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Adaptation. (2002)
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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. SF
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Running time
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110min
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Country of origin
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US
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Genre
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Satirical Comedy Drama
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Original language
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English
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Screenplay
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Charlie Kaufman, Donald [Charlie] Kaufman, from the non-fiction book The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean
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Theatrical distributor
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Columbia TriStar
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UK cinema certificate
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15
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UK cinema release date
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February 2003
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UK video release date
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August 2003
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| awards information |
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Award |
Category |
Name |
Nominee/Winner |
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| Academy 2002 |
Actor in a Leading Role |
Nicolas Cage |
Nominee |
| Academy 2002 |
Actor in a Supporting Role |
Chris Cooper |
Winner |
| Academy 2002 |
Actress in a Supporting Role |
Meryl Streep |
Nominee |
| Academy 2002 |
Writing (Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published) |
Charlie Kaufman |
Nominee |
| Academy 2002 |
Writing (Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published) |
Charlie Kaufman |
Nominee |
| British Academy Film Awards 2002 |
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role |
Nicolas Cage |
Nominee |
| British Academy Film Awards 2002 |
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role |
Chris Cooper |
Nominee |
| British Academy Film Awards 2002 |
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role |
Meryl Streep |
Nominee |
| British Academy Film Awards 2002 |
Best Screenplay (Adapted) |
Charlie Kaufman |
Winner |
| British Academy Film Awards 2002 |
Best Screenplay (Adapted) |
Charlie Kaufman |
Winner |
| Golden Globe 2002 |
Best Director Motion Picture |
Spike Jonze |
Nominee |
| Golden Globe 2002 |
Best Motion Picture Comedy or Musical |
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Nominee |
| Golden Globe 2002 |
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical |
Nicolas Cage |
Nominee |
| Golden Globe 2002 |
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role Motion Picture |
Chris Cooper |
Winner |
| Golden Globe 2002 |
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role Motion Picture |
Meryl Streep |
Winner |
| Golden Globe 2002 |
Best Screenplay Motion Picture |
Charlie Kaufman |
Nominee |
| Golden Globe 2002 |
Best Screenplay Motion Picture |
Charlie Kaufman |
Nominee |
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