King of California (2007)
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63% of critics liked it
(68 reviews) -
64% of users liked it
(15,616 ratings)
Michael Douglas stars as a treasure-hunting eccentric in this Alexander Payne-produced comedy from director Michael Cahill. Recently released from a mental institution and reunited with his teenage daughter, Miranda (Evan Rachel Wood), Charlie (Douglas) decides there's century's old gold buried near… More Michael Douglas stars as a treasure-hunting eccentric in this Alexander Payne-produced comedy from director Michael Cahill. Recently released from a mental institution and reunited with his teenage daughter, Miranda (Evan Rachel Wood), Charlie (Douglas) decides there's century's old gold buried near their lower-middle-class neighborhood, and sets out on an obsessive quest to find it. Along the way, the estranged parent and child rekindle a long-lost bond with each other. Featuring a score by David Robbins, King of California screened at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi
- Rating, Runtime
- PG-13, 1 hr. 33 min.
- Directed By
- Mike Cahill
- Written By
- Mike Cahill
- Genres
- Drama, Art House & International, Comedy
- In Theaters
- Sep 28, 2007 Wide
- On DVD
- Jan 29, 2008
- Studio
- First Look
Critic Reviews
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Peter Howell, Toronto Star
The most remarkable thing about King of California is how the characters grow on you, and how their quixotic quest becomes ours.
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Rick Groen, Globe and Mail
King of California means to be the jewel in the crown of indie-flick quirkiness, but it's really just a bauble with ambition.
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Bruce Westbrook, Houston Chronicle
Writer-director Mike Cahill explores Charlie's foolishness with funny-sad fondness.
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Tom Long, Detroit News
Rambunctious and rousing from beginning to end, the hugely entertaining King of California offers Michael Douglas his best role since Traffic.
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Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press
Intermittedly entertaining if mostly contrived.
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Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune
While the project certainly has its clever aspects, the bulk of the credit goes to Douglas.
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Heather Huntington, ReelzChannel.com
For an 'adventure movie' full of quirk, King of California can feel a bit flat.
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Joseph Proimakis, Movies for the Masses
ypotonikis ekdohis toy National Treasure (2004), poy aromatizetai katatonia aneksartitoy amerikanikoy, komple me to flyaro voice over gia ypokatastato tis afigisis kai liges ksekoyrdistes country hordes sti moysiki ypokroysi gia to sosto feeling
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Clint Morris, Moviehole
'The King of California' is an easily-entertaining film that features two bravura performances. Douglas plays the character of the loony treasure-hunter Charlie with zest, passion, comedy and, well, hyperactivity - its Jack Colton post-drugs, if you will
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David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...one of those efforts that's destined to improve on subsequent viewings.
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Eric D. Snider, EricDSnider.com
It's barely distinguishable from the many other independent films about eccentric people who do odd things, but hey, it ain't bad.
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Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media
Quirky dramedy mixes humor and mature themes.
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Phil Villarreal, Arizona Daily Star
The clunky King of California leaves you with all the satisfaction of hitting caliche in your backyard.
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Toddy Burton, Austin Chronicle
The story is simple, sometimes to a fault, and ultimately Cahill doesn't quite pull off all of the majesty that he attempts. But, I'm excited to see what he'll come up with next.
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Kevin Williamson, Jam! Movies
As scripted and directed by Mike Cahill, King of California reveals itself to be a moving, bemusing gem embellished by standout work from Douglas and the habitually marvellous Evan Rachel Wood.
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Sean Means, Salt Lake Tribune
The performances by Michael Douglas and Evan Rachel Wood are the highlight of this comedy-drama.
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Jeff Vice, Deseret News, Salt Lake City
The film is really at its best when it's dealing with the dysfunctional father-daughter relationship. Douglas and Wood's believable character dynamic certainly helps.
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Lori Hoffman, Atlantic City Weekly
Michael Douglas is getting all the praise ... but Rachael Evan Wood is just as good ...
