This picture written by Charlie Kaufman was nominated for a bunch of Academy Awards® and is very unique in most aspects. "Adaptation" remains the ONLY Kaufman picture I somehow enjoy for now.

"Adaptation" is a fictitious telling of how Kaufman himself is hired to adapt a book called "The Orchid Thief" by Susan Orlean and finds the work unadaptable for the screen. For over an hour, Kaufman grieves over his efforts going no where, while his twin brother Donald, a first time screenwriter, creates a commercially viable script titled "The Three," going against everything Charlie Kaufman believes artistically.

Eventually, Charlie throws his hands up and asks his brother's help on the screenplay. Soon, they find Orlean is having a torrid love affair with the man she wrote her book about and, with him, manufacturing a rare orchid into an unusual narcotic for distribution.

The picture starts agonizingly slow, while getting to know some very colorful characters, including Charlie and Donald and "Orchid Thief" John Laroche.

For the most part, Nicholas Cage (Leaving Las Vegas) outdoes himself playing both brothers, while Chris Cooper (American Beauty) creates a benchmark for his talents as Laroche. Cooper won the Academy Award® for supporting actor that year. Heavy hitter Meryl Streep (Bridges of Madison County) also stars as drug addicted writer Susan Orlean.

Most of director Spike Jones' pictures (Being John Malkovich) leaves me with a bad taste in the mouth, making me think he would be better off directing music videos instead of motion picture features. However, this one stands out.

Once the story brings in the character of Donald to help with the screenplay, the movie takes off, becoming goofy and entertaining.

As a bit of trivia, the main credits of the picture names both Charlie Kaufman and Donald Kaufman as its screenwriters, keeping with the film's paradox. The truth is, there IS NO Donald Kaufman. He is an alter ego of Kaufman's writing. However, the picture was nominated for an Academy Award® as Best Adapted Screenplay - Charlie and Donald Kaufman, which means Donald Kaufman is the first fictitious character in Academy Awards® history to receive a nomination.

Rent "Adaptation," it's different and quirky if that's the kind of mood you're in.

Benn - Where's the Humanity?