Review of Adaptation. (2002) by Justin J — 07 Jun 2012

Adaptation.

"Adaptation" is I guess what you could call a film about writing film and as an aspiring writer, this is just great. Nicolas Cage stars as real life writer of the film Charlie Kaufman as he struggles to adapt a script from a book about flowers that supposedly has no real story. And that, in Kaufman's mind, is enough story to make the script out of. Kaufman, or should I say Cage as Kaufman, struggles and struggles for a hook and a story in the novel, reading the novel over and over again before he nearly goes crazy and inserts himself into the story and makes the story about him finding the story. Confused yet? It's really not that complicated, I just have a bad way with words.

It being a true story or not is up to debate, but the film is definitely entertaining and a great look inside the mind if Kaufman, both Cage's Kaufman and the real life Kaufman. One thing is true though, while the real life writing credits go to both Charlie and his twin brother Donald, in the film also played by Cage, Donald does not exist in real life. The reason for his inclusion in the credits isn't really known for he doesn't exist, yet both were still nominated for the writing of the film.

My only problem with the film is, while in the film Kaufman says that the film doesn't want to turn into another boring story where the characters learn some profound lesson, he doesn't want to cram in a bunch of sex and violence, yet towards the end of the film that's exactly what the film does. The film sort of takes the easy way out and does what it says it won't do and I'm not the only one who sees this lie portrayed.

Overall, despite that minor plot detail, the film is enjoyably and it's sort of fun and of course funny seeing this man go crazy over making the film that you are seeing. As I said before it's a great insight to an interesting man and a great film.

4/5, A-.