Many a film has depicted the writer’s journey, but never has one totally indulged in it. Screenwriter Charlie Kaufman reinvents surreality by involving reality. Rather than painstakingly adapting an unadaptable book, he instead illustrates his struggle as a screenwriter and Susan Orlean’s struggle as the author. With a veil of self-pity, he stakes himself as the protagonist (played by Nicolas Cage), then over-externalizes his involvement by inventing a fictitious, screenwriting twin brother, Donald. Both characters share a moral fiber and both journey’s eventually overlap when Donald manually shifts the existentialist story into a high-octaine thriller, shaming the responsibility of an adaptation. Right? Exquisite writing, brilliant directing, impeccable acting. This is a work of genius.