| . |
Adaptation
(Reviewed November 9, 2002)
-
The last time screenwriter Charlie Kaufman and director Spike Jonze collaborated, the result was the wonderful, one-of-a-kind masterpiece "Being John Malkovich." "Adaptation" is equally amazing, a movie that is funny, sad, strange and incredibly entertaining. It is without a doubt one of the best movies of 2002.
In "Adaptation," Kaufman is plagued with doubts about how to adapt a non-fiction book titled "The Orchid Thief" into a screenplay. One of the options he comes up with is retelling the entire history of life on earth. Realizing he may have bitten off more than he can chew, he eventually writes himself into the script, in which he is writing the script with his identical-twin brother...who, by the way, doesn't exist in reality. And you thought "Malkovich" was complex!
It's a lot more fun than it sounds, but also a lot more moving and just plain more interesting than just about any other movie released this year. Nicolas Cage gives one of his best performances since "Raising Arizona" as both of the Kaufman brothers, one a mass of insecurities and the other a cheerfully clueless wannabe. Meryl Streep is great as the writer of the book Kaufman is supposed to be adapting, and Chris Cooper is flat-out perfect as the orchid thief.
A splendid time is guaranteed for all.
Back Row Grade: A+
(Return to index by closing this window)
|
. |