Adaptation. Review
by Bob Bloom (bobbloom AT iquest DOT net)June 13th, 2003
ADAPTATION (2002): Starring Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep, Chris Cooper and Tilda Swinton. Based on the book The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean. Screenplay by Charlie Kaufman and Donald Kaufman. Directed by Spike Jonze.
ADAPTATION (Columbia Pictures Home Entertainment): For the DVD release of this Oscar-winning movie, Columbia Pictures has taken a bare-bones approach.
The only extras are a trailer and filmographies of the major cast members and filmmakers.
And while the transfer of the film to DVD is superb, it is most disappointing that such a quirky and offbeat creation does not contain a commentary track from either director Spike Jonze or screenwriters Charlie or Donald Kaufman. Even the views of stars Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep or Oscar-winner Chris Cooper would have been insightful.
The film itself, of course, is a wonderful excursion into the tortured mind of a creative individual battling writer’s block and all the self-doubts that comes with questioning one's abilities.
It is too bad, though, that Columbia did not extend itself to give this DVD the treatment it so readily deserves.
The many admirers of Adaptation may find themselves disappointed or feel cheated by this lack of extra effort.
Bob Bloom is the film critic at the Journal and Courier in Lafayette, IN. He can be reached by e-mail at [email protected] or at [email protected]. Other reviews by Bloom can be found at www.jconline.com by clicking on movies.
Bloom's reviews also appear on the Web at the Rottentomatoes Web site, www.rottentomatoes.com and at the Internet Movie Database:
http://www.imdb.com/M/reviews_by?Bob+Bloom
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