We all know of Charlie Kauffman, the screenwriter. We all are very aware of how he is able to make situations come alive and create an Oscar-contending script every time. Being John Malcovich was brilliant. After Adaptation he wrote the film that finally got him his well-deserved Oscar, Eternal Sunshine of the spotless mind. But Adaptation is my favorite of his films. It is definitely in my top ten list. It is there because I thought to myself: "This is a character study of one of the most neurotic genius' in the world. Nicholas Cage, Meyrl Streep and Chris Cooper with tour de force performances, that earned the supporting character "John Laroach" an Academy Award for his role. The story is a startling, funny, touching, brilliant and all around thought-provoking multi-character character study that basically chronicles the extreme hardships that Charlie Kauffman endured when adapting the book "The Orchid Thief" by Susan Orlene (Meyrl Streep). But when not all goes as planned, and Kauffman is blank for ideas, he goes to his "what you see is what you get" twin brother who, like so many people, is just looking to have fun. His brother is a screenwriter as well, but he is more of a aspiring writer who has succumbed to the seduction of Hollywood. With the adept cast giving some of their best performances, the innovative, hugely funny story that opens the eyes to viewers all over the world to the torture that is the creative process. When finishing the movie "Being John Malcovich" Charlie Kauffman jumps at the opportunity to start another film. But the book that he is considering adapting is opening his eyes and mind to the world around him, and how his utter lack of self respect and confidence is what is driving him to this new low. The characters are believable and the plot easily read by even the most novice of viewers. The major voice in the film is Kauffman's. He is saying that he doesn't want to make his movies into cleche Hollywood movies, and he doesn't want his life to seem like a fake, ordinary and blatant to people, especially woman. When not creating an ocean of sweat around him, he is making bad jokes and creating an awkward position for him and the woman. Now the plot has nothing to be desired, the story is true, and little does Kauffman know, many men suffer from the same symptoms as him. And the film's pivotal moment is divided into small, subtle addings that make you feel like crying. Cage makes you feel like you actually know Kauffman, Streep is in yet another fine role, and Cooper is literally perfect as Laroache, the devient and deep character who people like to study and judge, but who Orlean wants to actually know personally. I don't want to spoil anything, but basically the movie is a script that has every element and emotion blended to make a delicious and raw look at what Hollywood would make life, if only screenwriter's could keep it on the screen, rather then spread it around. To open, the paranoid Charlie Kauffman goes on a rant on a blank screen, displaying major credits. And the themes, like in life, are established without flaw. The end, is perfection. A close-up of a flower (which is what Kauffman wanted, but then never could do, was to show the world how beautiful flowers actually are) and playing "So happy together", a song that His brother suggested should be put in the film earlier, and Kauffman driving off thinking he knows how to finish the script. Funny.
Review of Adaptation.
