King of California

Plot synopsis:
16-year-old Miranda has been abandoned by her mother, and has dropped out of school. She is supporting herself as an employee at McDonald's while her father, Charlie, resides in a mental institution.
When Charlie is released and sent back to their home, Miranda finds the relatively peaceful existence she's built for herself completely disrupted. Charlie has become obsessed with the notion that the long-lost treasure of Spanish explorer Father Juan Florismarte Torres is buried somewhere near their suburban California house in the Santa Clarita Valley. Armed with a metal detector and a stack of treasure-hunting books, Charlie soon finds reason to believe that the gold resides underneath the local Costco, and encourages Miranda to get a job there so that they can plan a way to excavate after hours.
Initially skeptical, Miranda soon finds herself joining in Charlie's questionable antics in an effort to give him one last shot at accomplishing his dreams.
After becoming involved with some swingers, Miranda then helps Charlie break into the Costco. Once inside, they drill through the floor and then into a very smelly underground river. Charlie steals some scuba diving equipment, dives into the river, and then imaginably finds the gold. He leaves Miranda a tag and tells her not to lose it. When the police arrives at the Costco, Charlie is seen to carry a small but heavy chest, hiding from the police. He then jumps into the river again, where he pursues further, sees a bright light and swims towards it. Miranda's voice from the off says that his body was never found, although Charlie is seen still alive swimming in the river after that. The next day, Miranda visits Costco and finds the product the tag belongs to, a dishwasher, buys it and brings it to the beach in her old car. When Miranda opens the dishwasher, she is seen bathed in a golden glow and a slow smile spreads across her face, a strong indication that Charlie has cached the gold inside the dishwasher, although the gold is never actually shown to the viewer.
There is a theme of ambiguity/duality that runs through the movie, regarding what is real and what is imagined. The theme is underlined by the recurring line "you could look it up." but a source to look in is not given. While Charlie's judgement is in question for the whole story, he does seem to accurately perceive the nature of Miranda's co-workers to be swingers, as well as the sexual interest by the female police officer. As Charlie is faced with poverty, the losses of his house, mind and jazz career (his last friend & band member has cancer), he focuses on one last adventure with his daughter and gives her his treasure - his dreams - which are perhaps what she sees in the dishwasher he tells her to get.

Tags: flashback

Review:
Fifteen-year old Miranda(Evan Rachel Wood,luminescent!!) has had to grow up fast,since her mother left her and her father and said father,Charlie(Michael Douglass,in a word:WOW!) was institutionalized for reasons not entirely made clear but discernible through observation.
The movie features Douglas as Charlie a recently released mental patient with a whimsical fascination for buried Spanish treasure.
While Charlie has been away his 16 year old daughter Miranda played by Evan Racheal Wood has managed to avoid child services, dropped out of school and support herself and their home by working full-time at Mcdonalds.
The movie finds its humor and warmth in the moments shared between Charlie and Miranda during their treasure hunting through developed suburbia that leads them to a unlikely final destination.
In the end the real treasure may not be the gold after all but the love between a daughter and father.The ever developing Evan Racheal Wood is solid in the role of Miranda, the whole movie develops through her narration and her acting is effortlessly touching.
It was too easy to expect a rug-chewing performance from Michael Douglas as a crazy person, and an exasperated, eye-rolling two-dimensional "oh I'm so put-upon by the world" job from Evan Rachel Wood.Thankfully, those clichés were avoided in this poignant and ultimately joyful and uplifting (thank God!) story of quiet nobility, personal vision and purpose, and underlying love and strength amongst otherwise "broken" people.It's refreshing to go into a theatre not expecting much and coming out enlightened by the combined vision of the actors, writer, director, and cinematographer.Bravo to all involved, and here's hoping to see a strong presence at the Academy Awards..
Apparently the entire time he was there he was in the library researching lost buried treasure from the Spanish missionaries that was left in Ventura, California.Evan Rachel Wood plays his 16-year-old daughter, Miranda, who had to drop out of school so she could work double shifts at McDonalds to support herself and pay the mortgage to avoid losing the house.
Rather is more of an intrinsic hunt for the relationship and love between a misguided father, and his prematurely grown-up daughter.The film has a great balance of drama and humor, with just a touch of adventurous excitement.
