Review of Adaptation. (2002) by Matthew B — 31 Aug 2010
A worthy successor to Being John Malkovich - at times uproariously funny, often moving and gloriously beautiful. Spike Jonze and Charlie Kaufman seem to possess a particularly magical directing-screenwriting relationship, and their films have been some of the most imaginative and delightfully fanciful in recent years.
Nicholas Cage gives one of his long career's best performances as both Charlie and Donald Kaufman, a hilariously defined pseudo-self-deprecating duo channeling the balance between screenwriting as art and screenwriting as entertainment.
(Cage really is best as Donald, a strikingly funny and real persona and Charlie's personal philistine.) Meryl Streep, too, is predictably wonderful as the tortured journalist Susan Orlean, but Chris Cooper undoubtedly steals the show in his irrepressible, unforgettable performance as the backwoods, philosophizing Darwinist orchid thief John Laroche.
Brian Cox provides an uproariously excellent guest performance as crabby screenwriting coach Robert McKee; it is a supporting role as economically perfect as Ned Beatty's Arthur Jensen in Network.
Undoubtedly a modern classic - a fascinating rumination on the nature of ever-evolving life and the constantly self-redefining capacities for personal fulfillment and Beauty.
This review of Adaptation. (2002) was written by Matthew B on 31 Aug 2010.
Adaptation. has generally received very positive reviews.
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