Adaptation is one of the best, if not the best, screenplays of the year. It jumps back and forth between four layers—the life of the famous and award-winning screenwriter Charlie Kaufman as he attempts to adapt the book, The Orchid Thief; the story line of book he is adapting, The Orchid Thief, which includes the life of John Laroche; the life of the author of the book, Susan Orlean; and the burgoening writing career of Charlie’s younger and more confident brother, Donald.
All of the characters in these layers are complicated, yet fully developed, and the separate layers they exist on make up a piece of this complete story that, before the ending of the film, converge in on one another, driving each other out of their comfort zones and into a cataclysmic confrontation that will result in being the death of their past selves.
Spike Jonze’ film is definitely quirky but very enjoyable and poignant. The acting is superb by Nicolas Cage (who plays both Charlie and Donald Kaufman); Meryl Streep as Susan Orlean; and the toothless Chris Cooper as the Orchid Thief, John Laroche.
