adam-may-bower
'Adaptation.' is one of the most original films I have recently viewed. Led by a (surprisingly) strong act by Nicolas Cage and supported by the always-brilliant Meryl Streep, 'Adaptation.' proudly stands out from the rest of modern day films, thanks to it's brilliant writing by Charlie Kaufman. By writing a film essentially about yourself, and your struggle to adapt a book into a film, 'Adaptation.' almost feels like a biography of Kaufman, and throughout the whole film you wonder to yourself if this actually happened. Is this what Kaufman went through while writing this movie? Despite it's brilliant writing, the film tended to feel quite dull and muddled within the first half of the film and even Cage's acting seemed unimpressive, and it was only when it had forty minutes left that it really picks itself up. You realise Cage's brilliance of acting while the pieces of the movie all come together. By then, the brilliance of the movie is realised and you leave knowing you watched a great film. However, the movie leads up to a great climax that never really occurs. While the ending of the movie is still a great one, it is not as spectacular as it builds up to be. I watched this film primarily for the reason of it starring Tilda Swinton, and although she was unfortunately only in a few scenes, I thoroughly enjoyed this movie.
dwolf77
Charlie Kaufman is one of the best screenwriters of all time. In this film, he manages to write a movie about writing a movie, along with writing a movie about a book. He writes so elegantly about the process of screenwriting, and shows the many struggles and frustrations it presents. Every single performance is incredbile. Meryl Streep is fantastic, as is Chris Cooper, and Nicholas Cage gives one of the best perfoamnces I have seen in a very long time. He portrays both Donald and Charlie Kaufman (forgot to mention that Charlie Kaufman wrote himself as the main character of the film because it is about Charlie Kaufman trying to write a film and running into writer's block), and gives an incredbily nuanced and subtle performance, ensuring you can tell the identical twin brothers (Donald Kaufman being ficitious), apart. The film's ending goes against all of Charlie Kaufman's beliefs about what good screenwriting is, and that's the point. The end of the film includes a car chase, sex, guns, and pointless action, all the clichés Charlie Kaufman despises, yet he did this on purpose, more as a satirical statement on Hollywood than a serious ending. The ending also shows that maybe Charlie Kaufman's desire to be an intellectual and thought-provoking writer can only work for two thirds of a film when adapting a book like The Orchid Thief, but can't necessarily create a third act, because there isn't really a story to tell. Adaptaion is one of the most original, hilarous, and thought-provoking films I have ever seen. It's a must watch.
sakram
It doesn't have to be some action movie, some obvious drama, or some comedy to lead you into liking a movie. My friend told me, "Hey this is a good old, well it's underrated, please grab a sheet note and write down everything you notice, and focus.". And so I did, I noticed many, many things no one else without the slightest concentration would know. It really would seem pointless if you watch it mindlessly.This is a movie for grown-ups, who will to give their all to understand such a genuine and original movie. Give it a try.7/10
TheHaratashi .
What a waste of time and a waste of NC's talent. This role didn't fit NC at all. He just wasn't believable in this role of playing, or should I say over playing, a pathetic socially timid dufus. The movie itself was boring as can be and I didn't care about any of the characters. It's ironic that NC goes to a writing seminar in the movie - I think the people that wrote this movie should have gone to a writing seminar. It's boring, slow, dumb, and about as uninteresting as it can get. Awful movie from every angle.
AD
