The Black Orchid

Starring:Sophia Loren, Anthony Quinn, Peter Mark Richman, Virginia Vincent, Frank Puglia, Jimmy Baird, Naomi Stevens, Whit Bissell, Robert Carricart, Joe Di Reda, Jack Washburn, Ina Balin, Francesca Bellini, Zolya Talma, Majel Barrett, Irene Seidner
Director: Martin Ritt
Studio: Paramount
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Twisty brilliance from screenwriter Charlie Kaufman and director Spike Jonze, the team who created Being John Malkovich. Nicolas Cage returns to form with a funny, sad, and sneaky performance as Charlie Kaufman, a self-loathing screenwriter who has been hired to adapt Susan Orlean's book The Orchid Thief into a screenplay. Frustrated and infatuated by Orlean's elegant but plotless book (which is largely a rumination on flowers), Kaufman begins to write a screenplay about himself trying to write a screenplay about The Orchid Thief, all the while hounded by his twin brother Donald (Cage again), who's cheerfully writing the kind of formulaic action movie that Kaufman finds repugnant. By its conclusion, Adaptation is the most artistically ambitious, most utterly cynical, and most uncategorizable movie ever to come out of Hollywood. Also starring Meryl Streep (as Susan Orlean), Chris Cooper, Tilda Swinton, and Brian Cox; superb performances throughout. --Bret Fetzer

Description

The Superbit titles utilize a special high bit rate digital encoding process which optimizes video quality while offering a choice of both DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. These titles have been produced by a team of Sony Pictures Digital Studios video, sound and mastering engineers and comes housed in a special package complete with a 4 page booklet that contains technical information on the Superbit process. By reallocating space on the disc normally used for value-added content, Superbit DVDs can be encoded at double their normal bit rate while maintaining full compatibility with the DVD video format.

Customer Reviews:

Watch "Being John Malkovich" first.......2007-06-24

A follow-on to "Being John Malkovich" Being John Malkovich, this film also explores the nature of reality, but goes one step further and considers the nature of the creative process. As the film proceeds, the viewer is constantly exposed to comments about what is happening on the screen (e.g., "Never use voice-overs") which are amusing but also distracting. Viewers interested in the nature of the creative process, especially screenwriting, will find this technique interesting, others will find it distracting.

In any event, rather than being a follow-on in the conventional sense, this film contains actors and sets from Malkovich, which means you will understand it better if you see the earlier film.

After appearing in "Being John Malkovich," Cameron Diaz reportedly said, "There are 14 standard plots in Hollywood. This is the 15th.", suggesting how unusual these two films are.

But they are also different. While "Being John Malkovich" has an ending that fits the film, here the ending is contrived, which fits the overall plot but is likely to leave the average viewer dissatisfied.

In fact, the entire film is likely to leave the average viewer dissatisfied.

Clever blending of reality and fiction.......2007-05-08

I preferred the way this film blended reality and fiction over the way it was done in "Being John Malkovich" (Which is by the same writer and director).

This is one of those movie experiences where you know the flim's creators want you to know they are trying to play mind-games on you. ;)

The filming of "Being John Malkovich" is part of this film's story-line, so it does help to have seen "Being John M." before seeing this film.

A movie about trying to make a movie? .......2007-05-01

Look, I understand very well that I'm supposed to find this thing "brilliant, innovative, unique" and so forth. But to begin with, the storyline of making a movie about making a movie is old, tired, and absolutely lackng in originality. This yawner wastes a good cast in telling a ho-hum tale about a mediocre writer. By the end of this thing, I really wanted those 90 minutes of my life back. The humor is lame, the situations are absurd, and the plot is devoid of interest.

Very clever, mind-boggling movie.......2007-02-16

I enjoyed Adaptation a lot. It is very very clever and very funny. Nicolas Cage, Chris Cooper, and Meryl Streep all do a great job and bring it together into one coherent (sort-of) ending.

The movie is about the process of writing a screenplay from another source, but turns into an examination of the creative process, and how it relates to the creators (writers). Nicolas Cage plays the inhibited, smart, unhappy screenwriter Charlie Kaufmann, who is charged with turning "The Orchid Thief" into a film. He also plays Charlie's identical twin brother, Donald, who is everything Charlie is not, but also aspires to be a screenwriter. Charlie Kaufmann, btw, is the real writer of "Adaptation," but it is credited to both him and Donald (who is a character in the film, and not a real person). In fact the film is dedicated to Donald (Donald Kaufmann, btw, also has an entry in IMDB as a screenwriter).

