Let's be realistic.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

How I miss director Spike Jonze these days. After "Being John Malkovich", "Adaptation", "Where the wild things are" and "HER" (2013) he hasnt made any new movies. And his movies are so extraordinary funny,human and weird that I just wish he gets another chance to direct a feature film.He only directs music videos now from Lady Gaga, Kanye West to the Beastie Boys. I cant really tell anything about the story of "Adaptation" because it is such a bizarre and clever maze. And it would spoil part of the fun too. The mystery of the film depends partly on not knowing what is going to happen, although you can see it several times and still be charmed because the characters of Meryl Streep and Nicholas Cage are so human and loveable despite all their shortcomings. If you love struggling selfhating characters, like Woody Allen who fail at everything, then you will probably like the character of Nicholas Cage too, who plays an excellent role in hating himself constantly. Meryl Streep is always at her best in any movie. And this movie let's these two terrific actors collide in ways you just couldnt imagine.It is tongue in cheek and funny as hell.There are no obvious jokes here. But the characters shortcomingings are so humorously depicted that feelings like loneliness and self hatred can be laughed about loud in a forgiving way.This movie has got a heart. And it is a really a warm feelgood movie however painful and deplorable the self hatred is! You just love to see Nicholas Cage hate himself so much. That's an achievement on itself.Spike Jonze's best work. A new classic.Winner of the Golden Globe, the Oscar and dozens of other awards worldwide.Brilliant!

...but I don't. I have seen every Kaufman written movie Adaptation. and on, excluding Confessions of a Dangerous Mind. And I have loved every single one and they are all 10/10 perfect movies in my mind. Synecdoche, New York being my favorite film of all time.But something didn't work here. And after re-watching it one more time I think I got it. You see, all the parts with Charlie Kaufman as a struggling writer and writing the story as it goes are some of the best Kaufman stuff ever made. And the third act perfectly ties things together by letting everything that Kaufman didn't want to happen, happen. And its awful/great. But every single time it cut back to Meryl Streep in The Orchid Thief I found myself utterly bored. None of these parts seemed that integral to Kaufman's plot, so I wonder why he bothered by having them in this movie this much. I have never been this disappointed in a writer. The movie is great, but it focuses on the wrong things.

Originality, how much do we see it in modern cinema not much right? Well, Adaptation is one original film and one I will never forget. Spike Jonze has an incredible career with movies like Her, Where the Wild Things Are and Being John Malkovich. Mr. Jonze has also collaborated with an incredible screenwriter Charlie Kaufmann he has done scripts for films like Being John Malkovich, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and of course Adaptation. Both of this gentleman received an Academy Award. Adaptation is their second collaboration, what can I say this movie is one of the greatest movies of all time. The plot consists of the struggles of a writer to adapt a book. You may not be interested in the movie whatsoever neither was I until one close friend of mine recommended it to me, saw it and loved it. Nicholas Cage plays Charlie Kaufmann weird right? Nicholas Cage has an interesting career he has made good films and some bad, but we can't deny he is a great actor, he also plays Charlie Kaufmann's brother Donald (Donald is not the real brother of Charlie Kaufmann he isn't even real). Nicholas Cage gives, Meryl Streep plays Susan Orlean the writer of the book Charlie Kaufmann is trying to adapt and Chris Cooper plays John Laroche the love interest and character of Susan Orleans The Orchid Thief. All of this actors gave an award worthy performance, one of the actors Chris Cooper won the Academy Award for this movie. What this movie accomplishes the most is the script written by Charlie Kaufmann it is a fantastic script we believe the characters intentions their desire, their emotions. The editing, directing, and cinematography are fantastic, Spike Jonze and his crew made this movie a blast! This movie breaks the three act structure a method that if used well can give fantastic results. Overall Adaptation is worth a watch it is a movie for aspiring screenwriters and movie lovers go and watch it it's on Netflix.

Reviewed August 2011I am bowled over. No words to describe Charlie Kauffman's imagination and vision. I thought 'Being John Malkovich' was the craziest one can go, the same man behind it tops it in a couple of years. Credit should also go to the director, editor and a string of talented actors who give their best for transferring this complex multi layered script to the screen devotedly. I can think of 2 reasons why Charlie Kauffman did not win the Oscar. 1) Jury didn't know whether to look at it as original or adapted screenplay. 2) Charlie Kauffman took help from an imaginary Donald Kauffman. I am not sure how to put a brief synopsis of this movie like I do in most reviews, let me give it a try. Charlie Kauffman (Nicolas Cage) is stuck in a writer's block after he was asked to adapt a non- fiction book 'The Orchid Thief' about experiences of the author Susan Orlean (Meryl Streep) with a plant enthusiast John Laroche (Chris Cooper). David Kauffman, a little dimwit yet relaxed identical twin of Charlie comes to stay with him and also planning to write a mass thriller. Charlie out of last resort plans to take help from his brother to finish the script. It definitely brings to mind two other movies though this is completely fresh, 'Stranger than Fiction' and 'Being John Malkovich'. Meryl Streep sleepwalks the role in her good way, Nicolas Cage's character resembles a bit of Craig Schwartz and he does a terrific job. Chris Cooper deserves the Oscar all the way. I would've given it a 100% had the climax not dragged a bit. The narration is mostly thoughts of the writer, he contradicts his thought process and seconds it back and forth through out. It was an amazing experience sitting through this and would definitely look forward to more of Charlie Kauffman's work. If you have not seen this one yet, you should. There aren't many like this.