Adaptation

Adaptation is a movie that I believe everybody should see once. It is from the makers of Being John Malkovich. It is a smart movie that delves into the nature of humans and some of there most basic emotions. It is interesting how important our basic emotions are. However, in today's increasingly complicated and sophisticated world we skip over our basic emotions as if there is a higher, more worthy set of emotions to pursue. That may be true if your basic emotions are satisfied. If your basic emotions aren't satisfied, see how happy you are. For that purpose I recommend this movie. It is very intelligent and insightful.

Adaptation is based on a Susan Orlean book entitled The Orchid Thief. It was written into a screenplay by Charlie Kaufman. It is a Spike Jonze movie. The movie stars Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep (what a performance she has in this movie), Chris Cooper, and Tilda Swinton. Adaptation is a drama with some comedy built in.

Charlie Kaufman (Nicolas Cage) is asked to adapt a non-fiction book into a screenplay (sound familiar...very clever). Even though he has experienced some previous success he is having a hard time writing the screenplay. Charlie has a twin brother who lives with him named Donald (also Nicolas Cage). Donald is the opposite of Charlie. Where Charlie struggles with everything Donald seems to have much more ease. However, Donald is reckless and relies on his brother because he has had no real success in life, just ease. As Charlie struggles to write the screenplay he seeks out the author of the book he is adapting, Susan Orlean (Meryl Streep). However, even this quest turns out to be too hard for him. With the help of Donald he does it but ends up in a world of trouble as Charlie and Donald discover the "real" story behind Susan Orlean and the subject of her book. The subject of The Orchid Thief is of course the actual Orchid Thief, John Laroche (Chris Cooper). John Laroche is not your average man. He has total disregard for the law, he is too smart for his own good, he falls in love too easily, and he carries the guilt of a car accident that killed his wife. That guilt drives him nearly mad and certainly beyond the confines of society's customs and laws that most citizens obey. Of course, all of that makes him a great character to write about. So, Susan Orlean does. Unfortunately, she gets caught up in his world, which consequentially gets Charlie and Donald in trouble.

The four different personalities of the main characters and the drama, weaknesses, and strengths of each, is what makes this film so amazing. You may or may not enjoy the movie. But like I said earlier everyone should see it at least once. So, go check it out. I don't think you will be disappointed.

Other information:
Spike Jonze is currently working on a film adaptation of the popular children's book, Where the Wild Things Are.
Tilda Swinton is going to be in the Crime Thriller The Limits of Control that is being released this month. Gael Gacia Bernal is also in this one...so I am definitely going to check it out.