 |
|
|
|
|
MOVIES FRONT | MOVIE REVIEWS | INTERVIEWS | COMING SOON | BOX OFFICE PREDICTIONS & REPORT | NEWS | LINKS |
Adaptation (2002) Columbia Pictures 1 hr. 51 mins. Starring: Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep, Chris Cooper, Tilda Swinton, Cara Seymour, Brian Cox, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Ron Livingston Directed by: Spike Jonze Adaptation Rating:  
E-MAIL GIANCARLO DE LISI Adaptation is a process. There has never been a more surreal cinematic experience explaining the Hollywood food chain than in Director Spike Jonze’s ‘Adaptation’. The process of screenwriting is explored in cinematic splendor as Screenwriter Charlie Kaufman pens the freshest and most splendiferous script since ‘Being John Malkovich’. Adaptation is indeed a process as the hidden tenets of script creation are explored as one must adapt to the various pratfalls of penning a film. To those new to the world of Spike Jonze and Charlie Kaufman, conformity is the last characteristic one would consider when describing this duo. Yet, the magic which resonated in ‘Being John Malkovich’ carries over fourfold in the perversely dark, sentimental and outright eccentric film ‘Adaptation’. The film opens with an imaginative opening sequence in which credits roll right at the bottom of the screen in classic typewriter font on a black screen while Nicolas Cage’s voice mumbles endlessly about the inherent physiological and psychological traits, which displease his character Charlie Kaufman. Cage interprets the rich and complex role of real life screenwriter Charlie Kaufman who wrestles with his inner dissatisfaction while adapting a novel for a film. Cage also plays his twin brother Donald, who is the exact opposite of Charlie. While Charlie is a weak, vulnerable, sexually deprived self conscious individual, his counterpart is a confident, ambitious and sexually satisfied secure individual who aims in following in his brother’s footsteps in regards to the screenwriting celebrity. Before exploring this relationship, it is imperative to discuss the nucleus of the script. Kaufman concocts a laborious script in which it retells the travesties endured while penning the actual script for a film based on a novel by Susan Orlean. ‘The Orchid Thief’ bases itself upon a Florida plant cultivist who clones rare plants for profit. Yet, this story basically serves as the catalyst for the real story in which Charlie Kaufman goes through a series of ‘Writer’s Block’ in adapting this story. The film centers itself sporadically upon the four main characters, two of which are played by Cage and the other two compliment the film’s elegance with their raw performances. Chris Cooper (American Beauty) and Meryl Streep (The River Wild) play the Florida cultivist John Laroche and the author Susan Orlean respectively. While the first act focuses on the plant grower, it dawned on me that flowers were never so beautiful as they are represented in this film. John Laroche’s love for flowers inspires many and even allows certain individuals to become ravaged by his passion for life. A confession to note is this critic does not know whether or not the events in the film are purportedly real. One clue is that the actual script for ‘Adaptation’ is credited to Charlie and Donald Kaufman, yet, there is no human named Donald Kaufman who is the brother of Charlie Kaufman. This inventive studio ploy will guarantee a Best Screenwriting Nomination at the Oscars and will surely win as Academy Members will like to see what Charlie Kaufman will say about his missing counterpart. Whether it is fictitious or not, the events are taut and the relationships spawned within these characters are gradually unraveled as all these four characters lead all different lives yet their stories culminate in a slightly overblown final climax. The first two acts are superb, yet the ending is not as luminous as what the audience is conditioned to for the first two acts. These acts introduce the characters and Jonze allows us to plunge head first into a sea of perversely bizarre incidents and characters. The opening scene shows us how important the screenwriter is in the actual filming process of a film. Backtracking onto the set of Kaufman’s first screenplay ‘Being John Malkovich’, we see him get brushed off the set from an Assistant Director who does not even know his name. Feeling rejected and ridiculed, he continues his descent into decadence as he feels insecure and superfluous. Within a matter of three minutes, the audience is fully aware of the main character’s limitations and capabilities. As the film progresses, Streep portrays her character’s sadness and impervious adulterous ways flawlessly as the film tailspins into a dark satire and witty character struggle. The film parallels the characters’ events on screen as what we see, is the actual screenplay Kaufman is writing. This storytelling tactic is unblemished in its execution as the film grapples with many themes including zest for life, passion, love and one’s hollowness. Truly a remarkable film and a testament to how fun a film can be without the incessant explosions or mindless banter usually submitted in conventional cinema. The script is witty and the direction is wry. Jonze crams in as much as he can. One example is Directors David O. Russell (Three Kings) and Curtis Hanson (L.A. Confidential) appearing as dinner guests at Susan Orlean’s dinner party. The elite of the New York Intellectual society is at the dinner table as Streep’s character escapes and longs for the unattainable commencing her descent into profligacy. Furthermore, the script calls for a thorough analysis as Kaufman’s brother Donald almost seems to be a result of psychosis. Without giving too much away, death is a primordial element in life many do not celebrate. Yet, within this film, an eerie resolution ensues between the Kaufman brothers suggesting if one were to observe closely that perhaps, just perhaps, the characters of Donald and Charlie Kaufman are the same person. Just one of the many indulgences film buffs will ponder upon when repeatedly screening this great film. When inferences can be made through a film, and interpretation is welcomed, that is the mark of a great film. ‘Adaptation’ is indeed a process, a process of recognizing what constitutes a great film. Click here to comment on this review or post your own thoughts. Giancarlo De Lisi © TheWorldJournal.com |
|
|
MOVIES FRONT | MOVIE REVIEWS | INTERVIEWS | COMING SOON | BOX OFFICE PREDICTIONS & REPORT | NEWS | LINKS |
|
|
|
|
Sponsored Links |
| Web Hosting Forum - Web hosting, marketing and webmaster related issues. Find the best hosting for your website! |
| Top
Box Office Movies © TheWorldJournal.com, All rights reserved. Student News Network For the best advertising rates at TheWorldJournal.com (120x600 - new banner format by the Interactive Advertising Bureau), click here. Back to top |
e-mail: info@theworldjournal.com sales: sales@theworldjournal.com |
||
