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Adaptation. (2002)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Release Date:
10 January 2003 (USA)
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Tagline:
Charlie Kaufman writes the way he lives... With Great Difficulty. His Twin Brother Donald Lives the way he writes... with foolish abandon. Susan writes about life... But can't live it. John's life is a book... Waiting to be adapted. One story... Four Lives... A million ways it can end.
Plot:
A lovelorn screenwriter turns to his less talented twin brother for help when his efforts to adapt a non-fiction book go nowhere. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Won Oscar.
Another 41 wins
&
48 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(54 articles)
Spike Jonze: Master of the Wild Things
(From The Guardian - Film News. 7 December 2009, 1:28 AM, PST)
Spike Jonze: 'I'm never going to compromise'
(From The Guardian - Film News. 4 December 2009, 4:15 PM, PST)
(From The Guardian - Film News. 7 December 2009, 1:28 AM, PST)
Spike Jonze: 'I'm never going to compromise'
(From The Guardian - Film News. 4 December 2009, 4:15 PM, PST)
User Comments:
I get it now.
more (655 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Nicolas Cage | ... | Charlie Kaufman / Donald Kaufman | |
| Tilda Swinton | ... | Valerie Thomas | |
| Meryl Streep | ... | Susan Orlean | |
| Chris Cooper | ... | John Laroche | |
| Jay Tavare | ... | Matthew Osceola | |
| Litefoot | ... | Russell (as G. Paul Davis) | |
| Roger Willie | ... | Randy | |
| Jim Beaver | ... | Ranger Tony | |
| Cara Seymour | ... | Amelia Kavan | |
| Doug Jones | ... | Augustus Margary | |
| Stephen Tobolowsky | ... | Ranger Steve Neely (scenes deleted) | |
| Gary Farmer | ... | Buster Baxley | |
| Peter Jason | ... | Defense Attorney | |
| Gregory Itzin | ... | Prosecutor | |
| Curtis Hanson | ... | Orlean's Husband |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
The Orchid Thief (USA) (working title)
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MPAA:
Rated R for language, sexuality, some drug use and violent images.
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
114 min | Turkey:81 min (TV version)
Country:
Colour:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Malaysia:U |
Philippines:R-18 |
Canada:13+ (Québec) |
Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba) |
Argentina:13 |
Australia:MA |
Brazil:16 |
Chile:14 |
Finland:K-15 |
France:U |
Germany:12 |
Hong Kong:IIB |
Iceland:14 (original rating) |
Iceland:L (video rating) |
Japan:PG-12 |
Netherlands:12 |
New Zealand:R13 |
Norway:15 |
Peru:14 |
Singapore:NC-16 (original rating) |
Singapore:PG (DVD rating) (cut) |
South Korea:18 |
Spain:13 |
Sweden:11 |
Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) |
Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) |
Switzerland:14 (canton of Bern) |
UK:15 |
USA:R (certificate #38094) |
Portugal:M/12
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
In his renowned screenwriters seminars, Robert McKee now makes note that he is not against the use of narration, "despite what Charlie Kaufman says." His point is narration must add to the story, not describe what's already being seen on the screen, otherwise there's no reason for it.
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Goofs:
Continuity: When Charles and Donald talk about the serial killer in the script of "The 3" being a literature professor, Charles' hands are clasped. In the close shot of Donald with Charles in the foreground out of focus, his arms are folded.
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Quotes:
[first lines]
Charlie Kaufman: [voiceover] Do I have an original thought in my head? My bald head. Maybe if I were happier, my hair wouldn't be falling out. Life is short. I need to make the most of it. Today is the first day of the rest of my life. I'm a walking cliché. I really need to go to the doctor and have my leg checked...
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Charlie Kaufman: [voiceover] Do I have an original thought in my head? My bald head. Maybe if I were happier, my hair wouldn't be falling out. Life is short. I need to make the most of it. Today is the first day of the rest of my life. I'm a walking cliché. I really need to go to the doctor and have my leg checked...
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Soundtrack:
Happy Together
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FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (655 total)
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The first time I saw "Adaptation" I expected something else and walked away severely disappointed. As some of you out there who Private Messaged me in regards to my initial review posted on IMDb might already be aware, I originally gave it a rating of 3.5/5 stars, back when I was frequently contributing to the site. I passed on without much thought, considering it a disappointment and leaving my critique for those who cared to read it.
It remains the single comment to have generated the most feedback for me. More than "The Passion of the Christ," and more than yes, even my upsetting review of 2003's "Peter Pan" (which seemed to anger the small die-hard fanbase for the film that lurks on these message boards - by the way, I've had to clarify this sentence by adding "for the film" because someone PM'd me yesterday accusing me of implying I have a fanbase on IMDb...no, I am referring to the film's fanbase, so please hold off on the accusations). I digress. In summary I gave "Adaptation" a negative rating and to my surprise, perhaps because I avoided totally slamming the film, the fans responded to me with kind words rather than harsh ones; conceivably they too had initially taken a dislike to the film? I made a daring move. I bought "Adaptation" on DVD for ten bucks, thinking, "I've got nothing to lose." Plus, the front cover looked cool anyway.
I watched it again (after taking into mind several themes and self-referential layers I had failed to visualize before) and was blown away by the originality and genius of the movie.
My hugest complaint regarding "Adaptation," originally, was its absurd ending -- I felt it was out of place, silly, and totally anti-climactic. Little did I realize this was the point -- to be a parody of the typical Hollywood blockbuster.
There are so many underlying jokes, gags and self-references that the film grows better -- like "Back to the Future" -- on each new viewing. You're always finding new stuff.
I found new respect for Nicolas Cage as an actor after my second viewing of this. I have always liked Cage despite the criticism he receives for being a one-sided actor; here, he proves he's capable of creating two very different human beings out of the same mold. Brilliant, Oscar-worthy stuff.
All in all I got it wrong the first time. "Adaptation" isn't a film that starts out clever and descends into a messy and stupid finish. Well, actually, it is. But that's the point. I didn't get it before. Now I do.
If you disliked this film, my advice? Watch it again. It knows a bit more about itself than you probably do. And read up on the message boards here a bit to get a clearer grasp of what's going on if you're totally clueless.
P.S. I'd like to thank all the people on this site who messaged me in response to my review.