Adaptation ★★★½ 2002 (R) Quirky but highly entertaining comedy about blocked L.A. screenwriter Charlie Kaufman (Cage), hired to adapt author Susan Orlean's (Streep) book "The Orchid Thief." The book recounts the story of John Laroche (Cooper), one of a breed of orchid-obsessed con men who schemes to steal the desirable plants from the Florida Everglades. At a loss as to how to treat the story, the neurotic Charlie becomes obsessed with Orlean, gazing at her picture while his lesser twin brother Donald (also Cage), breezily announces the sales of his own million dollar screenplay, which he wrote after one seminar. Meanwhile, Orlean travels to Florida to interview the gap-toothed Laroche and begins her own minor obsession. Plot twists keep you on your toes right down to the surprise ending. Cage is at his best as the twin writers, while Streep shows off her comic chops and Cooper turns in a career-making performance. Deftly directed by Jonze. 114m/C VHS, DVD. US Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep, Chris Cooper, Tilda Swinton, Cara Seymour, Brian Cox, Judy Greer, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Ron Livingston, Stephen Tobolowsky, Jay Tavare, Litefoot, Gary Farmer, Peter Jason, Curtis Hanson;
Director:
Spike Jonze;
Writer:
Charlie Kaufman;
Writer:
Lance Acord;
Cameo:
Carter Burwell. Oscars '02: Support. Actor (Cooper); British Acad. '02: Adapt. Screenplay; Golden Globes '03: Support. Actor (Cooper), Support. Actress (Streep); L.A. Film Critics '02: Support. Actor (Cooper); Natl. Bd. of Review '02: Screenplay, Support. Actor (Cooper); N.Y. Film Critics '02: Screenplay.
