Adaptation. (2002)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Director:

Spike Jonze

Writers (WGA):

Susan Orlean (book)
Charlie Kaufman (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

10 January 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Charlie Kaufman writes the way he lives... With Great Difficulty. His Twin Brother Donald Lives the way he writes... with foolish abandon. Susan writes about life... But can't live it. John's life is a book... Waiting to be adapted. One story... Four Lives... A million ways it can end.

Plot:

A lovelorn screenwriter turns to his less talented twin brother for help when his efforts to adapt a non-fiction book go nowhere.

Plot Keywords:

Orchid | Book | Screenwriter | Twin | Thief

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 39 wins & 48 nominations

Cast

Nicolas Cage	...	Charlie Kaufman / Donald Kaufman
Tilda Swinton	...	Valerie Thomas
Meryl Streep	...	Susan Orlean
Chris Cooper	...	John Laroche
Jay Tavare	...	Matthew Osceola
Litefoot	...	Russell (as G. Paul Davis)
Roger Willie	...	Randy
Jim Beaver	...	Ranger Tony
Cara Seymour	...	Amelia Kavan
Doug Jones	...	Augustus Margary
Stephen Tobolowsky	...	Ranger Steve Neely (scenes deleted)
Gary Farmer	...	Buster Baxley
Peter Jason	...	Defense Attorney
Gregory Itzin	...	Prosecutor
Curtis Hanson	...	Orlean's Husband
Agnes NaDene Baddoo	...	Orlean Dinner Guest (as Agnes Badoo)
Paul Fortune	...	Orlean Dinner Guest
Paul Jasmin	...	Orlean Dinner Guest
Lisa Love	...	Orlean Dinner Guest
Wendy Mogel	...	Orlean Dinner Guest
David O. Russell	...	Orlean Dinner Guest
Judy Greer	...	Alice the Waitress
Maggie Gyllenhaal	...	Caroline Cunningham
Bob Stephenson	...	David
Bob Yerkes	...	Charles Darwin
Lynn Court	...	Laroche's Dad
Roger E. Fanter	...	Laroche's Uncle Jim
Sandra Lee Gimpel	...	Laroche's Mom (as Sandra Gimpel)
Caron Colvett	...	Laroche's Wife
Larry Krask	...	EMT
Ron Livingston	...	Marty Bowen
Brian Cox	...	Robert McKee
John Etter	...	McKee Lecture Attendee
Ray Berrios	...	Police Officer
Nancy Lenehan	...	Kaufman's Mother (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Susan Orlean	...	Woman in supermarket (scenes deleted)
Lance Acord	...	Himself (uncredited)
Ryan Bosch	...	Partygoer (uncredited)
Curt Clendenin	...	Restaurant Customer (uncredited)
Lathan Crowe	...	Orchid Vendor (uncredited)
John Cusack	...	Himself (uncredited)
Spike Jonze	...	Himself (uncredited)
Catherine Keener	...	Herself (uncredited)
Jake Magnuson	...	Cafe Customer (uncredited)
John Malkovich	...	Himself (uncredited)
Rheagan Wallace	...	Kim Canetti (uncredited)

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		(as 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 Smith	....	special makeup effects lead artist
Lilo Tauvau	....	special makeup effects artist (as Lilo Tauvao)
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)

Production Management
Maria K. Chavez	....	production supervisor: second unit
Shoshana Horowitz	....	production supervisor: second unit
Karen Koch	....	unit production manager
Andrew J. Sacks	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Dan Bradley	....	second unit director
Brian O'Kelley	....	second assistant director
David K. Riebel	....	second assistant director: second unit (as Dave Riebel)
Nick Satriano	....	first assistant director: second unit
Gregory J. Smith	....	second second assistant director
Matthew D. Smith	....	second assistant director: second unit
Thomas Patrick Smith	....	first assistant director

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)
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 A. Ramsey	....	storyboard artist (uncredited)
Daron Smith	....	property gang boss (uncredited)
Robert Stover	....	buyer (uncredited)
Paul Walton	....	painter (uncredited)
Dennis Young	....	greens person (uncredited)

