Review of Adaptation. (2002) by Spangle — 05 Jun 2015
Adaptation is a brilliant work for the first hour and a half before it goes off the deep end. The writing is immaculate during this former period and works on multiple levels, it really makes you think, really entertains, and feels authentic and real.
However, in the last half hour, it all falls apart with a stupid ending that embraces all that the character rails against throughout. I understand the point, I got it. That is not the problem, I can get it and still think it sucks and my God did the ending suck.
It not only thought it was smarter than its audience and took self-indulgence to a different level, but it sucked the life out of the film and spit in the face of its audience. I love Charlie Kaufman's writing, but the ending was horrendous and a complete turn off that left me sitting there trying to piece together how a film I was falling in love with just turned its back on me and called me an idiot.
Luckily, the acting is fantastic from Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep, and Chris Cooper, which really boost this one up considerably. Ultimately, Adaptation is a sometimes brilliant work that is great when it respects its audience, but falls apart when it feels it too smart, just like the characters it depicts and would be really well served by, ya know, respecting those who view the film.
This review of Adaptation. (2002) was written by Spangle on 05 Jun 2015.
Adaptation. has generally received very positive reviews.
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