HEALTH SUTRA : A Unique Lifestyle: Intelligent Movies : ADAPTATION (Must Watch)

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Adaptation. is a 2002 comedy-drama satire film directed by Spike Jonze and written by Charlie Kaufman. The film is based on Susan Orlean's book The Orchid Thief through self-referential events. Adaptation. stars Nicolas Cage (as both Charlie and Donald Kaufman), as well as Meryl Streep, Chris Cooper, Cara Seymour, Brian Cox, Tilda Swinton, Ron Livingston and Maggie Gyllenhaal. The film tells the story of Charlie Kaufman's difficult struggle to adapt The Orchid Thief into a film. In addition Orlean romances with John Laroche while Charlie enlists the help of his obnoxious twin brother Donald.

The film had been in development as far back as 1994. Jonathan Demme brought the project to Columbia Pictures with Kaufman writing the script. Kaufman went through writer's block and did not know what to think of The Orchid Thief. In turn Kaufman wrote a script about his experience adapting The Orchid Thief into a screenplay. Tom Hanks was at one point set for the role of Charlie Kaufman while John Turturro was approached to portray Laroche. Jonze signed to direct and filming finished in June 2001. Adaptation. received positive reviews and critical acclaim, as well as outstanding success at the 75th Academy Awards, 60th Golden Globe Awards and 56th British Academy Film Awards.

Plot

John Laroche and his wife run a successful Florida nursery, but tragedy strikes and Laroche's wife, mother and uncle are involved in a car accident. Laroche's mother and uncle die, but his wife goes into a coma, divorcing Laroche once she gains consciousness. Hurricane Andrew comes one month later, destroying Laroche's home and everything he owns. Meanwhile, local Seminoles hire Laroche due to his vast knowledge of flowers and orchid poaching. However, the Seminoles only use the extract of the Ghost Orchid for drug use, and not for tribal ceremonials as Laroche thought.

Laroche is caught at the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park, ensuing into a trial and catching the interest of New Yorker journalist Susan Orlean. Laroche and Susan become great friends, with Susan writing The Orchid Thief. Laroche and Susan then become romantically involved, while Susan is still married, albeit unhappily, in New York. The Orchid Thief is then optioned by Columbia Pictures.

During the filming of Being John Malkovich, Charlie Kaufman is hired to write the screenplay. At the same time Charlie is going through melancholic depression and his obnoxious twin brother Donald moves into his house. Donald decides to become a screenwriter like Charlie, and visits the seminars of Robert McKee. Charlie wants to adapt the script into a faithful adaptation of The Orchid Thief, hoping to impress Susan. However, he realizes that there is no narrative involved and finds it impossible to turn the book into a film, going through a serious case of writer's block.

Meanwhile, Donald's spec script for a cliché psychological thriller sells for over one million dollars, while Charlie accidentally starts writing his script with self-reference. Already well over his deadline with Columbia Pictures, Charlie (from Los Angeles, California) visits Susan in New York for advice on the screenplay. In New York Charlie finds that he is not courageous enough to meet Susan, leaving without consulting with her. Charlie visits a McKee seminar in New York, gaining advice from McKee, and bringing Donald to assist with the story structure. Donald suggests having sex, a car chase and drugs for the climax. Charlie and Donald follow Susan to Florida where she meets Laroche. The film indeed ends with Susan and Laroche taking the Ghost Orchid drug, having sex, a car chase involving Susan and Charlie and with Donald being shot and killed, and Laroche getting eaten alive by an alligator. His writer's block broken, Charlie finally summons up the courage to tell his former girlfriend, Amelia, that he is in love with her. He finishes his script, with Gérard Depardieu in mind to portray him in the film.

Cast

Nicolas Cage portrays Charlie and Donald Kaufman through trick photography

Nicolas Cage as
- Charlie Kaufman: A screenwriter going through melancholic depression and writer's block who is hired to write a script for The Orchid Thief. He is afraid to kiss his girlfriend Amelia. Charlie has failed romances with Susan, Valerie and Alice the Waitress.
- Donald Kaufman: Charlie's obnoxious brother. Donald has failed at various get-rich-quick-schemes in the past and decides to become a screenwriter like Charlie. Donald visits the seminars of Robert McKee and writes a cliché psychological thriller spec script titled The Thr3e. Marty sells the script to a studio and Donald is set to be a millionaire before he's killed in the climax.
Meryl Streep as Susan Orlean: A journalist and author from The New Yorker. She is fascinated by Laroche's trial in Florida and intends to write a piece about it. She becomes romantically involved with Laroche.
Chris Cooper as John Laroche: An eccentric orchid poacher working for the local Seminole Indian tribe. Laroche considers himself "the smartest man I know" and has a unique knowledge of Charles Darwin, fossils and flowers. He lost his front teeth after a car accident wherein his mother and uncle were killed. His ex-wife divorced him after waking up from a coma. Laroche also ran a successful porn website before being killed by an alligator.
Cara Seymour as Amelia Kavan: A violinist and Charlie's girlfriend. She leaves him for a man named David after her unsuccessful relationship with Charlie. In the end, Charlie finally summons the courage to tell her that he loves her. She admits that she loves him, too.
Brian Cox as Robert McKee: A creative writing instructor who is widely known for his popular "Story Seminar". McKee is heavily against voice-overs and considers Casablanca (1942) to be the finest screenplay ever written.
Tilda Swinton as Valerie Thomas: A studio executive from Columbia Pictures whom Charlie is attracted to. Valerie is the one who hires Charlie to write the script.
Ron Livingston as Marty Bowen: Charlie's obnoxious agent who personally suggest Charlie to get help from Donald when writing The Orchid Thief.
Maggie Gyllenhaal as Caroline Cunningham: A make-up artist and Donald's girlfriend.
Judy Greer as Alice: A waitress at the local café where Charlie often dines. Charlie tries to ask her out on a date.

Tom Hanks was originally set for the double role of Charlie and Donald Kaufman, while Variety was convinced Donald was a real person.^[1] Cage took the role for a $5 million salary,^[2] and wore a fatsuit during filming.^[3] Streep previously expressed dire interest in the role before being cast,^[2] and took a salary cut in recognition of the film's budget.^[4] John Turturro was approached to portray John Laroche.^[5] Cooper heavily considered turning down Laroche, but accepted it after his wife's persistence.^[6] Albert Finney, Christopher Plummer, Terence Stamp and Michael Caine were considered for the role of Robert McKee, but McKee personally suggested Brian Cox towards the filmmakers.^[7]

Litefoot and Jay Tavare have small roles as Seminole Indians. Catherine Keener, John Malkovich, Lance Acord and Spike Jonze have uncredited cameos as themselves in scenes where Charlie Kaufman is on the set of Being John Malkovich. John Cusack filmed a cameo before it was deleted from the final cut of the film.^[8] More cameos include Doug Jones as Augustus Raymond Margary for a small scene when Susan fantasizes about the history of orchid poaching, Jim Beaver as Ranger Tony and David O. Russell as a New Yorker journalist.