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Adam Bregman, Orlando Weekly
[A] small but cuddly film.
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Geoff Berkshire, Metromix.com
The success of those sequences only underline how good the film might have been if it wasn't so busy trying to be cute.
Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Featured Audience Ratings
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Jeff "
King of California is a wonderful drama comedy. I very much enjoyed the film, and I thought that Michael Douglas delivered one of his greatest performances here. The cast is great and story though a bit silly, is enjoyable and entertaining. King of California is one of those indie… More
King of California is a wonderful drama comedy. I very much enjoyed the film, and I thought that Michael Douglas delivered one of his greatest performances here. The cast is great and story though a bit silly, is enjoyable and entertaining. King of California is one of those indie films that really are great, unlike such trash as Juno; this indie film really is a wonderful film. I very much enjoyed the film, and thought the story was great. The cast pull off something great here, and director Mike Cahill directs a strong film with effective pacing, and thought at times, it's slow; King of California always manages to be entertaining. After being convinced that there is treasure buried underneath their neighborhood Costco, Charlie sets out on a quest to discover it. In the process he reconnects with his estranged daughter. This film succeeds where so many indie films have failed. This film simply has a charming story and a good cast to boot. King of California is one of the best indie films that I have seen. The film blends good comedy, with drama and the story is engaging and entertaining. I thoroughly enjoyed this film, and if you're looking for a terrific independent film, give King of California a viewing. One of Michael Douglas' best films. This is a film not to miss. I absolutely recommend this film. A great film. -
♥˩ƳИИ &
Cast: Michael Douglas, Evan Rachel Wood, Laura Kachergus, Will Rothhaar, Paul Lieber, Kathleen Wilhoite Director: Mike Cahill Summary: This quirky Sundance comedy from writer-director Mike Cahill chronicles the journey of a delusional father (Michael Douglas) who's… More
Cast: Michael Douglas, Evan Rachel Wood, Laura Kachergus, Will Rothhaar, Paul Lieber, Kathleen Wilhoite Director: Mike Cahill Summary: This quirky Sundance comedy from writer-director Mike Cahill chronicles the journey of a delusional father (Michael Douglas) who's convinced that a fabled treasure is buried somewhere beneath his Southern California suburb. His delinquent daughter (Evan Rachel Wood) -- a high school dropout who was abandoned by her mother and saw her father sent to a mental institution -- resists his ravings at first. But, eventually, she starts to believe. My Thoughts: "I really didn't know what to expect from this type of movie.. I thought I wasn't going to like it, but to my surprise I really enjoyed it.. It was funny, interesting, and deffinetly made you want to keep watching it just to see if there really was gold.. Its about a strange relationship between a daughter who has pretty much been on her own since her mother left them, and a father who is, by society, claimed mentally insane. But as it goes it just shows you what a genius he is. Its a good father and daughter movie.. I recommend it." -
Mark W
Nepotism is rife throughout Hollywood and as much as I despise it, I think I may have to finally admit that after all these years, Michael Douglas does have some talent of his own and isn't just a by-product of his father Kirk. Douglas' plays Charlie, a free-spirited… More
