Adaptation

by Charlie Kaufman and Robert McKee

Book Overview

One of the most talked about scripts of the year, Adaptation is the story of an orchid collector (Chris Cooper), a journalist (Meryl Streep, as author Susan Orlean), and the screenwriter (Charlie Kaufman, played by Nicolas Cage) who, in adapting Orlean's bestselling book The Orchid Thief, writes himself and his twin brother (also played by Cage) into the movie.

In the foreword, written exclusively for this Newmarket edition, Orlean reveals...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1557045119
• ISBN13: 9781557045119
• Release Date: December 2002
• Publisher: Dey Street Books
• Length: 168 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.9" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Beautifully done

I have not yet read 'The Orchid Theif', and as such am in a good position to comment on the greatness of this movie in stand-alone form. Charlie Kaufman is a brilliant screenwriter - and Adaptation is a masterpiece. The point he has tried to make in adapting 'The Orchid Theif' to screenplay is that if he were to adapt the book in it's original form, it would not 'make it' in the movie industry without any cliched Hollywood moments (scandal, sex, murder etc..). A movie built solely on 'flowers' would not grab the audience's attention and keep them interested. This point is further reinforced by the fact that Charlie's twin, Donald produces his first screenplay using the exact cliches Charlie has been trying to avoid - but his script is deemed a masterpiece! In Charlie's script, he pieces together parts of 'The Orchid Theif' (presented in the most beautiful way - Merryl Streep is superb in this role!), with pieces of his own tormented life. The end result, is a movie about making a movie about adapting a book to a movie. Confused? Watch it with no expectations, and you will be pleasantly suprised at how much you enjoy Adaptation.

It's About The Process!

First and foremost, I would have to say that this is one of my favorite movies. Charlie Kaufman really knows how to write such a compelling and remarkable movie. Second, many people have this misconception that ther movie was supposed to be based on the novel "The Orchid Thief". What people fail to realize is that once a screenwriter is hired to adapt a novel, it is their job to write the screenplay in dramatic screen form. In ther movie, if people paid closer attention, Kaufman was clearly trying to illustrate the problems of adapting such a beautiful novel without risking authenticity because of pressures from mainstream Hollywood. Although the film turns out to be a bit autobiographical, Kaufman still manages to remain close to the general theme of the novel which is how we are all trying to adapt to our surroundings(hence the title-"Adaptation"), Either way, Kaufman still manages to show the intricate nature of the orchids, and how they serve as a symbol to the characters that embody the movie. Not to be too analytical, the script/movie is still great. Don't take my word for it, just watch it for youself.

This is about a screenplay.. not a book.

Adaptation by Charlie Kaufman (film dir. by Spike Jonze) is like the name might imply, about adaptation. Many critics of this script complain that it is a failure of Suzanne Orlean's novel "The Orchid Thief" but I disagree. The first point to make I've already said: it's about adapting a book. Now, there are plenty of references to the orchid thief, and this script is inexticably linked with the book, but the novel, as Kaufman says in the movie "is a beautiful book about flowers... I just want to make a movie about flowers" (not an actual quote, but it's kinda' close to what he says throughout). The script constantly praises the novel, but the movie is really about what it takes to write a screenplay, and is therefore almost more of a creative work than an actual adaptation. As such, the screenplay is excellent. It is witty, careful, and through many twists and turns, becomes the very item that it claims, maybe even strives, to not be: a product of hollywood. What makes this movie more than a car-chase-sex-scene-drugs-love-insert-archetypical-theme-here kinda' movie is the fact that Kaufman's writing is brilliant. He tastefully inserts every single hollywood cliche from theme song to personal struggle into the film in a way that won't make you puke. Instead of being a lame rehash, adaptation leaves the viewer wondering what it really was that just took place. The story is well-paced, characters are stongly developed, and plot twists don't feel thrown in at the last moment: you feel that this could honestly happen, at least most of the time. While it strays significantly from the orchid thief, the script stands well on its own two legs, slinking through the plot in a way that will have you before you even realize it, then turns you on your head. Both the book and script are great literary works, but, even with their strong kinship, it's best to view them separately than attack the latter for it's liberal use of the former.

"You are what you love, not what loves you..."

"Adaptation" is one of the most creative and original scripts that I have read in a long time. I actually bought this before seeing the film, which told me that I had a lot of faith in the fact that the film would be more than extraordinary. I was right and I read the script the day after seeing the movie.Charlie Kaufman wants to adapt Susan Orlean's "The Orchid Thief" into a movie script. He wants to create something that is true to the book and doesn't have to include numerous chase scenes, violence, sex, drugs, or nudity to have it appeal to the public. The only problem is that Kaufman is having trouble in trying to adapt it and comes across a major case of writer's block. He ends up writing himself into the script and it turns into a screenplay that is about him trying to adapt the book into a movie. That is only part of this off-the-wall and unpredictable script.The screenplay is written by Charlie Kaufman; the man who wrote "Being John Malkovitch." The dialogue and characters are really excellent. There are numerous parts that you'll want to re-read over and over again. You actually find yourself repeating some of the lines because once they get into your head, they stay in there for a long time. This is really something you should consider purchasing if you loved the film. As subtle and off-beat the film is, you miss certain things and pick up on them later after further evaluation.The screenplay also includes a foreword by Susan Orlean, a critical commentary by Robert McKee, and an interview with Charlie Kaufman and Spike Jonze. They all really give you an interesting look into the film. There are also b & w photos from the movie as well."Adaptation" is a fantastic script that I enjoyed reading, and even read it for a second and third time. If you love a good screenplay and loved the movie, this is a worthy purchase to make.