KING OF California may not break any records for innovation of thought or script but it is a tightly made little film that allows veteran actor Michael Douglas a lollipop of a wacky role to remind us that he does have comedic talent!
Written and directed by Mike Cahill the story does have appeal, especially since it is set in Santa Clarita, California, a rapidly developing 'hinterland' that is suffering from the effects of too rapid industrialization, changing from a picturesque remnant of California raw beauty into yet another perky little town.Charlie (Michael Douglas) has been in and out of mental institutions for his wacky behavior.
His life as a jazz bassist and entrepreneur has always veered off the map, leaving him alone with his only daughter Miranda who has survived her father's irresponsible life by keeping the old family home (in the midst of a huge housing development) with the money she makes double shifting at the local MacDonalds.
The manner in which Charlie, Miranda, and an old ex-con friend Pepper (Willis Burks II) go after the treasure provides most of the energy of the film.Yes, there are bits and pieces of this project that have been done many times before (and often better), but the pleasure of KING OF California lies in the bravura and touching performances by Douglas and Wood.
It's the story of Charlie (Michael Douglas) who is released from the mental institution in which he has spent several years and is reunited with his sixteen year old daughter Miranda (Evan Rachel Wood).
"King Of California" is a slow and very quiet movie which focuses more on Charlie and Miranda repairing their relationship than the actual treasure hunt.
Their search for the treasure takes them to golf courses and busy stores where Charlie sees signs that they're on the right trail whilst Miranda, not fully believing in Charlie's dream, simply wants to spend some time with the father she's lost touch with.Douglas gives one of his finest performances in recent years as Charlie, managing to make the character seem insane whilst also being totally appealing (witness the way in which he wins arguments by stating absurd facts and telling people to "look it up").
It may not be as showy a role as Douglas' but Wood convinces you that Miranda absolutely loves her father despite all his faults (and he certainly has a lot).Although I liked "King Of California", I really can't say that I loved it - the plot was perhaps a little too slow moving for my tastes.
This film is about a recently released mental patient who is obsessed with finding hidden treasure mentioned by a 400 year old journal."King of California" is an interesting film.
In this one, she plays the daughter of a recently released mental patient (Michael Douglas,sporting an unkempt beard)who is obsessing over buried treasure somewhere in the suburbs of California.
Michael Douglas makes his performance as Charles work nicely, acting like a loony that was released from the home a bit too early, in contrast to Wood's anchor that holds things together.
I've seen thousands of movies.This breaks the top 100 all time for me.Apparently my review wasn't long enough.....hm.....The acting was great, the main character was zany, the chemistry and relationship of the two (evan rachel wood and michael douglass) was sensational throughout, and the movie just felt.....i don't know....unconventional.
What makes this movie different from many other independent films is a feel-good vibe which recently has been tough to find in American cinema and a quirky, interesting plot line.
Michael Douglas finally gets to cut loose a bit as a mentally loose father of one who just got out of an institution only to lead his responsible daughter onto a wild treasure hunt culminating beneath Costco's warehouse floor.
Unfortunately, even as the climax continues to build interest, the end result, coupled by Evan Rachel Wood 's omnipotent narration throughout pulls this somewhat unique movie back into a more typical independent-styled, light-hearted character study, forsaking most bona-fide personality for a more well rounded and safer viewing experience..
With each film she makes, Evan Rachel Wood just becomes better and better as an Actor and in KING OF California her outstanding role in the film carries it forward with a remarkable performance from Michael Douglas in a character role that is beyond belief.
However, with watching Douglas pursue his wild dreams and what happens at the end of the film, "once and again", it is the marvelous acting of Wood which makes California a film worth watching..
A nice little film that elicits a wonderful and (thankfully) restrained performance from Michael Douglas as a recent mental institute release who believes a long lost treasure is located underneath the local Costco.
Evan Rachel Wood and Micheal Douglas both do an outstanding job with their characters, and are thoroughly convincing.If you like low key Sundance-friendly movies that make you think, pick this one up..
Good movies like the two mentioned titles, I think, because of time and place (and other factors, of course; but it depends on the year) end up occupying a privileged position they might not completely deserve.
