Adaptation. (2002) on Netflix
Screenwriter Charlie Kaufman is hired to adapt Susan Orlean's The Orchid Thief, a book he cannot find a way into. His twin Donald moves in and writes scripts of his own.
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- IMDb7.6/10214,629 votes
- Rotten Tomatoes90%
Trailer
Plot summary
Valerie Thomas acquires the film rights to Susan Orlean's The Orchid Thief while it is still a New Yorker article and hires screenwriter Charlie Kaufman to adapt it. The book tells of John Laroche, a rare orchid hunter, and the passion he has for the plants he pursues. Charlie hopes to stay true to the book, but he cannot find a usable narrative in it and is already past his deadline. Donald, his twin, has moved into Charlie's home and attends seminars by Robert McKee, wanting to write screenplays as well. Charlie also cannot bring himself to tell Amelia Kavan how he feels, and he heads to New York to talk the script over with Orlean in person.
Cast
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Did you know?!Facts and trivia about Adaptation. (2002)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- Screenwriter Charlie Kaufman invented a fictional twin brother, Donald, credited him as co-writer of Adaptation, and dedicated the finished film to him even though Donald never existed.
- Nicolas Cage turned down the role of Norman Osborn, the Green Goblin, in Spider-Man in favour of this film; he took the part for a $5 million salary and wore a fatsuit during filming.
- Sent the screenplay for approval, Orlean strongly opposed the making of the film: reading it was “a complete shock”, she said in 2012, and her first reaction was “Absolutely not!” She ended up reluctantly approving production and was ultimately very impressed by the result.
- Kaufman knew there was no way his idea would be approved if he pitched it, so he simply wrote the script and never told the people he was writing it for; the only person he told was Spike Jonze, who had seen how frustrated he was while they made Being John Malkovich.
- Chris Cooper nearly turned down the role of John Laroche in Adaptation and only accepted after his wife urged him to; Albert Finney, Christopher Plummer, Terence Stamp and Michael Caine were all considered to play Robert McKee before McKee himself recommended Brian Cox.
