Synopses & Reviews
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 her own struggle to tell the story of the orchid, and her delight that “strangely, marvelously, hilariously, Kaufman's screenplay has ended up not being a literal Adaptation of my book, but a spiritual one.”
In a fascinating interview, Kaufman and Jonze take readers behind the scenes of Adaptation and their other films to speak about how they collaborate, where truth and fiction diverge, the challenges of balancing various storylines, why they do not like to comment on the meaning of their work, and Kaufman's approach to writing:"I try to write in the midst of confusion and be strong enough to stay there, rather than swim to the shore of some kind of conclusion."
Finally, screenwriting guru Robert McKee's commentary attempts to analyze Kaufman's work, identifying many of his themes including "that grand twentieth-century preoccupation with the Self."
In the acclaimed Newmarket Shooting Script series format, the book includes the complete screenplay, Orlean's foreword, the interview with Kaufman and Jonze, McKee's critical commentary, 24 black-and-white stills, and cast and crew credits.
Review
"Smart, inventive, passionate and rip-roaringly funny. An altogether remarkable movie from the creators of Being John Malkovich. (****)" Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
Review
"Adaptation is fantastic, in every sense of that word. (****)" Glenn Kenny, Premiere
Review
"Adaptation is the best movie of the year." Andrew Sarris, The New York Observer
Synopsis
From the director and writer of
Being John Malkovich a film by Spike Jonze, starring Nicolas Cage and Meryl Streep, from a screenplay by Charlie and Donald Kaufman about the adaptation of the bestselling book
The Orchid Thief an exciting new filmbook in the Newmarket Shooting Script® series.
This latest head trip from director Spike Jonze (Being John Malkovich) concerns 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 Susan Orlean's book The Orchid Thief, writes himself into the movie. The Orchid Thief tells the story of a Florida man who schemes to clone the "ghost orchid" and sell it to people all over the world who are struck with orchidelirium, the obsession with collecting rare orchids at any price.
Adaptation: The Shooting Script® includes the complete screenplay, a selection of 20 black-and-white movie stills, commentaries by Susan Orlean and Robert McKee, an interview with director Spike Jonze and screenwriter Kaufman, as well as an introduction by Charlie Kaufman.
About the Author
Charlie Kaufman previously collaborated with director Spike Jonze on Being John Malkovich, which was nominated for the Academy Award® for Best Screenplay. Kaufman's other scripts include Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Human Nature, and Confessions of a Dangerous Mind. Robert McKee teaches his 3Story Structure2 class annually to sold out auditoriums in Los Angeles, New York, London and film capitals throughout the world. A Fulbright Scholar, this award-winning film and television writer has also served as project and talent development consultant to major production companies such as Tri-Star and Golden Harvest Films. He lives in Los Angeles and Cornwall, England.