After we've experienced a rich use of music, filled with amiable guitars and acoustic songs that reflect the piece's mood, it's not until the very end that Miranda (Evan Rachel Wood) makes clear that we are, indeed, in California; but we have the film's title in our head and, even so, it doesn't seem to matter where the events take place.
Of course, there's the obligatory contact with the outer world, but the fact that Charlie is insane and his daughter ends up following him anywhere makes one believe they might live in a parallel universe...That is, until from time to time a cop or security guard warns them because of the wild activities they're performing (this is something you have to watch).
Not a bad movie, by any means, it still didn't really manage to captivate me to the point at which I'd consider it really good.Michael Douglas put on an excellent performance as Charlie, a man just released from a psychiatric institution who is convinced that he's discovered the location of a secret treasure buried by the Spaniards almost 400 years before.
Watching Charlie work his magic in his search for the treasure is amusing, and another clear highlight of the movie was the performance of Evan Rachel Wood as his 16-year old daughter Miranda, who's also learned to be quite the operator while Charlie was institutionalized, convincing everyone that she was being looked after by someone else so that everyone would just leave her alone.
Both Douglas and Wood pulled off the role reversal perfectly - Miranda essentially being the mature and responsible adult as opposed to Charlie's child-like qualities.
Miranda is often frustrated by Charlie and sometimes angry with him (only calling him "Dad" when he insists) and yet over the course of the movie Wood also does a good job portraying her growing affection and closeness for him.
Michael Douglas and Evan Rachel Wood have great chemistry on screen and it feels like they really are father and daughter.
Michael Douglas is at his best since Wonder Boys and I think it's fair to say it's Evan Rachel Wood's second best performance of her career..
All of that is beside the point as it all works as you're watching it and you'll be far too entertained to think about what it may or may not be trying to be.Douglas clearly demonstrates that he still has some great acting left in his career as he adds a very commendable performance from King of California to his list.
The movie focuses on two main characters - a mentally ill musician who believes he has discovered buried treasure and is ready to go to the extreme for it, and his teenage daughter struggling alone to make ends meet.
The pace is, however, not even, some scenes are unnecessary or protracted, turns appear arduously, but thanks to Michael Douglas and Evan Rachel Wood as leading characters, it is not boring to watch; Douglas, above all, gives a performance not customary to him, proving again that he is a strong and versatile actor.If you have followed Sundance movies, you would likely appreciate King of California as well..
16-year old Miranda's father Charlie returns from the loony bin.Now Charlie believes there's a long-lost treasure of Spanish explorer Father Juan Florismarte Torres buried nearby their California house.Soon he's off with his daughter to go treasure hunting.She gets a job at Costco, underneath which the treasure should be located.King of California (2007) is directed by Mike Cahill and produced by Alexander Payne.Michael Douglas does amazing job in the lead as Charlie.Mr. Douglas is a fantastic actor who we in the future can call a cancer survivor, I'm sure.I'm very hopeful after having heard that his father, Kirk Douglas, told in an interview how his son is in a better shape now.So Michael Douglas really makes this movie, but I must give credit to Evan Rachel Wood, who plays his daughter Miranda.They both play their parts just brilliantly.Allisyn Ashley Arm plays Young Miranda.Willis Burks II is Pepper.Paul Lieber and Kathleen Wilhoite are Doug and Kelly.This is a very beautiful film.It offers some great drama and comedy.Like the scene where they dig around the golf course is quite funny.It's just amazing to watch when Charlie is diving at the underground river, searching for the treasure.Charlie is the most tragicomic character, and you really like him.You really hope he finds the treasure at the end..
It is a good movie, well acted, and an interesting story...but it is hard to find humor in the relationship between a father who is institutionally crazy and his daughter who has been left to care for herself long before any child should have to.Michael Douglas does a wonderful job playing the crazy man that his character is, and Evan Rachel Wood plays the teenager forced into adulthood too soon very well.
It manages to incorporate some original (albeit far-fetched) ideas with genuine emotion - a realistic approach to an unconventional story.Although this was marketed as a 'Michael Douglas movie', the film belongs largely to Evan Rachel Wood.
Although I'd give higher praise to Little Miss Sunshine, King of California deserves its own rays.Michael Douglas got top billing, but it is really Evan Rachel Wood (DOWN IN THE VALLEY) who's the star.
