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Adaptation. (2002)
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Overview
User Rating:
Your Rating:
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Release Date:
10 January 2003 (USA)
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Tagline:
From the creator of Being John Malkovich, comes the story about the creator of Being John Malkovich. See more »
Plot:
A lovelorn screenwriter turns to his less talented twin brother for help when his efforts to adapt a non-fiction book go nowhere. Full summary » | Full synopsis »
Awards:
Won Oscar.
Another 49 wins
&
54 nominations
See more »
NewsDesk:
(123 articles)
10 Films at Tribeca That You'd Care Most About
(From NextMovie. 17 April 2013, 7:00 AM, PDT)
WGA Lists Greatest Screenplays, From 'Casablanca' and 'Godfather' to 'Memento' and 'Notorious'
(From Thompson on Hollywood. 27 February 2013, 11:33 AM, PST)
Chris Cooper tapped for 'Klondike,' Discovery's first scripted mini-series
(From Zap2It - From Inside the Box. 8 February 2013, 2:01 PM, PST)
(From NextMovie. 17 April 2013, 7:00 AM, PDT)
WGA Lists Greatest Screenplays, From 'Casablanca' and 'Godfather' to 'Memento' and 'Notorious'
(From Thompson on Hollywood. 27 February 2013, 11:33 AM, PST)
Chris Cooper tapped for 'Klondike,' Discovery's first scripted mini-series
(From Zap2It - From Inside the Box. 8 February 2013, 2:01 PM, PST)
User Reviews:
Adapt Your Thinking
See more (682 total) »
Cast
(in credits order) (complete, awaiting verification)
Directed by | |||
| Spike Jonze | |||
Writing credits(WGA) | ||
| Susan Orlean | (book "The Orchid Thief") | |
| Charlie Kaufman | (screenplay) and | |
| Donald Kaufman | (screenplay) | |
Produced by | |||
| Jonathan Demme | .... | producer | |
| Charlie Kaufman | .... | executive producer | |
| Vincent Landay | .... | producer | |
| Peter Saraf | .... | executive producer | |
| Edward Saxon | .... | producer | |
Original Music by | |||
| Carter Burwell | |||
Cinematography by | |||
| Lance Acord | (director of photography) | ||
Film Editing by | |||
| Eric Zumbrunnen | |||
Casting by | |||
| Justine Baddeley | |||
| Kim Davis-Wagner | |||
Production Design by | |||
| K.K. Barrett | |||
Art Direction by | |||
| Peter Andrus | |||
Set Decoration by | |||
| Gene Serdena | |||
Costume Design by | |||
| Casey Storm | |||
Makeup Department | |||
| Lynn Barber | .... | makeup artist | |
| Joseph Coscia | .... | hair stylist | |
| Tony Gardner | .... | special makeup designer: Artist's Asylum | |
| Isabel Harkins | .... | makeup artist | |
| Joel Harlow | .... | makeup department head | |
| Vance Hartwell | .... | special makeup effects artist | |
| J. Roy Helland | .... | hair stylist: Meryl Streep | |
| J. Roy Helland | .... | makeup artist: Meryl Streep | |
| Jessica Huebner | .... | special makeup effects project manager: Artist's Asylum | |
| Scott Malchus | .... | special makeup effects producer: Artist's Asylum | |
| Roz Music | .... | hair department head | |
| David E. Smith | .... | special makeup effects lead artist | |
| Lilo Tauvao | .... | special makeup effects artist | |
| Larry Waggoner | .... | hair stylist | |
| Allen Weisinger | .... | makeup artist (as Allen Weisenger) | |
| Kevin Yagher | .... | prosthetic makeup artist: Mr. Cage | |
| Jerry Constantine | .... | special makeup effects artist (uncredited) | |
| Carol F. Doran | .... | wig maker: Mr. Cage (uncredited) | |
| Elvis Jones | .... | special makeup effects artist (uncredited) | |
| Jennifer Saeta | .... | makeup artist (uncredited) | |
| Brandon Waggoner | .... | hair extension specialist (uncredited) | |
Art Department | |||
| Jess Anscott | .... | stand-by greensperson | |
| Lynn Christopher | .... | set designer | |
