Every writer strives desperately for their own “gimmick” that distinguishes them from their peers and ultimately earns them recognition. Of those aspiring pen wielders, screenwriter Charlie Kaufman ascended through the cracks with his oddball style of writing propelling his career.
At the turn of the 21st century, along with a handful of rising wildcards, Kaufman infiltrated the Hollywood system with a series of renovations that would alter the industry permanently. Epitomized in films like Being John Malkovich, Adaptation and The Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind he devised a quirk-ridden brand of cinema that strays far from the traditional screenwriting code of conduct. As far as screenwriters go, he is in a league of his own. Each screenplay he generates is eccentric and bursting at the seams with originality and very well received by a broad population of critics. Though his resume is relatively scarce, the scripts with which he has been accredited have left a lasting impression on the art of filmmaking. Originating in New York, Kaufman studied film at NYU before relocating to California after graduation to pursue a career in screenwriting.
For anyone unfamiliar with his work, Kaufman specializes in offbeat dramatic comedies with fantasy elements. His screenplays are centralized around uncommon subjects, themes and plots containing uncanny sequences of events. Though they are set in our modern world, his scripts are commonly tailored with out-of-this-world science fiction addendums. As he detailed in a recent interview with Time Out London, “as usual, the world I’m writing about is not necessarily the world that I’m writing about. It’s just a place to set it”. He has a reputation for producing underdog main characters suffering from misfortune and self-doubt that the audience cannot help but cheer for. The films can be likened to independent film storylines and productions with the “push” of major studio funding and sponsorship.
It is writers of Kaufman’s breed that act as the much-needed catalysts in the modern day film industry, plagued by repetition. His screenplays are guaranteed to defy the cinematic clichés that have been beaten to a pulp for decades. The style of his writing is a hybrid of his natural intelligence, inherent quirks and vocalized hatred for the formulaic approach of modern screenwriting. I will admit that Kaufman’s style is somewhat of an acquired taste that will by no means appeal to everyone. His films often contain moderately cynical commentaries, ranging from subtle to “in your face”. Fans of the “cookie cutter” cinema that grazes the silver screen much too frequently are better off elsewhere.
While using television writing gigs as a stepping stone, Kaufman breached the daunting barricade of the film industry in 1999 with his breakthrough, Avant-grade screenplay Being John Malkovich. The film features a glum puppeteer by the name of Schwartz (John Cusack), employed as a file clerk at an office where he stumbles upon a mystical portal into the mind of actor John Malkovich. When entering the portal, the mental tourist is allotted 15 minutes of 4-Dimensional interaction through the eyes of John Malkovich, before being spouted out alongside the New Jersey Turnpike. Uh, what? Sit tight because it only gets progressively bizarre. Unenthused with his marriage to wife Lotte (played by Cameron Diaz, far beyond her element) Schwartz pursues co-worker Maxine, who lacks interest until baited with the mystical portal. The two elect to abuse the portal as a lucrative tourist attraction, and the plot spirals off the rails into a brilliant spectacle of unordinary madness.
The story is a portrait of absolute and unparalleled uniqueness. Virtually every aspect and shift of the plot were previously unheard of. Its brilliant, unquestionably brilliant.
The script for Malkovich was completed in 1994, and had been rotating through the offices of various Hollywood players ever since. It was well received, however each of its supporters either lacked the funding or the guts to take a chance on such a pivotal script. The ongoing shifts of ownership and power of Hollywood production companies amid the 1990’s also contributed to the several year wait before the film was made. Eventually, fellow oddball Spike Jonze, a director who identified with Kaufman’s eccentricity signed on, and the film was made.
In 2002, Kaufman’s fourth project, Adaptation hit theaters; bombarding audiences with another right hook of a trail-blazing screenplay. Kaufman recruited his fictitious twin brother Donald to co-write the skewed autobiographical script featuring the two brothers (played by Nicholas Cage). To clear up any confusion, Kaufman fabricated a brother, who he co-credited with the screenwriting, and also used as a main character of the film. If you’re still baffled, you’re not alone, for the non-existent Donald Kaufman was included in the Best Original Screenplay nomination by the Academy (marking the first time that a fictional human received a nomination). Anyway, Adaptation is a screenplay, that criticizes the generic screenplay writing process, about writing a screenplay, (if that alone doesn’t define Kaufman’s individuality, I don’t know what does).
The plot was inspired by Kaufman’s real life task of adapting the Susan Orlean book The Orchid Thief into a script. The story alternates between the life of Kaufman, a successful screenwriter living with his aspiring screenwriter twin Donald, and a fleshed out narration of The Orchid Thief’s events. It is nothing less than extraordinary. The film even contains doctored footage from the set of Being John Malkovich with Nicholas Cage edited in as Kaufman. Chris Cooper shines as John Laroche, the orchid thief (a performance that earned him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor) alongside Meryl Streep as Susan Orlean.
Kaufman has received two Academy Award nominations for Best Original Screenplay for Adaptation and Malkovich, in addition to a victory in the category for his screenplay The Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind.
The Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind is an unusual tale of a couple that takes part in a process administered by a professional that eliminates all traces of memories involving their relationship. The film is genuinely refreshing and heartfelt. It features an all-star cast fronted by Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet.
Kaufman showcased his directorial competence in his 2008 film Synecdoche, New York a film for which he also penned the screenplay. The film stars Phillip Seymour Hoffman an overly ambitious play director determined to replicate New York City within a warehouse for the set of his production. Much like it’s predecessors, the film exemplified Kaufman’s personal style and once again showcased the diversity of his talents. It is nothing short of excellent.
According to Indiewire.com, Kaufman is in the process of developing another sardonic film for which he will direct titled Frank or Francis. The film is said to be a commentary addressing online criticism that will star Steve Carrell, Nicholas Cage and Jack Black.