Sound Department
David Bach	....	adr editor
Richard Beggs	....	sound designer
David Franklin Bergad	....	dialogue editor (as David Bergad)
David A. Cohen	....	dialogue editor
Lawrence L. Commans	....	boom operator
Mark Fay	....	boom operator (as Mark W. Fay)
Bruno Frascà	....	sound recordist
Lora Hirschberg	....	sound re-recording mixer
Michael Kirchberger	....	supervising sound editor
Drew Kunin	....	sound mixer
Jeremy Molod	....	assistant sound editor
Everett Moore	....	apprentice sound editor
Marnie Moore	....	foley artist
Nick Peck	....	foley mixer
Jory K. Prum	....	foley recordist (as Jory Prum)
Mark Purcell	....	sound recordist
Julia Shirar	....	assistant sound editor
Kent Sparling	....	sound re-recording mixer
Peter Staubli	....	sound effects editor
William Storkson	....	foley supervisor (as Bill Storkson)
Christopher Barnett	....	re-recording engineer (uncredited)
Mark DeSimone	....	adr engineer (uncredited)
Joel Dougherty	....	sound intern (uncredited)
Sean England	....	machine room operator (uncredited)
Gabriel Guy	....	sound mix assistant (uncredited)
Sean Landeros	....	sound recordist (uncredited)
Derek Vanderhorst	....	sound mixer (uncredited)
Mark Weber	....	sound mixer: second unit (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Paul Barnes	....	lead moldmaker: Artist's Asylum
Gary D'Amico	....	special effects coordinator
Connor McCullagh	....	alligator puppeteer
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 Bjorlin	....	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)
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)

Camera and Electrical Department
Michael Adler	....	chief lighting technician (as Mike Adler)
Danny Anderson	....	dolly grip (as Danny M. Anderson)
Nina Chien	....	second assistant camera
James Fealy	....	director of photography: second unit
Jamie Felz	....	first assistant camera
Jim Frohna	....	gaffer: second unit
Alexander Griffiths	....	second grip (as Pie Griffiths)
Zoli Hajdu	....	dolly grip
Ben Kaller	....	still photographer
Tom Lohmann	....	camera operator (as Thomas H. Lohmann)
Joseph Messier	....	key grip: second unit
Gino Nix	....	key grip
Mike Pickel	....	video assist operator (as Hans Michael Pickel)
Paul Taylor	....	Steadicam operator
Chris Weigand	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Mark Williams	....	first assistant camera (as Mark H. Williams)
Matthew W. Williams	....	camera loader
Greg Brooks	....	grip (uncredited)
Frank Buono	....	time-lapse photographer (uncredited)
Joe Colangelo	....	electrician (uncredited)
Jimmy Ellis	....	electrician (uncredited)
Sam Griffin	....	electrician (uncredited)
Marc Margulies	....	first assistant camera: second unit (uncredited)
Daniel P. Moore	....	additional photographer (uncredited)
Daniel P. Moore	....	video operator (uncredited)
Robert Oliva	....	electrician (uncredited)
Toshiaki Ozawa	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Rico Priem	....	grip (uncredited)
Peter Stone	....	still photographer: re-shoots (uncredited)
Michael Vejar	....	first assistant camera (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
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
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)
Buster Videgain	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Anzhey Barantsevich	....	accountant: Gray Matter FX
Kent James Stewart Barber	....	assistant location manager
Michael Berry	....	medic (as Michael R. Berry)
Gary Bevans	....	production assistant
Jonilyn Bisset	....	assistant production accountant (as Jonilyn Bissett)
Stephen Bures	....	assistant: Nicolas Cage
Marc Coppola	....	body double: Kaufman Twin
Drew Hayes	....	assistant production coordinator (as Andrew Hayes)
Julie Janney	....	stand-in: Meryl Streep
Eric Jordan	....	systems administrator: Gray Matter FX
Chiemi Karasawa	....	script supervisor
Janette Kim	....	production assistant
Marco Kyris	....	stand-in: Nicolas Cage
Andy Lucksay	....	production assistant
Michelle Madden	....	researcher
Harris Mann	....	body double: Kaufman Twin
Krista Martin	....	production assistant
Michael G. Maurer	....	production assistant
Geoff McFetridge	....	title designer
Nathan Oliver	....	production assistant
Andrew Ortner	....	production secretary
Jonathan Paley	....	stand-in: Chris Cooper
Krista Parris	....	production associate
Joseph Patridge	....	production assistant
Kevin Picket	....	craft service (as Kevin Pickett)
Jennifer Porst	....	assistant: Spike Jonze and Vincenzo Landay
Michelle Roderick	....	set production assistant
Richard Schuler	....	location manager (as Rick Schuler)
Howard Shur	....	assistant: Spike Jonze and Vincenzo Landay
Emily Sklar	....	assistant: Ms. Streep
Seve Spracklen	....	production accountant
Rick C. Taplin	....	production coordinator
Carson Turner	....	assistant location manager
Emma Wilcockson	....	production associate
Josue Aguilar	....	set production assistant: Miami (uncredited)
Frank Aragon	....	location scout (uncredited)
Lance Bangs	....	epk director (uncredited)
Sally Ann Brooks	....	adr voice (uncredited)
Scott Fitzgerald	....	location assistant (uncredited)
Liza Gennatiempo	....	set production assistant (uncredited)
Jim Hanna	....	caterer: Hanna Brothers Catering (uncredited)
Jean Hodges	....	food stylist (uncredited)
Doug John	....	intern (uncredited)
Marlene Marks	....	payroll (uncredited)
Michelle Matland	....	assistant: Ann Roth (uncredited)
Peter Moor	....	assistant to actors (uncredited)
Christopher Neil	....	rehearsal advisor (uncredited)
Lloyd Rice	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Sam Spiegel	....	set production assistant (uncredited)
Mark Allan Staubach	....	production assistant (uncredited)
David Torn	....	textures & guitar (uncredited)
Jenni Wieland	....	second assistant production accountant (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 Companies