| Peter Davidson | .... | set designer (as Peter R. Davidson) | |
| Robert Davis | .... | labor foreman | |
| James A. Fleming | .... | swing gang (as Jamie Fleming) | |
| Chris Forster | .... | construction coordinator | |
| Jeffrey Paul Johnson | .... | property master | |
| Christian Kastner | .... | on-set dresser | |
| Michael Leblovic | .... | lead painter | |
| Patti McNulty | .... | art department coordinator (as Patricia McNulty) | |
| Bobby Pollard | .... | swing gang | |
| Anders Rundblad | .... | construction foreman | |
| Grant Samson | .... | leadman (as Grant D. Samson) | |
| Christopher E. Schmid | .... | greensman | |
| Porfirio Silva | .... | lead greensperson | |
| David M. Steiner | .... | paint foreman (as David Steiner) | |
| Chris Vail | .... | assistant property master (as Christopher Vail) | |
| Bennett Andrews | .... | greens person (uncredited) | |
| Peter Andrus | .... | art designer (uncredited) | |
| Gregory Paul Austin | .... | propmaker (uncredited) | |
| David Carberry | .... | painter (uncredited) | |
| Jaime Castellanos | .... | greens person (uncredited) | |
| Dan Crawley | .... | props (uncredited) | |
| Sean D. Cussen | .... | construction medic (uncredited) | |
| J. Michael Glynn | .... | swing gang (uncredited) | |
| Caius Man | .... | propmaker (uncredited) | |
| Michele Munoz | .... | buyer (uncredited) | |
| Elizabeth Nagle | .... | greens person (uncredited) | |
| Peter Ramsey | .... | storyboard artist (uncredited) | |
| Daron Smith | .... | property gang boss (uncredited) | |
| Robert Steuer | .... | carpenter (uncredited) | |
| Robert Stover | .... | buyer (uncredited) | |
| Paul Walton | .... | painter (uncredited) | |
| Dennis Young | .... | greens person (uncredited) | |
Special Effects by | |||
| Paul Barnes | .... | lead moldmaker: Artist's Asylum | |
| Gary D'Amico | .... | special effects coordinator | |
| Conor McCullagh | .... | alligator puppeteer (as Connor McCullagh) | |
| Paul Salamoff | .... | effects technician: Artist's Asylum | |
| James Ferguson | .... | special makeup effects coordinator (uncredited) | |
| Michael Gaspar | .... | special effects coordinator: second unit (uncredited) | |
| Chris Jones | .... | special effects technician (uncredited) | |
| Bryan Sides | .... | studio coordinator (uncredited) | |
Visual Effects by | |||
| John Allardice | .... | digital artist: Digital Domain | |
| Richard Björlin | .... | visual effects producer: Digital Domain | |
| Cris Blyth | .... | digital artist: Digital Domain | |
| Shannan Burkley | .... | matte painter: Digital Domain | |
| Jodi Campanaro | .... | digital compositor: Digital Domain | |
| David Crawford | .... | digital compositor: Gray Matter FX | |
| Jean-Marc Demmer | .... | digital compositor: Digital Domain | |
| Sean Devereaux | .... | visual effects compositor: Digital Domain | |
| Leslie Ekker | .... | visual effects supervisor: Digital Domain | |
| Paul Graff | .... | 2D artist: Gray Matter FX | |
| Linda Henry | .... | digital compositor: Gray Natter FX | |
| Kristin Johnson | .... | digital compositor: Gray Matter FX | |
| Nikos Kalaitzidis | .... | digital artist: Digital Domain | |
| Joan Kim | .... | compositor: bee sequence, Gray Matter FX | |
| Kent Lidke | .... | lighting digital artist: bee sequence, Gray Matter FX | |
| Margaux Mackay | .... | visual effects supervising producer: Gray Matter FX | |
| Michael Maloney | .... | digital compositor: Gray Matter FX | |
| Gray Marshall | .... | visual effects supervisor | |
| Albert Mason | .... | digital producer: Gray Matter FX | |
| Julien Meesters | .... | lead compositor: Digital Domain | |
| Eileen O'Connor | .... | visual effects coordinator: Digital Domain | |
| Christine Petrov | .... | digital compositor: Gray Matter FX | |
