- Film Review
- Reviewed By Sloan Freer
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4 out of 5
Being John Malkovich director Spike Jonze again demonstrates his astonishing style and originality with this inventive comedy drama. Based on the Bafta-winning screenplay by previous collaborator Charlie Kaufman (who credits his fictitious twin brother Donald as co-writer, the first of many games Kaufman plays), the film takes the idea of life imitating art to new extremes. Instead of a straight adaptation of journalist Susan Orlean's non-fiction book The Orchid Thief, Jonze presents a surreal version of Kaufman turning the literary work into a screenplay. It's a dark, hilarious and visually intoxicating celluloid trip, made even more appealing by a riveting double turn from Nicolas Cage as both the creatively blocked Charlie and Donald, who's an aspiring screenwriter of action blockbusters. However, in a delicious tale crammed with such ingenuity, it's Meryl Streep who's the biggest revelation. She lets her hair down to incredible effect as the experience-hungry Susan Orlean, adding the final brilliant touch to a dazzling and emotionally vibrant movie.
Plot Summary
Satirical comedy drama starring Nicolas Cage and Meryl Streep. As well as battling his own demons, paranoid scriptwriter Charlie Kaufman is trying to adapt the uninspiring book The Orchid Thief into a scintillating screenplay. Struck by a severe case of writer's block, he turns to his allegedly less talented twin brother Donald for assistance, with surprising - and tragic - results.
Cast and crew
Cast
- Charlie Kaufman / Donald Kaufman
- Nicolas Cage
- Susan Orlean
- Meryl Streep
- John Laroche
- Chris Cooper
- Valerie
- Tilda Swinton
- Amelia
- Cara Seymour
- Robert McKee
- Brian Cox
- Alice the waitress
- Judy Greer
- Caroline
- Maggie Gyllenhaal
- Marty
- Ron Livingston
- Matthew Osceola
- Jay Tavare
- Ranger Steve Neely
- Stephen Tobolowsky
- Defense attorney
- Peter Jason
- Orlean's husband
- Curtis Hanson
- John Cusack
- John Cusack
- Catherine Keener
- Catherine Keener
- John Malkovich
- John Malkovich
Crew
- Director
- Spike Jonze
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