I can’t remember ever seeing a movie where things turned to crap before your eyes with the stunning quickness of “Adaptation.” One minute you’re watching a mildly diverting movie where even Nicholas Cage playing twins doesn’t seem too irritating, and the next, you’re waist-deep in junk.
The Russian-doll meta-ness of the movie, where a screenwriter puts himself in his own movie to satirize the self-indulgence of hack screenwriters, finally collapses under its own weight. (And that’s just one of about 15 self-referential plot threads in the movie.) Paraphrasing my friend and movie companion Nicole, this movie was written for other screenwriters – and most of us are not screenwriters.
This is a movie that encourages you to pat yourself on the back when you “get it.” (He invents a twin brother, gives him screenwriting credit on the movie, and then has the twin brother in the movie write a schlock script about multiple personalities. Get it?) Well, I got it. And I want to send it back.
Stay away.
Some screenwriters need to realize that they are not the only intelligent people who see movies. Some screenwriters need to realize that they are not intelligent at all. Some screenwriters need to think of a story before they start writing.
Despite that, I had a great time today! Loose meat rules!
Mmm . . . loose meat in my mouth.
I think that the lead in Adaptation should have been played by Michael McDonald of madTV.
Susan Orlean is on Whad’ Ya Know? on NPR from 10-12 tomorrow morning. Thought it might be interesting!
For a change I’ll have to respectfully disagree, Adam. I thoroughly enjoyed Adaptation, but I also accept that it isn’t a film to satisfy most tastes. Or even many tastes. In fact, I’m rather surprised it has gotten this much attention.