Before 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind', Charlie Kaufman Made This 90%-Rated Surreal Gem

In 2004, Charlie Kaufman gave the world Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, one of the most poignant movies about love and memory. Two years earlier, he created a lesser-known film that is every bit as brilliant as its celebrated sibling.

Spike Jonze's 2002 surreal masterpiece Adaptation was written by Kaufman. Here, Nicolas Cage delivers one of the best performances of his career, playing two characters: Charlie and his twin brother, Donald.

What Is 'Adaptation' About?

Renowned screenwriter Charlie Kaufman is adapting Susan Orlean's book The Orchid Thief. The novel recounts the tale of horticulturist John Laroche, who hunted rare orchids and attempted to clone them.

However, Kaufman finds himself at a creative impasse: he doesn't know how to turn the story into a film, and he is plagued by panic attacks, anxiety, and depression. Desperate, he begins writing a screenplay about his own failures.

His twin brother Donald also appears and unlike Charlie, Donald easily writes screenplays based on Hollywood templates. Gradually, reality and fiction intertwine, and the characters from the adaptation begin to interact with Kaufman himself.

In 'Adaptation', Nicolas Cage Gives One of His Strongest Performances, Playing Twins

One of the main reasons why Adaptation is still considered a masterpiece is Nicolas Cage's performance. He plays two roles: brothers Charlie and Donald Kaufman.

Charlie is a tormented, insecure perfectionist who suffers from insomnia and panic attacks. Donald is his complete opposite: a confident, carefree, successful screenwriter who writes according to Hollywood standards.

Cage accurately conveys the multifaceted nature of the brilliant screenwriter and masterfully crafts the character of his twin.

The movie shows how creative blocks can become art – Kaufman failed to adapt a book but created a screenplay about that failure. This meta-irony transforms the throes of creativity into a surreal, mind-blowing film.

'Adaptation' Is a Completely Meta-Ironic Film That Might Blow Your Mind

Adaptation is a movie about control and the necessity of losing it. In a world where reality and fiction intertwine, there is no director to orchestrate events – only actors, agents, producers, and a screenwriter who is losing control of his work.

An intellectual farce turns into a fiery melodrama, and a character attacks its author. Spike Jonze creates a puzzle that is only fully revealed at the end.

The puzzle's design becomes clearer when we recall the same authors' previous work, Being John Malkovich. However, Adaptation is much more successful – it sees through a radical move to the end.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Adaptation'?

• Adaptation has 90% from critics and 85% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 7.6/10.

• On Letterboxd, Adaptation scored 4.1/5.0.

Where to Watch 'Adaptation'?

Adaptation is available to stream on Mubi.