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Adaptation

Date: Apr 09 2003

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

When a movie wins an Academy Award it usually gets a lot of attention afterward. Lots of people become interested in the film because of the fact that it was honored. This year, several small films won awards, so audiences have been going back to the theaters to see them.
Actor Chris Cooper won an Oscar[/def] for his performance in the movie Adaptation. Josh recently saw Adaptation, but has mixed feelings about it. Listen to his conversation with Beth to learn more.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Josh

Beth

Josh: So Beth, I know that you’re a big movie fan and you watched the Oscars, but I want to talk about one of the films that won one of the smaller awards, I guess – Best Supporting Actor. Uh, Chris Cooper from Adaptation won that. Did you ever see that movie?

Beth: I didn’t. But after watching the Oscars, I definitely want to check it out.

Josh: Well, it’s by the same director and writer who did Being John Malkovich, which was so weird and great, um, that I really, you know, had high expectations for Adaptation too.

Beth: Did it meet your expectations?

Josh: It was definitely weird. You know, we had two stories going on at the same time and Nicolas Cage was playing two separate characters that would be in the same room with each other, uh, brothers. But, um, but it didn’t… There were great performances too, but I don’t think it left me feeling as excited as Being John Malkovich did.

Beth: Well, I loved Being John Malkovich, so I would definitely check out Adaptation, but now that you’ve given me your opinion about it… I don’t know, I mean, it seems like the previews looked really cool and it, it appeared to be, uh, a really interesting, uh, plot. But I’m not sure now.

Josh: There are a lot of good reasons to see it. There’s good performances. There’s good directing. It just doesn’t, uh, doesn’t hang together like some other movies do.

Beth: Well, the cast seemed pretty stellar, so…

Josh: For sure. If you like any of those actors, Meryl Streep or Nicolas Cage, uh, or Chris Cooper, then you should probably see it.

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Discussion

Josh has shared his ambivalence with Beth, and now it seems that she’s not sure about Adaptation either. You can tell from the sound of both of their voices that they’re confused about what to think of the film.
I haven’t seen Adaptation yet, but I know I want to see it. In addition to Chris Cooper’s celebrated performance, Meryl Streep was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her character, so I’m certain that the movie is worth seeing. I think you should check it out too if you get a chance!
See you at the movies!
Anna