Adaptation

Adaptation Videos

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Adaptation: Trailer 1

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Adaptation: Official Clip - You Are What You Love

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Adaptation: Official Clip - Charlie Can't Adapt

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Adaptation: Official Clip - Technology vs. Horse

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Adaptation: Official Clip - Wasting McKee's Time

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Adaptation: Official Clip - Sweating at the Meeting

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Adaptation: Official Clip - The Deconstructionist

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Adaptation: Official Clip - Donald's Script Pitch

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Adaptation: Official Clip - Done with Fish

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Adaptation Photos

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Cast & Crew

Nicolas Cage
Charlie Kaufman, Donald Kaufman

Meryl Streep
Susan Orlean

Chris Cooper
John Laroche

Tilda Swinton
Valerie

Cara Seymour
Amelia Kavan

Brian Cox
Robert McKee

Judy Greer
Alice the Waitress

Maggie Gyllenhaal
Caroline

Ron Livingston
Marty Bowen

Jay Tavare
Matthew Osceola

Stephen Tobolowsky
Ranger Steve Neely (scenes deleted)

Peter Jason
Defense Attorney

Curtis Hanson
Orlean's Husband

Spike Jonze
Director

Charlie Kaufman
Screenwriter

Susan Orlean
Writer

Edward Saxon
Producer

Vincent Landay
Producer

Jonathan Demme
Producer

Peter Saraf
Executive Producer

Charlie Kaufman
Executive Producer

Lance Acord
Director of Photography

K.K. Barrett
Production Designer

Eric Zumbrunnen
Film Editor

Gray Marshall
Visual Effects Supervisor

Carter Burwell
Original Music

Casey Storm
Costume Designer

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Critic Reviews for Adaptation

Audience Reviews for Adaptation

• Sep 20, 2020

  If Being John Malkovich introduced us to the creative ideas of Charlie Kaufman and took us (fictionally) into the mind of John Malkovich the actor then Adaptation takes us into the mind of Charlie Kaufman himself. Of course, this is still only fiction and much poetic and artistic license is taken but Kaufman turns the tables onto himself this time and the results are just as creative and enjoyable. He even creates a fictional brother in Donald Kaufman (which the Academy even nominated as a joint writer when the Best Screenplay Oscar was announced). Kaufman is simply a master at creating a story where art imitates life imitating art. It's so cleverly done and effortlessly blurs the lines between fact and fiction such is it's astute and clever construction. Director Spike Jonze, once again, seems to be on the same wave length of Kaufman's ingenuity and the performances are fantastic. Chris Cooper won the Best Supporting Actor award but, in a dual role as Charlie and Donald, this is arguably the best work that Nicolas Cage has ever delivered. Another mind-bending treat from Kaufman.
  Mark W Super Reviewer
• Jul 26, 2020

  I'm reacting the way the world does to movies about making movies about making movies. I mean come on, Charlie Kaufman, some of us have work in the morning, damn. Final rating:★★½ - Not quite for me, but I definitely get the appeal.
  Gimly M Super Reviewer
• Dec 15, 2012

  A triumphantly meta film that takes every opportunity to take a filmic cliche and completely turn it on its head. This is writer Kaufman's movie as much as it is Jonze's, and the duo manage to provoke laughs, pathos, and thought in this surreal dive into the writing psyche, complete with a wonderful dual performance from Nicolas Cage.
  Kase V Super Reviewer
• Sep 30, 2012

  Adaptation is undoubtedly one of the most original films I've ever seen. The films concept is even more genius than Spike Jonze's previous Being John Malkovich. The film follows the real-life writer Charlie Kaufman trying to adapt a book called The Orchid Thief into a screenplay. The screenplay that he ends up writing is the screenplay of this movie. It sounds very confusing, but it really is a genius concept and has to be seen to be believed. All of the performances are great, and the final act is the most exciting (even if it is the most fictitious). I also loved how the film portrays screenwriters as one of the most vital people to the creation of a film yet they are the most overlooked. The beauty of Adaptation is that you have no idea where it's going to go next because the events are being written as the film progresses. The only complaint I have is that the final act is far superior to the rest of the movie, which isn't nearly as interesting. Overall, I cannot stress enough how original Adaptation is.
  

  Kevin M Super Reviewer

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