Also writing is Susan Orlean (played by Meryl Streep), whose book "The Orchard Thief" Charlie is working to adapt for film. Susan has her own struggles with the creative process. The focus for all this creative energy is LaRoche, the Orchid Thief of the title, whose obsession with collecting orchids is at the heart of the movie. I think it is pretty interesting how LaRoche is the character who feels the most strongly about his passion, while the two writers circle around him and try to find something in their own lives they feel strongly about. Chris Cooper is completely convincing as LaRoche, and it is a relief to see him playing something besides a government bureaucrat or a military officer.

I laughed a lot at the scenes where Charlie attends a seminar on screenwriting. I actually use some of the "tips" to judge movies (for examle, never ever use a voiceover ...)

Although I had fun watching this movie, I am not sure that I would call it a really good movie (definitely not a great movie). Behind all the amusing connections and intricate story lines, I am just not sure that there is all that much there. I enjoyed it a lot, although I doubt that I will remember much about it a year from now.

A Nappaland.com Review.......2006-12-31

Plot Summary: Charlie Kaufman (Nicolas Cage) struggles to adapt a book into a screenplay.
Reason for the Rating: Language, sexuality, some drug use, and violent images.
Bizarre. Crazy. Zany. Quirky.
Any of these words accurately describes Adaptation, so be prepared to pay attention when you're watching this one! Charlie Kaufman is a real-life screenwriter with several television series to his credit, and the also quirky and bizarre film Being John Malkovich. Adaptation picks up with the filming of Being John Malkovich, showing Charlie on the set of that movie. He's a man who loathes himself, who cannot complete a thought, and who is bound by fear.
Charlie is hired to adapt the real-life non-fiction book, The Orchid Thief, into a movie. The author, Susan Orleans, is a real person portrayed here by Meryl Streep, and the book is about an ego-centric real-life orchid expert named John Laroche (remarkably played by Chris Cooper). This much is all true. The rest...who can say? Charlie labors over the screenplay, and bits of what he writes are interspersed with sections where he laments his loser status in life. Mixed into the plot is Charlie's twin brother Donald (also played by Cage, but who does not exist in real life, and who, despite the tributes in the end credits of the movie, never did exist) who can't seem to get a job so tries his hand a screenwriting, and, despite his blithe oblivion to the realities of life and Charlie's expert advice, succeeds.
At times Adaptation is slow and filled with voice-overs to convey Charlie's thoughts about life, the evolution process, and how, according to Darwin, we've all adapted to various situations to become who we are today. At other times it's shockingly violent, absurdly funny, and down-right sad.
Besides the violence, sex, and drug use, Christians may find the message of evolution and adaptation offensive. Yet there is truth that we do adapt to the situations of our lives, and that these changes define us. The movie also encourages viewers to consider the passions of our lives. While the passions of those in the movie may seem bizarre, they demonstrate the meaning people find in life through what they love and pursue--and how futile these passions are outside of knowing God.

Nappaland.com Recommends: Adaptation is only for mature viewers who want to think about what they've seen. Even though there are plenty of funny moments, this one could spark serious discussion about pursuing our passions and facing our fears.

After the Show...If members of your family choose to view this movie, use these questions to spark discussion about it afterward:
---Consider each of the main characters in Adaptation. What is the passion of each one? How does pursuing these passions change the lives of these people? What are you passionate about in your own life? How do you pursue this passion, and what difference do your actions make?
---When Donald and Charlie are hiding in the swamp they have a discussion about love. What do you think of Donald's views of loving others? How does what Donald shares change Charlie? How could embracing this view change your relationships?
---Charlie is a recognized screenwriter and appears to be successful to those in his business. But in reality he's filled with doubts and fears that keep him from growing and enjoying life. In what ways are you like Charlie? How can you move beyond the fears that might be trapping you?

AN

Average customer rating:

Good
Black rose
Mama I'm Happy
Nothing bad here....
Touching romance

The Black Orchid
Starring: Sophia Loren , Anthony Quinn , Peter Mark Richman , Virginia Vincent , and Frank Puglia
Director: Martin Ritt
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B0002ERWWI
Release Date: 2004-08-31

Description

Making artificial flowers as a way of coping with her great loss, Rose's life changes when she meets widower Frank Valente, played by Academy Award™ winner Anthony Quinn. The two fall in love and decide to get married, but before they can say "I do," Frank must win over Rose's daughter who does not approve of their union.

