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Adaptation.

  • 20022002
  • RR
  • 1h 55m
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
190K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,952
242
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Adaptation. (2002)
Trailer 2
Play trailer2:28
3 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Comedy
  • Drama

A lovelorn screenwriter becomes desperate as he tries and fails to adapt 'The Orchid Thief' by Susan Orlean for the screen.A lovelorn screenwriter becomes desperate as he tries and fails to adapt 'The Orchid Thief' by Susan Orlean for the screen.A lovelorn screenwriter becomes desperate as he tries and fails to adapt 'The Orchid Thief' by Susan Orlean for the screen.

IMDb RATING
7.7/10
190K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,952
242
  • Director
    • Spike Jonze
  • Writers
    • Susan Orlean(book "The Orchid Thief")
    • Charlie Kaufman(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Nicolas Cage
    • Meryl Streep
    • Chris Cooper
Top credits
  • Director
    • Spike Jonze
  • Writers
    • Susan Orlean(book "The Orchid Thief")
    • Charlie Kaufman(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Nicolas Cage
    • Meryl Streep
    • Chris Cooper
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 783User reviews
    • 108Critic reviews
    • 83Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 65 wins & 100 nominations total

    Videos3

    Adaptation.
    Trailer 2:28
    Adaptation.
    Adaptation.
    Trailer 2:32
    Adaptation.
    Adaptation.
    Trailer 2:26
    Adaptation.

    Photos153

    Nicolas Cage in Adaptation. (2002)
    Meryl Streep in Adaptation. (2002)
    Nicolas Cage (center) plays Charlie Kaufman, a stymied writer who seeks advice from screenwriting guru Robert McKee, in Columbia Pictures' unconventional comedy Adaptation.
    Nicolas Cage and Brian Cox in Adaptation. (2002)
    Twin-brothers Donald, left, and Charlie Kaufman (both played by Nicolas Cage) travel across the country in their attempt to unlock the mysteries of The Orchid Thief.
    Twin-brothers Donald, right, and Charlie Kaufman (both played by Nicolas Cage) are both trying to write a new screenplay.
    When screenwriter Charlie Kaufman (Nicolas Cage) tries to adapt The Orchid Thief to the screen, he develops a serious case of writer's block.
    Chris Cooper, who plays orchid thief John Laroche, will go to any lengths to find rare species of the flower.
    Twin-brothers Charlie, left, and Donald Kaufman (both played by Nicolas Cage) couldn't be less alike.
    There is no limit to John Laroche's (Chris Cooper) passion for orchids.
    Nicolas Cage in Adaptation. (2002)
    Of twin-brothers Donald, left, and Charlie Kaufman (both played by Nicolas Cage), guess which one is the life of the party.

    Top cast

    Edit
    Nicolas Cage
    Nicolas Cage
    • Charlie Kaufmanas Charlie Kaufman…
    Meryl Streep
    Meryl Streep
    • Susan Orleanas Susan Orlean
    Chris Cooper
    Chris Cooper
    • John Larocheas John Laroche
    Tilda Swinton
    Tilda Swinton
    • Valerie Thomasas Valerie Thomas
    Jay Tavare
    Jay Tavare
    • Matthew Osceolaas Matthew Osceola
    Litefoot
    Litefoot
    • Russellas Russell
    • (as G. Paul Davis)
    Roger Willie
    Roger Willie
    • Randyas Randy
    Jim Beaver
    Jim Beaver
    • Ranger Tonyas Ranger Tony
    Cara Seymour
    Cara Seymour
    • Amelia Kavanas Amelia Kavan
    Doug Jones
    Doug Jones
    • Augustus Margaryas Augustus Margary
    Stephen Tobolowsky
    Stephen Tobolowsky
    • Ranger Steve Neelyas Ranger Steve Neely
    • (scenes deleted)
    Gary Farmer
    Gary Farmer
    • Buster Baxleyas Buster Baxley
    Peter Jason
    Peter Jason
    • Defense Attorneyas Defense Attorney
    Gregory Itzin
    Gregory Itzin
    • Prosecutoras Prosecutor
    Curtis Hanson
    Curtis Hanson
    • Orlean's Husbandas Orlean's Husband
    Agnes NaDene Baddoo
    • Orlean Dinner Guestas Orlean Dinner Guest
    • (as Agnes Badoo)
    Paul Fortune
    Paul Fortune
    • Orlean Dinner Guestas Orlean Dinner Guest
    Paul Jasmin
    • Orlean Dinner Guestas Orlean Dinner Guest
    • Director
      • Spike Jonze
    • Writers
      • Susan Orlean(book "The Orchid Thief")
      • Charlie Kaufman(screenplay)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    While his latest movie Being John Malkovich (1999) is in production, screenwriter Charlie Kaufman is hired by Valerie Thomas to adapt Susan Orlean's non-fiction book "The Orchid Thief" for the screen. Thomas bought the movie rights before Orlean wrote the book, when it was only an article in The New Yorker. The book details the story of rare orchid hunter John Laroche, whose passion for orchids and horticulture made Orlean discover passion and beauty for the first time in her life. Charlie wants to be faithful to the book in his adaptation, but despite Laroche himself being an interesting character in his own right, Charlie is having difficulty finding enough material in Laroche to fill a movie, while equally not having enough to say cinematically about the beauty of orchids. At the same time, Charlie is going through other issues in his life. His insecurity as a person doesn't allow him to act upon his feelings for Amelia Kavan, who is interested in him as a man. And Charlie's twin brother, pretentious Donald, has moved into his house with a goal of also becoming a screenwriter. Despite not admiring Donald as a screenwriter, Charlie asks for his advice. Together, they feel that there is some interesting subtext in the book on which Orlean herself can only elaborate, if only Charlie has the nerve to talk to her. If she can't or won't elaborate, they may have to find out the meaning of that subtext on their own. —Huggo
    • loneliness
    • thief
    • twin
    • writing
    • magical realism
    • 126 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • From the creator of Being John Malkovich, comes the story about the creator of Being John Malkovich.
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Drama
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for language, sexuality, some drug use and violent images
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      To portray John La Roche, Chris Cooper grew out his hair, shed weight and used a prosthesis to create the illusion of a toothless mouth. Spike Jonze granted Cooper's request for numerous takes so he could find the right tone for the eccentric character.
    • Goofs
      At the end of the film when Charlie pulls out of the parking garage, crew member Jennifer Porst sits next to him in the car for a single shot, though he is riding alone.
    • Quotes