Nepotism is rife throughout Hollywood and as much as I despise it, I think I may have to finally admit that after all these years, Michael Douglas does have some talent of his own and isn't just a by-product of his father Kirk. Douglas' plays Charlie, a free-spirited eccentric who's just been released from a mental institution and is obsessed with locating an ancient Spanish treasure that he believes is buried right under peoples noses in California. To aide him in his crazy quest - and against her better judgement - he enlists his sixteen-year-old daughter Miranda (Evan Rachel Wood). Douglas is a treat to watch here. I always took him to be one of the self-important Hollywood types, but here he doesn't take himself too seriously at all and reminded me, that he has in fact produced some wonderful comedic performances throughout his career; "War of the Roses"; "Wonderboys"; and "One Night at McCools", to name a few. His character of Charlie can be included amongst these oddities. He's highly intelligent but also quite dysfunctional on a basic level and Douglas perfectly captures this creative, intelligent madness. This is also helped by Evan Rachel Wood's sensitive performance as Miranda and her almost escapist, dreamlike perspective which adds to the surreal and farout nature of her father and her feelings of a stolen childhood, due his quirky demeanor. They are both delightful performances in an unexpectedly delightful film. It's not groundbreaking material by any means but it is an original little caper with a real sense for the offbeat. -
Anthony L
A gem, lurking in the bargain bin of my local supermarket. Michael Douglas plays lawyer/Ruthless Businessman/jealous husband very well etc etc but it's his quirky little performances like this and the one in Wonderboys that I love him for. I liked the story, I liked the pace,… More
A gem, lurking in the bargain bin of my local supermarket. Michael Douglas plays lawyer/Ruthless Businessman/jealous husband very well etc etc but it's his quirky little performances like this and the one in Wonderboys that I love him for. I liked the story, I liked the pace, acting and premise, it was subtle, sweet and thoroughly entertaining. Without spoiling the storyline for anyone, there is a particularly strong scene here that is brutal but handled with amazing tact, it is real credit to Mike Cahill's direction. 'From the makers of Sideways', you decide whether or not that tag line appeals to you or not and act accordingly, my rating maybe generous but it does reflect how much I enjoyed it. -
Dean M
Writer-director Mike Cahill's debut feature is never really deciding if it's a comedy or drama. This is the second Michael Douglas film that he used to play his character with his real beard. He makes his performance as Charles work nicely, acting like a loony was released… More
Writer-director Mike Cahill's debut feature is never really deciding if it's a comedy or drama. This is the second Michael Douglas film that he used to play his character with his real beard. He makes his performance as Charles work nicely, acting like a loony was released from the home a bit too early. The ever developing Evan Rachel Wood is solid in the role of Miranda, the whole movie develops through her narration and her acting is effortlessly touching. -
Nicki M
I wasn't entirely sure I liked this all that much while it was on, but it does make an impression slowly. By the end I was well and truly hooked and waiting to see how it would end. Evan Rachel Wood is, as always, impressive, playing an old beyond her years teen who has had to… More
I wasn't entirely sure I liked this all that much while it was on, but it does make an impression slowly. By the end I was well and truly hooked and waiting to see how it would end. Evan Rachel Wood is, as always, impressive, playing an old beyond her years teen who has had to fend for herself while her father is away in hospital. His return complicates her life. This movie won't be for everyone as it does get kind of dark, but if you are in the mood for something different, you could certainly watch worse. -
Lewis C
King of California is a quirky, personal drama about a troubled man and his exasperated daughter. The story seems briefer than it actually is. You get burdened with very little backstory, and the plot doesn't cover a very long period of time. The movie zips along, and I'm… More
King of California is a quirky, personal drama about a troubled man and his exasperated daughter. The story seems briefer than it actually is. You get burdened with very little backstory, and the plot doesn't cover a very long period of time. The movie zips along, and I'm certainly an avowed fan of zipping. Evan Rachel Wood was great. I couldn't get over the fact that she looked like a non-depressed version of Kristen Stewart. There's no doubt, she's a good and likeable actress. I don't know if anyone would "love" this movie, per se, but I dug the bittersweet ending and the originality of the plot. Give King of California a shot, at the very least, you'll learn a few things about California's history. -
