ZebraspotsAdaptation (2002)
March 22nd 2008 11:51
I should masturbate. No. I should write something first and then reward myself by masturbating
Charlie Kaufman is one of the best film writers in the business today. Everything he has written has turned into a piece of genius (except for perhaps the okay but not great Human Nature, which we can look past).
When Charlie Kaufman was hired to adapt Susan Orlean’s book, The Orchid Thief, he soon realized that it was impossible to adapt to screen. As a result, Kaufman’s script turned into a story about his frustrations about writing a script based on The Orchid Thief. It may be totally self indulgent, but it works.
In Adaptation (2002), Nicolas Cage has the tricky job of playing both Charlie Kaufman and his fictional twin brother, Donald Kaufman, who while are identical in appearance, are worlds apart when it comes to personality. Charlie is neurotic, under-confident and self-loathing. Donald rolls with the punches and has a much more optimistic perspective on life.
This movie is really a joke, but it’s such a brilliant joke that you can’t help but admire it. Adaptation is also a movie about the process of writing a movie. The movie is a reflection of Kaufman’s process of writing Adaptation. The story has so many layers that you can’t help but laugh in admiration of what Kaufman has achieved here- a true work of genius.
Cage can’t help but insert those certain Cage mannerisms of his into the characters of Charlie and Donald Kaufman, however, in this case his wide eyed and spluttering nasal voiced delivery of lines works perfectly. The fact that he managed to play both Charlie and Donald Kaufman seamlessly is very impressive.
Charlie Kaufman's character is very relatable. He’s the pathetic person in all of us. We’re shown at least three scenes of him masturbating. It’s not gross out masturbating. It’s depressed I-have-nothing-better-to-do masturbating, which every guy can relate to. It’s hilarious because really, that’s what 1/3rd of writing is- the masturbating because you’re stalling on writing, or you don’t know what to do, or because you’re bored.
It is as if the frustration Charlie faced when writing this film made him contemplate the very nature of story itself. What is story but a reflection of life- and what is Charlie’s life exactly?
If you haven’t seen Being John Malkovich (1999) see that first, then see Adaptation. Adaption is not a sequel, but it gives you a glimpse inside the insecure mind that typed out the script for Being John Malkovich as well as Adaptation.
A modern classic.
5 out of 5.
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Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I'm a huge Kauffman man too and Adaptation is as brave and daring as anything he has penned. Eternal Sunshine was also sublime and I really enjoyed Confessions of A Dangerous Mind.
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
... actually, I think Human Nature is very enjoyable, too... I'm not sure what all the complaints are about...
Comment by Anonymous