Adaptation, DVD
Added 2/6/2010
The film is nothing like the book, The Orchid Thief, but it is an amusing story with greats like Meryl Streep and Nicholas Cage and the actor, Cooper. I enjoyed the scenes set in Miami, Broward county and the Everglades, swamps I had hiked in, too. I recently became interested in orchid culture and so The Orchid Thief book was recommended. Most of it set in Miami-Dade county where I live; many of the sites and people I am familiar with. I recently met people who had had disastrous dealings with the hero, John LaRoche, and was regaled with these hilarious stories. They all encouraged me to see the film, which they loved and they felt had a very satisfying ending , to them.
I purchased several copies of the DVD to give as Christmas gifts, which were much appreciaterd and enjoyed.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Horrible. Uninteresting pitifull characters.
Added 12/12/2009
I tried to watch this movie, I made it through over and hour of torture and shut it off.
Maybe my expectations were too high. The critics loved this movie, they called it funny. Big name actors. I thought it was... junk. Too much unhappiness and dispair for me.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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the insane New York state of mind?
Added 11/18/2009
If this is critically acclaimed as a movie than we have New york critics who are
in therapy or need to be? I suppose there are two ways to look at this movie:
a through the looking glass comedy about intellectual instability
or just a play by someone who should probably be in prison for
the safety of the community? Something like van Gogh
cutting off his ear without the excuse of great art?
In the decline of the Roman Empire the ruling class just lost it.
That behavior seems to be the state of New York in the entertainment industry?
People get critically acclaimed for making trash and
calling it art.
I think the totally lost fellow who gives the screen writing class
kind of sums up how bad thing really are?
1 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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A screenplay about screenwriting
Added 10/2/2009
Charlie Kaufman has written a movie about Charlie Kaufman trying to adapt the book "The Orchid Thief" into a movie. Get past thinking that Kaufman is egotistical for writing himself into his own script. So what if he is? It's still hilarious.
For anyone who has ever had writer's block, this is a truly hilarious portrait of an artist struggling to write a screenplay about flowers.
Meryl Streep and Chris Cooper are a perfect pair, playing the author and the orchid thief, respectively. They really do have good chemistry. Not to mention Nicolas Cage is really at his best here playing both Charlie and his twin brother Donald. The insecure Kaufman of the movie is a nervous wreck, polar opposite of the egotistical Donald. The characters are fun to watch together onscreen, and Cage pulls it off perfectly.
This is really a fun, wild film, and you can tell Charile Kaufman enjoys pushing and breaking the boundaries of the film medium, even just in his screenwriting.
0 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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A Wonderful Movie
Added 7/13/2009
Re-teaming with Being John Malkovich director Spike Jonze, Charlie Kaufman penned the script for Adaptation. What began as Kaufman adapting the book The Orchid Thief: A True Story of Beauty and Obsession (Ballantine Reader's Circle) turned into something much more complicated resulting in a rewarding film which has been underrated by audiences since it's release.
Nicolas Cage, in an Oscar-nominated performance, plays nervous, self-loathing, and socially awkward screenwriter Charlie Kaufman. After his success with Being John Malkovich, Charlie is asked to adapt the Susan Orlean book The Orchid Thief. Problem is, Charlie doesn't know how to adapt it.
Meanwhile, we see the origins of the book as Susan (Meryl Streep) meets John Laroche (Chris Cooper, who won an Oscar for his role). Laroche, who's missing his two front teeth, is a plant enthusiast who uses his indian friends to help him poach endangered flowers. In meeting Laroche, Susan is awakened to her own unhappiness.
Cage also plays Kaufman's twin brother Donald (also co-writer of the script, despite not being a real person), well-liked and functional in social circles, who is trying to become a screenwriter like his brother.
Make no mistake, this is a complicated story with a genius writer at the helm. Despite being a tale of writer's black, Kaufman effortlessly blurs the line between reality and fiction. Jonze knows his way around a Kaufman script and handles all of it splendidly.
The acting is what really drives the piece. Cage is an underrated actor, but here he's given a chance to really flaunt his versatility. Playing both Charlie and Donald, who are identical but have little in common beyond that, could not have been easy but Cage really establishes them as separate people. You can tell which one's which due to body language and vocal cadence. This is a really layered performance. Anyone who is under the impression that Cage isn't a good actor (you know who you are) needs to see this film.
Cooper is a revelation. Nearly unrecognizable beneath long hair and the gap in his mouth, he's fascinating. This performance was not written as Oscar-bait, but Cooper certainly earned it.
Adaptation features many cameos by other recognizable actor's and everyone is solid. The film too is a rich, textured, unique piece of filmmaking that will both entertain and enlighten. This film made many top 10 lists upon it's release but has received only lukewarm reactions from filmgoers. In truth, this is one of Kaufman's best screenplays. A great film, Adaptation deserves more of an audience. I urge you to see it.
GRADE: A
2 out of 3 people found this helpful.
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Adaptation, DVD
Added 2/6/2010
The film is nothing like the book, The Orchid Thief, but it is an amusing story with greats like Meryl Streep and Nicholas Cage and the actor, Cooper. I enjoyed the scenes set in Miami, Broward county and the Everglades, swamps I had hiked in, too. I recently became interested in orchid culture and so The Orchid Thief book was recommended. Most of it set in Miami-Dade county where I live; many of the sites and people I am familiar with. I recently met people who had had disastrous dealings with the hero, John LaRoche, and was regaled with these hilarious stories. They all encouraged me to see the film, which they loved and they felt had a very satisfying ending , to them.
I purchased several copies of the DVD to give as Christmas gifts, which were much appreciaterd and enjoyed.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Horrible. Uninteresting pitifull characters.
Added 12/12/2009
I tried to watch this movie, I made it through over and hour of torture and shut it off.
Maybe my expectations were too high. The critics loved this movie, they called it funny. Big name actors. I thought it was... junk. Too much unhappiness and dispair for me.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
|
the insane New York state of mind?
Added 11/18/2009
If this is critically acclaimed as a movie than we have New york critics who are
in therapy or need to be? I suppose there are two ways to look at this movie:
a through the looking glass comedy about intellectual instability
or just a play by someone who should probably be in prison for
the safety of the community? Something like van Gogh
cutting off his ear without the excuse of great art?
In the decline of the Roman Empire the ruling class just lost it.
That behavior seems to be the state of New York in the entertainment industry?
People get critically acclaimed for making trash and
calling it art.
I think the totally lost fellow who gives the screen writing class
kind of sums up how bad thing really are?
1 out of 2 people found this helpful.
|