| Robert Rowles | .... | rotoscope artist: Gray Matter FX (as George Rowles) | |
| Randy Sharp | .... | digital artist: Digital Domain | |
| Joe Stevenson | .... | motion control operator (as Joseph Stevenson) | |
| Greg Teegarden | .... | digital compositor: Digital Domain | |
| Dan Trezise | .... | digital compositor: Gray Matter FX | |
| Ed Ulbrich | .... | visual effects executive producer: Digital Domain | |
| Vernon R. Wilbert Jr. | .... | CG supervisor: Digital Domain | |
| Abu Bekka | .... | modeler (uncredited) | |
| David Cohen | .... | modeler (uncredited) | |
| Chad E. Collier | .... | scanning and recording operator: Digital Domain (uncredited) | |
| Molly Hansen | .... | visual effects business affairs (uncredited) | |
| Tony Magaletta | .... | second assistant cameraman: underwater unit (uncredited) | |
| Matt McFarland | .... | scan/record manager (uncredited) | |
| Jerry Pao | .... | visual effects coordinator (uncredited) | |
| Dan Patterson | .... | data I/O operator: Digital Domain (uncredited) | |
| Todd Sarsfield | .... | digital color grader (uncredited) | |
| Tess Spaulding | .... | system administrator (uncredited) | |
Stunts | |||
| Rick Barker | .... | stunts | |
| Dan Bradley | .... | stunt coordinator | |
| Chris Carnel | .... | stunt double: Chris Cooper | |
| Julie Janney | .... | stunt double: Meryl Streep | |
| Lane Leavitt | .... | stunts | |
| Norb Phillips | .... | stunts (as Norbert Phillips) | |
| Darrin Prescott | .... | stunts | |
| Scott Rogers | .... | stunts | |
| Eddie Yansick | .... | stunt double: Nicolas Cage | |
| Daniel W. Barringer | .... | stunts (uncredited) | |
Animation Department | |||
| Beau Cameron | .... | CG character animator: bee sequence, Gray Matter FX | |
Casting Department | |||
| Cate Engel | .... | casting associate | |
| Kelly Hunt | .... | extras casting | |
| Rich King | .... | extras casting | |
Costume and Wardrobe Department | |||
| Anita Louise Brown | .... | costumer (as Anita Brown) | |
| Shari Gray | .... | wardrobe supervisor (as Shari D. Gray) | |
| Stacy Horn | .... | wardrobe supervisor (as Stacy M. Horn) | |
| Marina Marit | .... | costumer | |
| Ann Roth | .... | costume designer: Meryl Streep | |
| Debbie Travis | .... | costumer (as Deborah Travis) | |
Editorial Department | |||
| Nathan R. Fitzgerald | .... | assistant editor (as Nathan FitzGerald) | |
| Bob Fredrickson | .... | color timer | |
| Larry Law | .... | additional editor | |
| Eric Osmond | .... | first assistant editor | |
| Mark T. Osborne | .... | additional colorist (uncredited) | |
| Curtis Schultz | .... | post-production assistant (uncredited) | |
| Peter Tackaberry | .... | assistant editor (uncredited) | |
| Corinne Villa | .... | assistant editor (uncredited) | |
Music Department | |||
| Michael Farrow | .... | music scoring mixer | |
| Bryan Lawson | .... | assistant music editor | |
| Sandra Park | .... | orchestra contractor | |
| Adam Milo Smalley | .... | music editor | |
| Jason Stasium | .... | digital score recordist | |
| Tony Finno | .... | music preparation (uncredited) | |
Transportation Department | |||
| Griff Ruggles | .... | transportation coordinator | |
| Robbie Stinton | .... | transportation captain (as Robby Stinton) | |
| Michael 'Crash' Anderson | .... | driver (uncredited) | |
| Chris Basso | .... | driver (uncredited) | |
| Carlos Bernal | .... | driver (uncredited) | |
| Mike Buenfil | .... | driver (uncredited) | |
| Mike J. Dawson | .... | driver (uncredited) | |
| John Dixon | .... | driver: Nicolas Cage (uncredited) | |
| J. Armin Garza II | .... | driver: camera car (uncredited) | |
| Bill Gay | .... | driver (uncredited) | |
| Pablo Gonzalez | .... | driver (uncredited) | |
| David Muntz | .... | driver (uncredited) | |
