"Adaptation"
Charlie Kaufman and Spike Jonze, the writer-director team responsible for 1999's "Being John Malkovich," have outdone themselves with "Adaptation," an "adaptation" of Susan Orlean's novel, "The Orchid Thief." The film chronicles Kaufman's, played brilliantly by Nicholas Cage, own struggle to adapt the novel into a screenplay while his fictional twin brother Donald whips out his own screenplay. This film is quite possibly one of the best, and funniest, films released last year. It boasts top-notch performances by the entire cast and a screenplay that redefines the word "self-reflexive."
The Bottom Line: "Adaptation" was overlooked at the Oscars, but should not be overlooked on the shelves at Blockbuster.
"Old School"
Will Ferrell is funny. There's no denying that. He may be stupid, but he's funny. And his latest film, "Old School" is living proof of both. The film itself is rather generic and infantile, but it serves its purpose, which is undoubtedly to amuse those who want to skip the thought process involved in many films. "Old School" is indeed mindless entertainment and isn't really all that funny, except for Ferrell, who has nude drunkenness down to an art. The story, which involves three middle aged men starting a fraternity in an attempt to recapture their youth, may sound funny, but is really just a failed attempt at recreating "Animal House."
The Bottom Line: "Old School" is worth renting, but you'll feel better in the morning if you get someone else to pay.
