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Adaptation.

  • 20022002
  • RR
  • 1h 55m
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
190K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,409
457
  • 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
2,409
457
  • 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
    I get it now.
    The first time I saw "Adaptation" I expected something else and walked away severely disappointed. As some of you out there who Private Messaged me in regards to my initial review posted on IMDb might already be aware, I originally gave it a rating of 3.5/5 stars, back when I was frequently contributing to the site. I passed on without much thought, considering it a disappointment and leaving my critique for those who cared to read it.

    It remains the single comment to have generated the most feedback for me. More than "The Passion of the Christ," and more than yes, even my upsetting review of 2003's "Peter Pan" (which seemed to anger the small die-hard fanbase for the film that lurks on these message boards - by the way, I've had to clarify this sentence by adding "for the film" because someone PM'd me yesterday accusing me of implying I have a fanbase on IMDb...no, I am referring to the film's fanbase, so please hold off on the accusations). I digress. In summary I gave "Adaptation" a negative rating and to my surprise, perhaps because I avoided totally slamming the film, the fans responded to me with kind words rather than harsh ones; conceivably they too had initially taken a dislike to the film? I made a daring move. I bought "Adaptation" on DVD for ten bucks, thinking, "I've got nothing to lose." Plus, the front cover looked cool anyway.

    I watched it again (after taking into mind several themes and self-referential layers I had failed to visualize before) and was blown away by the originality and genius of the movie.

    My hugest complaint regarding "Adaptation," originally, was its absurd ending -- I felt it was out of place, silly, and totally anti-climactic. Little did I realize this was the point -- to be a parody of the typical Hollywood blockbuster.

    There are so many underlying jokes, gags and self-references that the film grows better -- like "Back to the Future" -- on each new viewing. You're always finding new stuff.

    I found new respect for Nicolas Cage as an actor after my second viewing of this. I have always liked Cage despite the criticism he receives for being a one-sided actor; here, he proves he's capable of creating two very different human beings out of the same mold. Brilliant, Oscar-worthy stuff.

    All in all I got it wrong the first time. "Adaptation" isn't a film that starts out clever and descends into a messy and stupid finish. Well, actually, it is. But that's the point. I didn't get it before. Now I do.

    If you disliked this film, my advice? Watch it again. It knows a bit more about itself than you probably do. And read up on the message boards here a bit to get a clearer grasp of what's going on if you're totally clueless.

    P.S. I'd like to thank all the people on this site who messaged me in response to my review.
    helpful•439
    119
    • MovieAddict2016
    • Apr 26, 2005

    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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