| Kurt Schmeiderer | .... | driver (uncredited) | |
| Gregg Videgain | .... | driver (uncredited) | |
Thanks | |||
| Francis Ford Coppola | .... | special thanks (as Francis) | |
| Roman Coppola | .... | special thanks (as Roman) | |
| Sofia Coppola | .... | special thanks (as Sofia) | |
| John Cusack | .... | special thanks | |
| Andy Jenkins | .... | special thanks | |
| Donald Kaufman | .... | in loving memory | |
| John Malkovich | .... | special thanks | |
| John Ptak | .... | special thanks | |
Production CompaniesDistributors
- Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) (USA)
- Screen Gems (USA)
- Columbia Pictures (USA) (theatrical)
- Columbia TriStar Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
- Intermedia (non-USA)
- Good Machine International (non-USA)
- Columbia TriStar Film (2003) (Germany) (theatrical)
- Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (2003) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Independent Films (2003) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Monopole-Pathé (2003) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
- Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2003) (Finland) (theatrical)
- Aquarius TV (2010) (Greece) (TV)
- Asmik Ace Entertainment (Japan)
- Bac Films (France)
- Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2003) (Germany) (video)
- Columbia TriStar Italia
- Columbia TriStar (Brazil) (DVD)
- Columbia TriStar (Brazil) (VHS)
- LK-TEL (2003) (Argentina) (DVD)
- LK-TEL (2003) (Argentina) (VHS)
- LNK Filmes
- Paradise Group (2002) (Russia) (all media)
- Pyramid (Russia)
- Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2003) (2007) (Finland) (DVD)
- Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2003) (Finland) (VHS)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2012) (Australia) (DVD)
- Universal Pictures Benelux (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
- Universal Pictures Video (2003) (Netherlands) (video)
- Yleisradio (YLE) (2007) (2008) (Finland) (TV)
- Artists' Asylum (special makeup effects)
- Digital Domain (special visual effects: Evolution sequence)
- Gray Matter FX (visual effects)
- Makeup Effects Laboratories (orchids creation)
- Rods and Cones (digital opticals)
- Astralwerks soundtrack published by
- Bondelli Precision Driving Team precision driving
- Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment cranes and dollies
- Direct Tools & Fasteners expendables
- Film Art artwork
- Hanna Brothers Catering catering
- Hollywood Caterers catering
- Mary Nelson-Fraser & Associates negative cutting
- Pacific Title titles
- Reel Team, The loop group
- Riot Pictures scanning and recording
- Skywalker Sound post-production sound services
- Skywalker Sound sound re-recording services by
Additional Details
Also Known As:
"Adaptation" - Japan (English title) (DVD title)
See more »
See more »
MPAA:
Rated R for language, sexuality, some drug use and violent images
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
114 min | Turkey:81 min (TV version)
Country:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Brazil:16 | Chile:14 | Finland:K-15 | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Iceland:14 (original rating) | Iceland:L (video rating) | Japan:PG-12 | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:R13 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Singapore:NC-16 (original rating) | Singapore:PG (DVD rating) (cut) | South Korea:18 | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Bern) | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #38094) | Portugal:M/12 | Malaysia:U | Philippines:R-18 | Canada:13+ (Québec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba)
Filming Locations:
Company:
Did You Know?
