by Caroline Westbrook BBC News Online

Kaufman (Nicolas Cage) struggles with writer's block

Adaptation is an unusual film that has won plaudits for its filmmakers, Spike Jonze and Charlie Kaufman, and actors Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep and Chris Cooper.

Anybody who saw Being John Malkovich, the debut collaboration of director Spike Jonze and screenwriter Charlie Kaufman, will have realised by now that any project involving the duo is likely to be something out of the ordinary.

So it is with their second effort, Adaptation.

For this is about as bizarre a movie as you are likely to see all year, and while not for all tastes, it is a work of twisted genius which proves beyond all doubt that Jonze and Kaufman are two of the most talented newcomers in Hollywood.

The story revolves around Kaufman himself (Nicolas Cage), who has been asked to write an adaptation of The Orchid Thief, a lengthy non-fiction tome by New York journalist Susan Orlean (Meryl Streep).

Orchid thief John Laroche (Cooper) becomes involved with Susan Orlean (Streep)

But instead of focusing on the book, about a horticultural poacher with an astonishing knowledge of orchids, what we see is Kaufman struggling desperately to write his screenplay, beset by problems at every turn.

He is suffering from writer's block, while his twin brother Donald (also played by Cage), decides he too would like to pursue a career in screenwriting - and seems to do a far better job of it, despite barely having two brain cells to rub together.

Meanwhile, a parallel story develops involving Orlean, who attempts to escape from her loveless marriage and stressful career by striking up a romance with the orchid thief, John Laroche (Chris Cooper).

This sets the scene for some stormy goings-on when Kaufman and Orlean finally meet.

If this all sounds a little confusing, that is because it is - but beneath the surface of the shamelessly surreal plot and brilliant script lurks an oddly moving film about relationships, desperation and the fear of failure.

Cage is as good as he has ever been here (deserving of a second Oscar nomination) as both Kaufman siblings.

Streep and Cooper won Golden Globe awards for their roles

Donald is a brash, confident irritant convinced he can learn all the tricks of the screenwriting trade after attending a course by screenwiting guru Robert McKee.

Charlie, the professional scribe, displays the kind of neuroses rarely seen outside a Woody Allen movie - he is a balding, shambling figure whose own self-consciousness (he is convinced he is untalented, repulsive to women and socially inept), contributes to his writer's block.

Meanwhile, Cooper and Streep, both of whom have picked up numerous awards for their performances already, are superb as similarly damaged people with personal heartaches of their own.

If the film has a downfall, it is the tendency to assume its audience knows more about the subject matter than they actually do.

Only those with a working knowledge of screenwriting or the film industry are likely to be familiar with Robert McKee or his work - something which might prove off-putting to those who are already finding the film's surreal tone hard-going.

Confusing

But while this section may well leave some viewers cold, there is no denying the brilliance of Kaufman's own self-deprecating self-portrait.

However much he may have embellished the truth about his own personality, there is no denying that his portrayal of himself taps into the nuances of the tortured artist with frightening accuracy.

And the attention to detail as Cage is tormented by insomnia, sibling rivalry and all manner of minor distractions is superb.

Adaptation is certainly a baffling film, but it is a brilliant one - it might not suit everyone but those attuned to Jonze's particular brand of filmmaking will be richly rewarded.

Although a second viewing may well be required in order to make sense of it all.