Alice S
Neither of the two performances are truly inspired. Michael Douglas goes through the motions of crazy, and ERW is pretty bland when she's not playing a sociopath. She may be able to cry at the drop of a hat, but she relies too much on pointing and exhaling while exasperated.… More
Neither of the two performances are truly inspired. Michael Douglas goes through the motions of crazy, and ERW is pretty bland when she's not playing a sociopath. She may be able to cry at the drop of a hat, but she relies too much on pointing and exhaling while exasperated. I heard the screenplay was a finalist in a contest, but it favors commonplace metaphors and emotions. The ending's kinda sweet though. -
Michael G
I liked the acting and I liked the direction in King of California but I just couldn't bring myself to care about the movie as a whole. Michael Douglas and Evan Rachel Wood worked well together and the swingers party was brilliant in all its grotesque genius. The father/daughter… More
I liked the acting and I liked the direction in King of California but I just couldn't bring myself to care about the movie as a whole. Michael Douglas and Evan Rachel Wood worked well together and the swingers party was brilliant in all its grotesque genius. The father/daughter flashbacks got me a tad misty as well to the point where I sort of cared about what happened to Douglas' character at the end. (But that's more of being a father an turning me into a total puss when watching some movies. Neither here nor there...) On the down side, I felt like I was watching a Cuckoo's Nest spin-off (right down to the score) and despite having to raise herself, Wood's character was way too mature. I don't know, plenty of stuff I didn't buy and not enough entertaining parts to sell King of California for me. But it was nice to see Douglas in a movie that wasn't total crap. -
Bruce B
A pretty cool movie, Its a father daughter relationship. Dad is released from a State Mental Hospital, while in the hospital he did research and found a Treasure map. Well clue lead all over California and the treasure is buried in the center of Petco. Michael Douglas plays Dad and… More
A pretty cool movie, Its a father daughter relationship. Dad is released from a State Mental Hospital, while in the hospital he did research and found a Treasure map. Well clue lead all over California and the treasure is buried in the center of Petco. Michael Douglas plays Dad and does a great job. Its clean and enjoyable, good family Movie. 4 Stars -
Lorenzo v
Some people say that this film is Michael Douglas's best since Wall Street. I have not seen Wall Street so I can't give my say on the matter but I can assure you this: Michael Douglas gives a brilliant, touching performance as Charlie, an institutionalized dad obsessing… More
Some people say that this film is Michael Douglas's best since Wall Street. I have not seen Wall Street so I can't give my say on the matter but I can assure you this: Michael Douglas gives a brilliant, touching performance as Charlie, an institutionalized dad obsessing over buried treasure in the California suburbs. I can boldly say that he's one of the best character actors around and the way he portrayed his character in the movie cannot be easily forgotten. I definitely think he deserves an Oscar on this one. An outstanding performance by Mr. Douglas I tell you that. But he isn't the only one that made this movie. There's the young actress Evan Rachel Wood who also deserves some credits as the patient and caring daughter to his father, Charlie. The director also deserves some creds. He made an awesome film with the most perfect cast and a touching, yet heartbreaking ending. I suggest you go see it now. -
Nani V
It was almost like a little kid's movie with the whole treasure hunt thing. I like it though. -
Curtis L
Pretty fun. It reminds me of a mix between Big Fish and the Goonies, but without kids and Siamese twins. Replace instead with Michael Douglas looking like a homeless man, and some buried gold underneath a costco. It has a very light heartedness to it all, but in reality is very… More
Pretty fun. It reminds me of a mix between Big Fish and the Goonies, but without kids and Siamese twins. Replace instead with Michael Douglas looking like a homeless man, and some buried gold underneath a costco. It has a very light heartedness to it all, but in reality is very sad. -