Trivia:
The flower shown during the time-lapse sequence at the end of the movie is called Amelia (an Osteospermum).See more »
Goofs:
Continuity: At the end of the film when Charlie Kaufman pulls out of the parking garage, a woman (Jennifer Porst) sits next to him in the car for a single shot, though he is riding alone.See more »
Quotes:
[first lines]
Charlie Kaufman:[voiceover] Do I have an original thought in my head? My bald head. Maybe if I were happier, my hair wouldn't be falling out. Life is short. I need to make the most of it. Today is the first day of the rest of my life. I'm a walking cliché. I really need to go to the doctor and have my leg checked...
See more »
Charlie Kaufman:[voiceover] Do I have an original thought in my head? My bald head. Maybe if I were happier, my hair wouldn't be falling out. Life is short. I need to make the most of it. Today is the first day of the rest of my life. I'm a walking cliché. I really need to go to the doctor and have my leg checked...
See more »
Movie Connections:
Featured in The 60th Annual Golden Globe Awards (2003) (TV)See more »
Soundtrack:
Wild HorsesSee more »
FAQ
Is Donald Charlie's multiple personality?See more »
See more (682 total) »
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An 
company.
While taking a break from studying for my calculus final (a brain-draining exercise to say the least), I sat down to write out this review on what was, no doubt about it, a brain-draining movie (in an offbeat but good way). Of course I expected this from `Adaptation', for last month, in every major magazine, it has been touted as a mind-twisting ride, which piqued my interest.
Charlie Kaufman (Nicholas Cage), by his own admission, is a loser. By my viewing, that's a fairly accurate description-if you add neurotic. Anyhow, Kaufman is a talented screenwriter, who, after writing what is his `script of a lifetime' (`Being John Malkovich), he takes on a project that is over his head-adapting Susan Orlean's (Meryl Streep) book, `The Orchid Thief' into an amazing film about flowers that will stun and amaze all.
The plot diverges here. One path follows Kaufman along the road to the inevitable breakdown of writer's block that forces him to jump from idea to idea in vain attempt to write a screenplay, until he commits the cardinal sin of screenwriting-writing himself into the script. This is not helped in the least by his hack brother Donald (Nicholas Cage) successfully working on his own script (a complete antithesis of his own).
The other road follows Orlean as she goes about writing her book three years earlier. The book is about a dentally challenged Floridian orchid thief, John Laroche (Chris Cooper), who is personable enough to cause Orlean to fall for him, his drugs, and his outside-the-law lifestyle.
As you might well imagine, this is not your usual Friday-night flick. The complexity of three separate, yet interwoven plots (Laroche the thief, Orlean writing about the thief and Kaufman writing about the writer writing about the thief) is stunning and the end, for those who will get it (I did not at first) will blow you away once it hits you…I'll give you a bit of help in knowing why the ending works later on. Oh, and Charlie (but not Donald) Kaufman, Susan Orlean, and John Laroche are all real people, which will make the film infinitely easier to understand.
Nicholas Cage is amazing. To have to carry out the performances of two different characters is certainly a feat, but to do it with such widely disparate characters like the Kaufmans is really nothing less than wondrous. Not to be outdone, Meryl Streep is superb, especially in the third act of the movie when her character becomes a more physical one. As for Cooper, well, I don't want to insult the guy, but he comes across as a redneck hick and a shyster, which is exactly what the script demanded.
All glory praise and honor for these fine actors would be for naught, had it not been for director Spike Jonze and writer Charlie Kaufman (see that name before?). What they have done is simply amazing and is a tribute to their brilliance. Visually, the film does not stand out much (except for the fast-action evolution sequences that are worth their while). In short, kudos to the entire staff.
I promised earlier to give you some help in figuring out why the ending works…before I thought of this nugget of info (instead of studying anti-derivatives), the ending had me confused and slightly angry. The key to the ending is in the opening credits, in the line `Written by Charlie and Donald Kaufman'. Good luck in comprehending the ending. I give this film my first 10 of the year.