Change is Good!
Kaufman Isn't Afraid of Adaptation.

Some movies are brilliantly performed, others a masterpiece of direction. Once in a while, however, the story is so unique as to make the audience sit up and say, "Who wrote that?"

This year, Charlie Kaufman may be recognized for what has to be the most original adaptation ever. In the film Adaptation. (that's Adaptation - period), Kaufman is the center of a desperate and obsessive race to adapt Susan Orlean's book The Orchid Thief. The result is a film that is part adaptation, part documentary of the screenwriting process, and part life story of Charlie Kaufman (although how much is true is anybody's guess).

For those who are not familiar with the name Charlie Kaufman, he is responsible for the dark and funny 1999 film Being John Malkovich about a man who finds a doorway into the mind of actor Malkovich. If that sounds odd, it's only the beginning -- a mere taste -- of the insane genius bottled up in Kaufman.

Beginning during the filming of Being John Malkovich, the story follows Kaufman (played by Nicholas Cage) as he meets with Valerie, a studio rep who is interested in adapting a book titled The Orchid Thief for film. Charlie makes it very clear that he wants to do it, but he wants to stay true to the book and tell a story about flowers. He doesn't want to "Hollywood" the screenplay into something about drug runners, murder, or sex.

Unfortunately for Charlie, his good intentions have landed him a project he can't finish. His inspiration for the screenplay is dried up, his personal life is dismal. To make matters worse is the sudden appearance of his twin brother Donald (also played by Cage), who has decided to become a screenwriter too!

While Charlie explores the world of The Orchid Thief, the audience sees the story in flashback, told in Orlean's (Meryl Streep) voice. In The Orchid Thief, Orlean goes to Florida to report on a strange flower-theft case for The New Yorker. Chris Cooper plays John Laroche, the man who (with the help of some Seminole Native Americans) has stolen some plants from a national wildlife preserve. Laroche is a fascinating character filled with self importance who sees his crime as the latest obsession of his life and nothing more. Orlean finds herself strangely attracted to the story and Laroche as their worlds repeatedly move in orbit.

As Charlie becomes more desperate for an angle for the screenplay, he turns to his brother whose first work has met with wild success. For the most part, Adaptation. is an exercise in self-absorbing misery showing the artist suffering for his craft. Cage is excellent in his portrayal of Kaufman. While I've never been a fan of Streep, she does a good job. It is Cooper, however, who makes the scenes from The Orchid Thief enjoyable to watch. His work as Laroche is amazing.

Hollywood loves films about Hollywood. Usually, these are the films that win the Oscars. Winners for "Best Original Screenplay" often become household names. In the past, names like Quentin Tarantino, Ben Affleck & Matt Damon, and Cameron Crowe have claimed this honor. Will Charlie Kaufman join such a prestigious group? If so, it may be the first adaptation to ever win an award for "Original Screenplay."

The big question is, will he and Donald share the award for writing Adaptation.? That's a question for another time. Be sure to stay through the credits to see a nice homage to Donald by his brother.

MY RATING: 8 out of 10.

RATED: R
RUN TIME: 114 min.