. Charlie is immediately paralyzed by the book’s lack of traditional narrative arc, refusing to impose artificial plot devices or Hollywood tropes on the beautiful complexity of real life.
As Charlie descends into a crippling bout of writer’s block, he narrates his agonizing process, revealing his self-doubt, his romantic longing for Amelia (Judy Greer), and his jealousy of his successful, fictional twin brother, Donald Kaufman (also Cage).
Donald, who writes conventional screenplays and believes strongly in the “Save the Cat” formula taught by his instructor Robert McKee (Brian Cox), eventually moves in with Charlie.
Desperate for inspiration, Charlie decides to write a film about his inability to write the film.
This meta-narrative leads him to New York, where he meets the book’s author, Susan Orlean (Meryl Streep).
Initially, Susan seems sophisticated and aloof, but Charlie’s investigation reveals that she and Laroche are not only romantically involved but are also secretly addicted to a rare, powerful drug derived from a stolen orchid.
The film then takes a jarring, exhilarating turn into a full-blown thriller, complete with car chases, alligator attacks, and a frantic escape, embracing the very clichés Charlie swore to avoid.
Tilda Swinton, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Stephen Tobolowsky and Peter Jason round out the supporting cast.
John Cusack, Catherine Keener, John Malkovich, Lance Acord, Curtis Hanson and David O. Russell have cameos.
Nicolas Cage and Meryl Streep in Adaptation (Photo/Columbia Pictures)
Reception for Adaptation
Adaptation grossed $384,478 on its opening weekend, in limited release on seven screens. The film had a per-screen average of $54,925 on its debut weekend. Die Another Day was the top film of the weekend, grossing $12.8 million on its third weekend of release.
Adaptation would gross $32.8 million worldwide.
Roger Ebert gave the film four out of four stars in his review.
Legacy
Adaptation is a seminal work that cemented Kaufman as a master of meta-fiction and its legacy lies in its fearless deconstruction of the screenwriting process, challenging the audience to consider the nature of storytelling itself.
The film is considered one of the most inventive and intellectually stimulating films of the 21st century.
