Review Copyright Cassandra Henry, 2003

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"Writing is a journey into the unknown." - Charlie Kaufman (Nicholas Cage) CASS' CLIP (WARNING: **spoilers below**) Screenwriter Charlie Kaufman (Nicholas Cage), is hired by producer Valeria (Tilda Swinton), to adapt Susan Orlean's (Meryl Streep) novel about an orchid expert, John Laroche (Chris Cooper), into a film. Charlie tells Valeria that he doesn't want to make a formulaic Hollywood movie about drug running, because he prefers to stay true to "The Orchid Thief"'s storyline. After reading more than half of book, however, Charlie discovers that writing about orchids doesn't translate into an attention-grabbing movie. This dilemma only heightens Charlie's overwhelming insecurities about his career as a screenwriter. As a result, Charlie's creativity is blocked and for months he is unable to conceive, must less write, a compelling screenplay. [Insert Charlie's -- "If I had more hair maybe I'd be more happier"; "Why am I here?"; "How did I get here?"; "I'm bald, fat and ugly" -- chronic self-deprecating voiceovers here]. Making matters more stressful for Charlie is his [I-wannabe-just-like-you] twin brother, Donald Kaufman (also played by Cage). Donald, a confident, I'll try anything once, especially if it makes me rich and famous attitude about life, annoys Charlie even more because Donald is a first-time screenwriter. Between asking Charlie for advice and enrolling in a weekend screenwriting workshop, hosted by screenwriter guru, Robert McKee (Brian Cox), Donald is paid a million dollars for his formulaic Hollywood screenplay. Should Charlie enroll in Robert McKee's screenwriting workshop or seek psychiatric advice to help solve his writer's block? DA 411 Adaptation is a movie containing a story within a story with actors playing real-life screenwriters and a real-life author. Man, did I enjoy this quirky, yet brilliant, movie. Here's what rumored to be fact. Susan Orlean is the author of The Orchid Thief, a non-fiction book about how John Laroche's orchid obsession led to a smuggling mystery. Ms. Orlean writes, "I met John Laroche for the first time a few years ago, at the Collier County Courthouse in Naples, Florida. I was in Florida at the time because I had read a newspaper article reporting that a white man - Laroche - and three Seminole men had been arrested with rare orchids they had stolen out of a Florida swap called Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve, and I wanted to know more about the incident. The newspaper story was short but alluring." Screenwriter, Charlie Kaufman, and director, Spike Jonze, received tons of critical accolades and awards for their film, Being John Malkovich. After or during (I'm not quite sure) the filming of Being John Malkovich, Kaufman was approached to adapt Orlean's book, The Orchid Thief, into a movie. Kaufman accepts the job because he thought Laroche's character was interesting enough to write a screenplay about. Trouble was, after Kaufman was hired, his creative process was blocked basically because the book itself rambles on about orchids. There has been much talk about Cage and Streep's performances [which they were both nominated for Golden Globes. Streep was decent in this role, but I didn't think she deserved to win the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Supporting Role]. But let me set the record straight, without Chris Cooper's brilliant and offbeat characterization of John Laroche, Adaptation WOULD NOT, I repeat, WOULD NOT, have been as enjoyable to watch. Cooper still oozed charisma despite the fact he's damn near toothless. Cooper's Golden Globe win for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama is well deserved. There was so much about Adaptation that touched me on so many levels, that it's hard to explain. [If you've seen the movie, then you where I'm coming from). Just like the not-so imaginary character, Charlie Kaufman, I constantly hear voices in my head (my friends call it my Sybil complex) negotiating with each other about who gets to speak first. My life is just one big voiceover. In terms of suffering from writer's block (writing this review being no exception), every time I have pen to paper, I go brain dead. So when Kaufman said, "I should write something first, then reward myself," I nearly fell out of my chair laughing out of control [and of course apologizing to those sitting around me]. I can totally relate to this because after I wrote the sentence before this one, I rewarded myself with the following: (1) I took a bath; (2) played George Winston's new CD; and (3) boiled then ate four crabs and a pound of shrimp (that's what we do in New Orleans to help with writer's block, boil something in Cajun spices); and you know what happens after you eat? So what's all this rambling about? Again, you have to see Adaptation to understand. Kaufman somehow got over his writer's block because Adaptation is a well-crafted screenplay. CASS' CONCLUSION Deciphering fact from fiction is what makes Adaptation another original and entertaining film to watch. ADAPTATION:   back to top Copyright Cassandra Henry, 2003 EMAIL: cass@3blackchicks.com