      Charlie Kaufman: There was this time in high school. I was watching you out the library window. You were talking to Sarah Marsh.

      Donald Kaufman: Oh, God. I was so in love with her.

      Charlie Kaufman: I know. And you were flirting with her. And she was being really sweet to you.

      Donald Kaufman: I remember that.

      Charlie Kaufman: Then, when you walked away, she started making fun of you with Kim Canetti. And it was like they were laughing at *me*. You didn't know at all. You seemed so happy.

      Donald Kaufman: I knew. I heard them.

      Charlie Kaufman: How come you looked so happy?

      Donald Kaufman: I loved Sarah, Charles. It was mine, that love. I owned it. Even Sarah didn't have the right to take it away. I can love whoever I want.

      Charlie Kaufman: But she thought you were pathetic.

      Donald Kaufman: That was her business, not mine. You are what you love, not what loves you. That's what I decided a long time ago.

    • Crazy credits
      "We're all one thing, Lieutenant. That's what I've come to realize. Like cells in a body. 'Cept we can't see the body. The way fish can't see the ocean. And so we envy each other. Hurt each other. Hate each other. How silly is that? A heart cell hating a lung cell." - Cassie from THE THREE
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: The Best Films of 2002 (2003)
    • Soundtracks
      One Part Lullaby
      Written by John Davis, Lou Barlow and Wally Gagel

      Published by Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc. o/b/o itself, Endless Soft Hits, Loobiecore and Blisswg Productions

      Performed by The Folk Implosion

      Courtesy of Interscope Records

      Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

    User reviews783

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    A Guide on "How To Write A Screenplay" and "How to Live Life"
    Jonze and Kaufman have pulled it off again. Witty, surreal, brilliant, inventive, amazing and most of all; the most inspirational film I have ever seen. One of the best and definitive films of the 21st Century.

    Nicolas Cage has two parts in this film, Charlie Kaufman and Donald Kaufman, twin brothers. Both screen writers. Charlie is writing a screenplay based on a book called "The Orchid Thief" {a real book}. But nothing happens in it. He is finding it hard to stay true to the book when there's no events in the book. Writer's block. Meanwhile, Donald is storming through his screenplay which is about a serial killer with split personalities – a theme regularly used in cinema today. This is a take on how and why there are so many teen horrors with crappy ideas, while films that would appeal to a smaller audience are harder to conjure. During the course of Adaptation. we see Charlie's screenplay "The Orchid Thief" showing as it would if it became a film, featuring the author; Susan Orlean (Meryl Streep) and the books protagonist, John Laroche (Chris Cooper).

    Charlie Kaufman {the character} is one of the most relatable characters in cinema for me. He too is looking for inspiration, something to help achieve his dreams, but he can't seem to find it. He waits for something to come and change his life for the good but never takes the opportunity. He worries about the most insignificant things that aren't life-changing. But the difference to me and Kaufman, is that he finds the way. In the end he has learnt his lesson and learnt how to live life. I am going to take the same advice. His narration gives us a very detailed guide of his feelings and thoughts.

    Nic Cage gives a redeeming performance and one of the best of his career as both Charlie and Donald. They are very different personality-wise, Charlie being nervous and frustrated, while Donald is almost too upbeat about everything. His chemistry with himself is incredible its hard to believe they are the same. Chris Cooper delivers an Oscar winning performance, and it sure was worthy. Very fun character, taking away his seriousness whenever he should be serious. Meryl Streep is also flawless, giving a performance which she shows her moods appropriate to the scene.

    Spike Jonze gives us a very interesting directional view. With a lot of tie-in's with Being John Malkovich (his previous film) to show us his own little world, where anything can happen. There are also a lot of tie-in's with the film itself in which Kaufman comes up with an idea for the script in the film, when it actually happens in this film (while his ideas are for "The Orchid Thief"). And, of course, there is the strange factor in which Charlie Kaufman has included himself in his screenplay… and in the film, the character Charlie Kaufman has included himself in his own screenplay. It is truly hard to believe how Kaufman comes up with this stuff.

    This may lack the dark style of "Being John Malkovich", but they are in the same world. Don't miss this moving comedy and hilarious drama. I can't help but get lost in its wonder.

    10/10
    helpful•87
    19
    • Sergeant_Tibbs
    • May 12, 2007

    FAQ2

    • Is Donald imaginary and an aspect of Charlie's multiple personality disorder?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 14, 2003 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Sony Pictures
    • Languages
      • English
      • Latin
    • Also known as
      • The Orchid Thief
    • Filming locations
      • Santa Barbara, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Beverly Detroit
      • Clinica Estetico
      • Good Machine
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $19,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $22,498,520
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $384,478
      • Dec 8, 2002
    • Gross worldwide
      • $32,801,173
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 55 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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