And relative unknown writer/director Mike Cahill (best known for his visual effects work on the CRITTERCAM TV series) does a fine job in giving us a story of touching simplicity and wacky humor.The story starts out with Miranda (Wood) picking up her father Charlie (Douglas) at a mental hospital during his release.
Her mother (Charlie's ex) also ran away from home during one of Charlie's early mental meltdowns and left Miranda to fend for herself.Hoping her father might be getting better, any possibility of normalcy is swept aside when Charlie immediately starts searching for a lost 17th century treasure supposedly buried in their now booming community of Santa Clarita, California.
But then the discovery that the lost treasure is hidden beneath the concrete foundation of a newly installed Costco seems to put a halt to their plans; but Charlie has no intentions of letting anything get in his way.Miranda must come to grips with her father's need to connect with something in his life; something that makes his life have meaning.
For Charlie's part, well, my own feeling is if you like Michael Douglas, this is a good movie for you.
Personally, I can imagine the role played more fittingly by another actor; I'll bet if I read the story on which the movie is based I'd come up with a different way to play Charlie, whether it's Michael Douglas or someone else.
I just think he's a funny old stoner like when they creep up to the Costco and Michael Douglas says "I'm Getting Good Vibes Here".
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.
There's the young actress Evan Rachel Wood who also deserves some credits as the patient and caring daughter to his father, Charlie.
Michael Douglas plays an amazing crazy guy and Evan Rachel Wood is great as the daughter who is struggling to believe her dad and see through his insanity,all the while being taken on a hilarious and heart-moving journey,in this very quirky and imaginative movie.
Underdeveloped 2-Man Act. Charlie (Douglas) is released from a mental hospital and returns to his home to live with his daughter, Miranda, (Wood) who had been comfortably supporting herself while he was away.
King of California ("KOC") is one of those movies where if you don't pay attention, you might miss the punch-line.Basically what is boils down to is this: The slight zaniness of Charlie (Michael Douglas) in his search for long lost treasure, is a metaphor for the long-standing allure California has had on hundreds of thousands (millions) of people over the years.Like moths to a flame, the intangible allure which is the promise of a better life, has drawn legions of seekers to California over the years.But the genius of KOC is that it waits to the ending scenes to confirm for us the viewers that Charlie's obsession is, by the standards of the allure of California, 100% correct, 100% valid and in his instance, it actually pays off for his beloved (and loving) daughter in the end.Think carefully about the symbolism of the illegal immigrants emerging for the ocean in the movie's final scene and also about the scene in which Charlie last appears and you'll make the connection regarding the utter immersion which the allure of personal fulfillment compels people to.
Fortunately for King Of California, Michael Douglas and Evan Rachel Wood paddle fast enough as actors to keep the whole movie from going over the edge and down the Niagara Falls of crappy cinema.Miranda (Evan Rachel Wood) is a 16 year old girl who lives alone in a big old house, drives a ramshackle station wagon and works at McDonald's.
She's all alone because her mother ran off when she was nine and her father Charlie (Michael Douglas) has been in a state mental institution for the last 2 years.
Charlie gets out and moves back in with Miranda, his bipolar looniness largely intact, and drags his daughter in a treasure hunt for lost Spanish gold from 1624.
That's where King of California takes a severe right turn out of indulgently amusing and into arbitrary drama with an ending that can be understood in two different ways, though I'm not sure these filmmakers could tell you which was the right way.Everything that's right about this movie flows out of the performances of Douglas and Wood.
Saw the film this weekend on DVD and was amazed at the two performances of Michael Douglas and Evan Rachel Wood.
While he may not actually lie, he likely is withholding important details.Evan Rachel Wood is good and cute as Charlie's daughter Miranda.
Her mother abandoned her when she was a little girl while her father, Charlie (Michael Douglas), found himself in a mental hospital.
It appears her father (Charlie-Sir Mike) is being released from a mental institution and picked up by Wood's character (Miranda).
He's been researching an old priest's life (movie is set in California of course), and apparently he thinks this man has buried a treasure somewhere based on the Father's journals.
The bi-polar Charlie is played by Michael Douglas and sixteen-year-old Miranda by Evan Rachel Wood.