Matt's Reviews: Adaptation


 

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Rating: 1 thinking man

  This movie was nominated for 4 Academy Awards! I don't give it a very high rating though. To me, it was long, and somewhat pointless.
  This movie centers around the gimmick of a man trying to write a movie, which ends up being this movie! Some people may see that as clever; I just see it as tedious and done too many times. If I could give you a list of self-referential books and movies, the list would stretch for miles, including "Alice in Wonderland," the Chinese philosopher who, thousands of years ago, wondered if he was a man dreaming about a butterfly, or a butterfly dreaming about a man. The list also includes about every writer that has ever picked up a pen.
  In addition, it's just one more example of Hollywood convinced that Hollywood is the most interesting place in the world! Finally, there is the innovation of a man acting as his own twin. Um, haven't I seen that somewhere before? Maybe they use that in about 200 movies?
  In following the screenwriter writing about this movie, this story loops around on itself, and has a really odd conclusion. Maybe it's worthwhile renting on video! Nicholas Cage is all right, Meryl Streep is okay. Whatever.
 
ADAPTATION(2002)

Directed by Spike Jonze; written by Charlie Kaufman and Donald Kaufman, based on the book "The Orchid Thief" by Susan Orlean; director of photography, Lance Acord; edited by Eric Zumbrunnen; music by Carter Burwell; production designer, KK Barrett; produced by Edward Saxon, Vincent Landay and Jonathan Demme; released by Columbia Pictures. Running time: 112 minutes. This film is rated R.
WITH: Nicolas Cage (Charlie Kaufman/Donald Kaufman), Meryl Streep (Susan Orlean), Chris Cooper (John Laroche), Tilda Swinton (Valerie), Cara Seymour (Amelia), Brian Cox (Robert McKee), Judy Greer (Alice the Waitress), Maggie Gyllenhaal (Caroline), Ron Livingston (Marty) and Jay Tavare (Matthew Osceola).