Walter M
[font=Century Gothic]In "King of California," Miranda(Evan Rachel Wood) is unlike other sixteen year-olds in that she does not go to school. Potential classmates would be envious until they found out that she works full time at a fast food restaurant in order to support… More
[font=Century Gothic]In "King of California," Miranda(Evan Rachel Wood) is unlike other sixteen year-olds in that she does not go to school. Potential classmates would be envious until they found out that she works full time at a fast food restaurant in order to support herself since her mother is long gone and her father Charlie(Michael Douglas), an occasional jazz musician, is in a mental hospital.(In order to maintain her independence, she plays a shell game with her mother, several government agencies and probably a foreign government or two...) All is right in the world until Charlie is released and brings his daughter along on a hunt for buried treasure...[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]Influenced by "Don Quixote" and "The Tempest," "King of California" is a highly entertaining movie with excellent performances from the leads, especially from Michael Douglas who has rarely been so relaxed and unselfconscious. As enjoyable as the movie is, it does not avoid the subject of Charlie's manic depression. A suicide attempt led to his being confined in the first place. And throughout the movie, he is apparently at the manic end of the pendulum, quite possibly off his medication.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]What the movie is especially concerned with is history in a world where there are no adventures left and how we can learn a lot by shutting off the television and reading a book.(I know Miranda's diorama may seem like a throwaway gag but it is part of this too.) Charlie is obsessed with the history that he suspects is lying just beneath his feet and which has been covered over by identical housing units and box stores, taking away the meanings from place names in the process.(It should be noted that [font=Century Gothic]the product placement is handled very ambiguously.) This is nothing new as [/font]Spanish conquerors obliterated traces of the native population in colonial times. [/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] -
Mike N
We meet again, Oscar. And there's something I have to tell you... [img]http://www.constantgardenertrust.org/images/news1/oscar.jpg[/img] ...your head looks funny. [b][i][size=3]Best Picture[/size][/i][/b] [list][*]Atonement[*]Juno[*]Michael Clayton[*]No Country For Old… More
We meet again, Oscar. And there's something I have to tell you... [img]http://www.constantgardenertrust.org/images/news1/oscar.jpg[/img] ...your head looks funny. [b][i][size=3]Best Picture[/size][/i][/b] [list][*]Atonement[*]Juno[*]Michael Clayton[*]No Country For Old Men[*]There Will Be Blood[/list][u]My initial take[/u]: Ah, the aroma of awards season snubbery is in the air! Actually, compared to the usual Oscar lineups, these are excellent nominations. The glaring omission is Sweeney Todd, but all nominated films are varying levels of :fresh:. The weakest, puniest, most girly-man nominee is definitely Atonement (what accent did you just use to read that?), but two of the best films of the year, critical juggernauts There Will Be Blood and No Country For Old Men, have not only ensnared noms, but are the frontrunners for gobbling the big Oscar pie. Michael Clayton was sort of the surprise nomination - a really good film, but I don't have strong feelings for it in the way I do for, say, Into The Wild *flexes feelings* Strong like bull! The darkhorse is indie darling Juno, which ages well in the mind. [u]My prediction[/u]: No Country For Old Men [u]My preference[/u]: No Country For Old Men [u]My personal favorites from the year[/u]: Top 27 of 2007 list will reveal this. I promise my loyal citizens of the Kingdom of Neum that this will arrive most expeditiously. *glances over at the unfinished dusty rubble heap of Top movie lists, from 2004 to 2007* [b][i][size=3]Best Actress[/size][/i][/b] [list][*]Cate Blanchett, 'Elizabeth: The Golden Age'[*]Julie Christie, 'Away From Her'[*]Marion Cotillard, 'La Vie En Rose'[*]Laura Linney, 'The Savages'[*]Ellen Page, 'Juno'[/list][u]My