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Adaptation is a 2002 American comedy-drama film directed by Spike Jonze and written by Charlie Kaufman. It stars Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep, and Chris Cooper in the lead roles. The movie is loosely based on the book The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean, which tells the story of John Laroche, a horticulturist and orchid collector based in Florida. However, Kaufman's screenplay takes a more unconventional approach, using Laroche's story as a starting point to explore themes of creativity, identity, and the creative process itself.

The movie follows Charlie Kaufman, a neurotic and eccentric Hollywood screenwriter who is struggling to adapt Susan Orlean's book into a script. Charlie is plagued by insecurities and self-doubt, constantly second-guessing himself and his abilities as a writer. He is frustrated by the formulaic nature of Hollywood storytelling and feels that he is incapable of creating anything truly original or meaningful.

As he struggles to find a way to adapt the book, Charlie becomes increasingly obsessed with Susan Orlean, whose own journey to Florida to research the orchid thief provides a parallel storyline. Orlean is a successful journalist and author who is deeply intrigued by Laroche's obsession with collecting rare orchids. However, as she delves deeper into his world, she discovers a darker, more sinister side to his passion that upsets her preconceptions about the man and his motivations.

Meanwhile, Charlie's own story takes a bizarre and surreal turn as he finds himself struggling to reconcile his own feelings of inadequacy and creative blockage. He becomes obsessed with the idea of writing himself into the script, blurring the lines between reality and fiction as he tries to find a way to make the story work.

Throughout the movie, the themes of adaptation and creativity are explored in a number of ways. Charlie's struggle to adapt the book into a script is mirrored by Laroche's own struggle to collect and preserve the delicate orchids, while Orlean's journey of discovery is a reflection of Charlie's own search for inspiration and meaning.

The performances in Adaptation are universally excellent, with Cage giving one of his most memorable turns as the tortured Charlie. Streep is equally impressive as Orlean, bringing a sense of intelligence and curiosity to the character that makes her journey all the more compelling. But perhaps the standout performance comes from Chris Cooper, who portrays Laroche with a mixture of charm, vulnerability, and menace that makes him one of the most memorable characters in recent cinema history.

Overall, Adaptation is a fascinating and thought-provoking movie that challenges audiences to think about the nature of creativity, identity, and storytelling itself. Kaufman's unconventional approach to adapting the source material is a daring and impressive achievement, and the performances from the three leads are nothing short of exceptional. If you're in the mood for something outside the norm, Adaptation is well worth seeking out.

Adaptation. is a 2002 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 54 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.7 and a MetaScore of 83.