Customer Reviews:

Good.......2007-05-22

Don't pay attention to the other reviews. This is a good movie and is about finding love the second time around. If you like romance you should like this movie. If not, it is probably not for you.

Black rose.......2006-11-03

A pair of Oscar-winning actors, and a comedy about two widowed people finding second love. Not much can go wrong, right? Well, sadly Anthony Quinn and Sophia Loren are the main good things about "The Black Orchid," which desperately tries to cover up its shortness of plot.

Rose (Loren) is a young Italian-American mother, widowed when her husband was killed by mobsters. Since her love of luxury drove him to crime, Rose blames herself, and tries to amend by making artificial flowers to support herself and her young son. She isn't interested in anyone else... until she meets the wealthy, widowed Frank Valente (Quinn).

Rose and Frank soon fall in love and become engaged, and Rose's young son is delighted to find that he will have a father at last. But Frank's daughter Mary (Ina Balin) becomes distraught when she hears the news, and Frank reluctantly breaks up with Rose. Will there be a happy ending for anyone?

"Uninspired" is the best word for "Black Orchid" -- nowhere in the movie does anything really make sense. It's a purely by-the-numbers romance flick, which putters along with little enthusiasm, right up to the predictable conclusion. There isn't even any sense of tension, except for Loren's dramatic way of speaking.

The plot itself unfolds in basic movie fashion, but is way too short. Apparently realizing this, the makers threw in a plot twist -- Mary inflicting her Electra complex on dear Daddykins. It's very contrived, and at times it's almost comical. But of course, expect all twists to be untwisted in a matter of minutes, and with only a few heart-to-heart talks.

The only good things about this tepid film are Quinn and Loren. Loren exudes passionate penitance and love as Rose, who is determined to make things right this time around. And she has amazing chemistry with Quinn, who has a rough, jovial charm that was quite different from the smooth guys who populated Hollywood.

"The Black Orchid" is a forgettable and contrived little romance, but Loren and Quinn are delightful. Too bad they weren't given a worthy script to follow.

Mama I'm Happy.......2005-12-17

This movie has it all. Cheap sets, artificial lighting, melodramatic music and over-acting. Anthony Quinn is the only character that is remotely plausible and also the only reason I give this debacle 2 stars. If you are expecting a glamorous Sophia to make up for the movies flaws...don't. She spends the entire movie in basically the same black dress and pulled up hair-don't.

Nothing bad here...........2005-01-22

Quinn's character is likeable and realistic,if a little heavy-handed and rough around the edges, and Sophia is still sexy, despite her lack of variety in clothes and make-up. It's in her eyes. The other performances are, for the most part, all very good, and the story line is enough to hold your interest. Is it ultimately kinda soapy and melodramatic in spots? Yeah, it is. But never enough to ruin it. Just a kinda sappy feel-good flick.

Touching romance.......2003-11-11

There is more than a hint of the Oscar winning Marty in this quiet and well obseved drama ,shot in luminous black and white by Roberet Barr and directed with ecconomy and restraint by Martin Ritt.
Anthony Quinn palys a widower who falls in love with Rose Bianco -the Black Orchid of the title.She is a widow whose husband was entangled with the mob and killed in a mob hit.She is eking out a living working in an artificial flower company and worrying about her son who is a persistent escapeee from the county farm.Initially resistant she soon falls heavily for Quinn's rough hewn charms but there is an obstacle -the staunch opposition of his possessive daughter ,played by Ina Balin.
The movie is the story of the courtship and its eventual resolution .
Sterling performances by the leads and a strong musical score by Alessandro Cicognini compensate for the slighly over sentimental script but overall this a neglected little gem

Black Orchid ~ Starring: Sunset Thomas, Ona Zee, Veronica Hart - Director: Michael Ninn

Average customer rating:

Black Orchid ~ Starring: Sunset Thomas, Ona Zee, Veronica Hart - Director: Michael Ninn
Starring: Ona Zee , and Veronica Hart
Director: Michael Ninn
Manufacturer: Sincity
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Full length Feature
Digitally Remastered
Region Free ~ Playable Worldwide

ASIN: B000S5T4Y0

Product Description

At the Edge of Darkness, Power Replaces Passion And Boredom is Filled with Manipulation... A decadent world of lust blindness. A burned out erotic writer with a deep desire to believe in love and innocence again... Behind his best selling book, "Black Orchid", is a powerful, sex hungry executive waiting to live out his utmost sexual fantasies through the writers eyes, again... Director Michael Ninn's First Erotic Film ~ Classic 1993

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