initial take[/u]: Kind of too much blehness in this group to get really excited for it. Blanchett's performance was devoid of fluid contours. It was kind of a spraining kind of hypernobility at times. Oh, it had plenty of good moments, too, but I felt she was trying to overcompensate for a crappy script. Plus, she was already nominated for her first Elizabeth movie. Without hesitation, I believe she should've been left out in favor of Helena Bonham Carter (Sweeney Todd). Laura Linney was an average kind of good for The Savages. The true gem in that film was Philip Seymour Hoffman's perf. Perhaps she could've been replaced by Marketa Irglova (Once). Ellen Page was spot on, and like the film, could play the upset queen. But the two powerhousers here are Julie Christie and Marion Cotillard. Christie is subtle but poignant, though I think a lot of the film's power came from her onscreen partner, Gordon Pinsent. Cotillard is closer to a tour de force (if not actually being one), and is probably more deserving. It will come down to these two, but recent awards have gone to Christie. [u]My prediction[/u]: Julie Christie [u]My preference[/u]: Marion Cotillard [u]My personal favorites from the year[/u]: - Julie Christie, Away From Her - Marion Cotillard, La Vie En Rose - Helena Bonham Carter, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street - Marketa Irglova, Once - AnnaSophia Robb, Bridge to Terabithia - Belén Rueda, The Orphanage - Michelle Monaghan, Gone Baby Gone - Amy Adams, Enchanted - Keri Russell, Waitress - Wei Tang, Lust, Caution - Naomi Watts, Eastern Promises - Katherine Heigl, Knocked Up - Dakota Blue Richards, The Golden Compass [b][i][size=3]Best Actor[/size][/i][/b] [list][*]George Clooney, 'Michael Clayton'[*]Daniel Day-Lewis, 'There Will Be Blood'[*]Johnny Depp, 'Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street'[*]Tommy Lee Jones, 'In The Valley Of Elah'[*]Viggo Mortensen, 'Eastern Promises'[/list][u]My initial take[/u]: As per usual, a strong crop of noms. The surprise is Tommy Lee Jones, who really didn't receive much recognition at all the other awards ceremonies. It's also the only performance I haven't seen yet (the DVD just came out yesterday)... so, no comment. But, the buzz isn't very strong for it. He probably could've been replaced by Philip Seymour Hoffman (The Savages) or Gordon Pinsent (Away From Her) or even Will Smith (I Am Legend) without any fuss. Clooney is great, but my 3 favs I feel pretty strongly about_: Viggo, Depp, and DDL. Daniel Day-Lewis is a force of nature on the screen, chewing up every scene like the Cloverfield monster. Depp was throat-slashingly fantastic, too, and probably would've won any other year. Viggo is a relatively underappreciated actor who delivered a very raw, vulnerable, intense performance as a Russian mobster. I'm happy he was at least nominated. [u]My prediction[/u]: Daniel Day-Lewis [u]My preference[/u]: Daniel Day-Lewis or Johnny Depp [u]My personal favorites from the year[/u]: - Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood - Johnny Depp, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street - Viggo Mortensen, Eastern Promises - George Clooney, Michael Clayton - Hae-il Park, The Host (the blonde-haired dad) - Mathieu Almaric, The Diving Bell & The Butterfly - Russell Crowe, 3:10 to Yuma - Christian Bale, 3:10 to Yuma - Christian Bale, Rescue Dawn - Emile Hirsch, Into The Wild - Glen Hansard, Once - Reece Thompson, Rocket Science - Gordon Pinsent, Away From Her - Nathan Baesel, Behind The Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon - Lou Romano, Ratatouille - Konstantin Khabensky, Day Watch - Philip Seymour Hoffman, The Savages - Philip Seymour Hoffman, Before The Devil Knows You're Dead - Ryan Gosling, Lars and the Real Girl - Will Ferrell, Blades of Glory - John C. Reilly, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story - Jake Gyllenhaal, Zodiac - Brad Pitt, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford - Richard Gere, The Hoax - K'Sun Ray, Fido - Denzel Washington, The Great Debaters - Khalid Abdalla, The Kite Runner - Will Smith, I Am Legend - John Cusack, 1408 - Don Cheadle, Talk To Me [b][i][size=3]Best Supporting Actress[/size][/i][/b] [list][*]Cate Blanchett, 'I'm Not There'[*]Ruby Dee, 'American Gangster'[*]Saoirse Ronan, 'Atonement'[*]Amy Ryan, 'Gone Baby Gone'[*]Tilda Swinton, 'Michael