Adaptation

[---Beany---]

For those of you who rant and rave about how good "Eternal sunshine of a spotles mind" is, I totally recommend you see Charlie Kaufmans previous movie "Adaptation" (The one before that being "being john malchovich").

For me Adaptation has so far been the peak of his talent. It's so fucking awesome! Not only has it got amazing acting talent from Meryl Streep, Nicholas Cage and Chris Cooper, but the plot is just phenomenal, clever and deserves to be watched more than once.

I think I particularly liked it partly because I identify myself a hell of a lot with Charlie Kaufman, in the fact that I'm also shy and sociably awkward and constantly dreaming about women I don't believe I'll ever enjoy life with.
But the movie portrays his troubles in such an awesome way, as well as the troubles and lives of everyone else.

Oh plus the musical score is great.

Has anyone else seen it who can testify to it's magnificence?

[Joshlikespenis]

I love the acting and the script is great...but I feel like as a whole the movie comes off as kind of pretentious in it's attempts to create something dark and depressing and desperate. It's probably one of the most depressing films I've ever watched, just how it's lit and paced and how everything seems to crawl by...it really depends on my mood. It's definately not a bad film though, but not one of my favorites. But also one of the only roles I dig Nicolas Cage in.

[---Beany---]

I can see where you're coming from. I didn't find it depressing tho, jut emotional and it did have a happy ending despite what happens.
Now "Eternal Sunshine" tome that was depressing and the ending wasn't happy.. as I recall.

[hooloovoo]

Well, it is one of my favorite movies. Probably still in the top five actually- and the reason I rushed to see Eternal Sunshine when it first came out in theaters.

I didn't find it pretentious or even that dark or depressing, actually. I thought the humility of Kaufman's alter-ego, as portrayed by Nicholas Cage, transferred over to the presentation of the film on itself- it was constantly commentating on overly used plot devices in screenwriting, while simultaneously layering all those plot devices into its own story and putting brackets around the deviation of Kaufman's alter-ego's impossible ideal script that he can't finish, and Kaufman's actual finished script that you are seeing on film.

I probably didn't explain that very well, but its a tricky concept that is really meant to be seen rather than typed out in a paragraph anyhow.

I remember being really impressed that he completely pulled it off without sacrificing the story or pacing of the film.

[hooloovoo]

Now "Eternal Sunshine" tome that was depressing and the ending wasn't happy.. as I recall.

You thought that ending was depressing? They agree to give the relationship another shot even though they know they'll drive each other crazy. I thought it was really uplifting, and not in a gag-me typical-romantic-comedy kinda way.

[never]

You thought that ending was depressing? They agree to give the relationship another shot even though they know they'll drive each other crazy. I thought it was really uplifting, and not in a gag-me typical-romantic-comedy kinda way.

I couldn't agree more, the ending really took me surprise. Not to be corny, but it was one of the few times I felt a deep emotional connection with both of the characters. Knowing the end result, they still would rather be with each other despite what is predetermined. I really thought there was something incredibly profound in that little tidbit at the end.