• Beverly Detroit
• Clinica Estetico
• Good Machine
• Intermedia
• Magnet Productions
• Propaganda Films

Distributors

• 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)
• Independent Films (2003) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Monopole-Pathé (2003) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2003) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Asmik Ace Entertainment (Japan)
• Bac Films (France)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (Argentina)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2003) (Germany) (video)
• Columbia TriStar Italia
• Columbia TriStar (Brazil) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar (Brazil) (VHS)
• LNK Filmes
• Paradise Group (2002) (Russia) (all media)
• Pyramid (Russia)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2003) (Finland) (DVD)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2003) (Finland) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Video (2003) (Netherlands) (video)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (2007) (Finland) (TV)

Special Effects

• 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)

Other Companies

• Astralwerks  soundtrack published by
• Bondelli Precision Driving Team  precision driving
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• 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

Also Known As:

The Orchid Thief (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language, sexuality, some drug use and violent images.

Runtime:

114 min | Turkey:81 min (TV version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Latin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Malaysia:U | Philippines:R-18 | Canada:13+ (Québec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba) | Argentina:13 | 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

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles Center Studios - 450 S. Bixel Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Beverly Detroit

Trivia:

The book-on-tape, which is playing in the background of the orchid thief's van as Meryl Streep and Chris Cooper drive, is shown on the dashboard momentarily. It appears to be "'The Writings of Charles Darwin', as read by Brian O'Kelley". There is no such book, no such audio tape. Brian O'Kelley is the assistant director of this movie.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Charlie Kaufman is sitting in the coffee shop, the menu jumps about on the table between shots.

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...

Movie Connections:

References Suzy Q (1999) (TV)

Soundtrack:

One Part Lullaby

Could you be more Original?

Incredible.

Charlie Kaufman might just be the most genius screenwriter (I daren't say ever) at the moment. I mean, trying to adapt a book for a screenplay, not succeeding, yet in the process writing a screenplay about how you can't seem to adapt this book for a screenplay. Oh yeah, and also being helped by your not existing twin brother, and crediting him as co-writer, and being nominatad for an Oscar together with him.

Is anyone following this?

Kaufman seems to be the master of destroying the line between reality and fiction.

I kind of have a hard time saying anything about this movie, because I don't know what to say. You should just go and say it. There's nothing like it.

If you liked Being John Malkovic you wil definitely love this. If you hated BJM you might still like it. It doesn't have the absurdity and surreality of BJM. The story is just incredibly intelligently written.

Even though the movie is about how Kaufman is unable to adapt this book, he actually succeeds in doing just that in the process.

Jesus, I'm still totally stunned.

Jonze does do a very good job once again. But the direction is just outshined by the story...