Clayton'[/list][u]My initial take[/u]: Slightly less of a mixed bag than the Best Actress category. I think Blanchett's role here is a thousand times stronger than her Elizabeth retread, and will probably garner her another Oscar. Really, aside from Elizabeth: The Unnecessary Sequel, she's chronically exceptional. Ruby Dee seems a stretch, but sometimes it can get hard to find strong female performances for this category (as evidenced by the past). Either way, I find dear old Ruby the weakest nom - it was really kind of a cliche role, and I saw no defining strength in the portrayal. I'm thinking her nomination is based solely on slapping Denzel in the face that one time. Feh. Saoirse Ronan was really fantastic in Atonement - perhaps show-stealingly so. Will she pull an upset? Doubtful, but...not as much of a stretch as one may think. Amy Ryan was really good, too, where at times I forgot she was an actress. Again, it was kind of an easier, lose-yourself-into-ridiculously-white-trash kind of a role calling, but still. Tilda Swinton is another exquisite actress, but her role in Michael Clayton was kind of an anybody-role. Perhaps there is nuance in there I may be underestimating, but it didn't have a distinctive wow factor going for it. Next time, Tilda: use pop rocks. [u]My prediction[/u]: Cate Blanchett [u]My preference[/u]: Cate Blanchett [u]My personal favorites from the year[/u]: - Cate Blanchett, I'm Not There - Saoirse Ronan, Atonement - Romola Garai, Atonement - Amy Ryan, Gone Baby Gone - Ah-Sung Ko, The Host (the little girl) - Kelly Macdonald, No Country For Old Men - Anna Kendrick, Rocket Science - Margo Martindale, Paris, je t'aime - Dana Fuchs, Across The Universe - Atossa Leoni, The Kite Runner - Adrienne Shelley, Waitress - Michelle Pfeiffer, Hairspray - Carrie-Anne Moss, Fido - Imelda Staunton, Harry Potter & The Order of the Phoenix [b][i][size=3]Best Supporting Actor[/size][/i][/b] [list][*]Casey Affleck, 'The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford'[*]Javier Bardem, 'No Country For Old Men'[*]Philip Seymour Hoffman, 'Charlie Wilson's War'[*]Hal Holbrook, 'Into The Wild'[*]Tom Wilkinson, 'Michael Clayton'[/list][u]My initial take[/u]: Probably the strongest category of the night, which is par for the course for ol' Oscar. Philip Seymour Hoffman's trio of awards season performances (this, The Savages, Before The Devil Knows You're Dead) definitely earns him something. Is this the right performance for the recognition? Probably not, but it was still good in its own right. Holbrook is a solid choice, probably more a nod to his cumulative work, but still likeable. I'd maybe replace him with Robert Downey, Jr. (Zodiac) or maybe Steve Zahn (Rescue Dawn), but I haven't yet been able to figure out how to rig these awards ceremonies - but it's a new year's resolution to figure it out. Tom Wilkinson delivered the best performance in Michael Clayton - he deserves the nom. The win? Well, when you toss in Bardem and Affleck, then no. Javier Bardem is quintessential villainy here, but not in a loopy cartoonish sense. It's a subtle, creepy, unhinged menace. He nailed all the tiniest of idiosyncrasies. But nigh equally difficult to discount is Casey Affleck, who maybe captured a greater range necessary for his role as "the Coward Robert Ford." His performance is practically a homerun, and sold a lot of the movie's power on his acting chops alone. This is a tough call, between those two. I can see Casey snaking a win, but the upset feels like it would more realistically come from Hal Holbrook. Still, I expect Javier will rock the win, flamenco-style. [u]My prediction[/u]: Javier Bardem [u]My preference[/u]: Javier Bardem or Casey Affleck [u]My personal favorites from the year[/u]: - Javier Bardem, No Country For Old Men - Casey Affleck, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford - Tom Wilkinson, Michael Clayton - Philip Seymour Hoffman, Charlie Wilson's War - Hal Holbrook, Into The Wild - Hie-bong Byeon, The Host (grandfather) - JK Simmons, Juno - Michael Cera, Juno - Sacha Baron Cohen, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street - Ben Foster, 3:10 to Yuma - Brad Garrett, Ratatouille - Robert Downey, Jr., Zodiac - Mark Ruffalo, Zodiac - Chris Cooper, Breach - Christian Bale, I'm Not There - Heath Ledger, I'm Not There - Ed Harris, Gone Baby Gone - Viktor Verzhbitsky, Day Watch - Seydou Boro, Paris, je t'aime - Alfred Molina, The Hoax - James Marsden, Enchanted - Adrien Brody, The Darjeeling Limited - Vincent Cassell, Eastern Promises - Armin Mueller-Stahl, Eastern Promises - Billy Connolly, Fido - Dylan Baker, Fido - Steve Zahn, Rescue Dawn - Geoffrey Rush, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End - Geoffrey Rush, Elizabeth: The Golden Age - Chris Evans, Sunshine - Jason Bateman, Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium - Chiwetel Ejiofor, Talk To Me - Kurt Russell, Grindhouse (Death Proof) - Kevin Smith, Catch and Release There may be more to extoll upon these Oscars within other categories, but the night is late, so I'm going to wrap this sucker up with a perfectly justifiable "I could give a crap." Ah, feel the perfect justification. -
Sol C
The film was good, but could have been so much better. Michael Douglas and Evan Rachel Wood shine in this film. They have great on screen chemistry playing father daughter in this film. The problem with the film: the pacing. I was shocked that it was an hour and a half. It could have… More
The film was good, but could have been so much better. Michael Douglas and Evan Rachel Wood shine in this film. They have great on screen chemistry playing father daughter in this film. The problem with the film: the pacing. I was shocked that it was an hour and a half. It could have been 15 or 20 minutes longer. Also I think it needed another rewrite to make this story stronger. It kind of reminded me of Sidney Lumet's film, Family Business, with Sean Connery, Dustin Hoffman, and Matthew Broderick. Family Business was a much better film than King of California. Still this movie is worth checking out for the performances of Douglas and Wood. -
Christopher H
Loved Rachel Wood, who made this film worth seeing. I liked the playful nature of the film and loved seeing Michael Douglas as a crazy man because he's always kind of seemed like a crazy man to me. Otherwise, this film was a nice balance of reality and surreal. Definitely worth… More
Loved Rachel Wood, who made this film worth seeing. I liked the playful nature of the film and loved seeing Michael Douglas as a crazy man because he's always kind of seemed like a crazy man to me. Otherwise, this film was a nice balance of reality and surreal. Definitely worth your time. -
Yinalí R
It's bizzare, comical, entertaining, sentimental, worth watching, I absolutely loved it. -
William G
Takes time to find footing, but works its way into a more winsome rhythm. -
Lea L
King of California - We're All Searching for Something ... A fresh-out-of-the-mental institution father and his emancipated teenage daughter venture together on a quest for an ancient Spanish treasure buried beneath their local Costco in this take on the modern family and the… More
King of California - We're All Searching for Something ... A fresh-out-of-the-mental institution father and his emancipated teenage daughter venture together on a quest for an ancient Spanish treasure buried beneath their local Costco in this take on the modern family and the American dream.. Great movie.. Wonderful performances from Michael Douglas and Evan Rachel Wood..
Cast
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Michael Douglasas Charlie -
Evan Rachel Woodas Miranda -
Willis Burks IIas Pepper
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Laura Kachergusas Rita -
Paul Lieberas Doug -
Kathleen Wilhoiteas Kelly
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Anne Nathanas Applebee's Manager -
Arthur Santiagoas McDonald's Manager -
Ashley Greeneas McDonald's Customer
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Ian Hoppsas Boy -
Anna Khajaas Officer Contreras -
Will Rothhaaras Security Guard
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Annie O'Donnellas Greeter -
Greg Davis Jras Joseph -
Jeanie Hackettas Teacher
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Mousa Kraishas Bruce -
Max Grodénchikas Leonid -
Gerald Emerickas Sheriff's Deputy
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David O'Donnellas Firefighter -
Chic Danielas Older Cop -
Angel Oquendoas Younger Cop
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Jason Aueras Costco Employee -
Ho-Kwan Tseas Chinese Man -
Allisyn Ashley Armas Miranda Age 9
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Gary Paul Gatesas Cop at Excavation

