Kalifornia (Widescreen/Full Screen)

 

 

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This movie takes a familiar premise and makes the most of it, doing a pretty darn good job in the process. David Duchovny stars as Brian, a guy writing a book on serial killers who wants to take a cross-country tour of historic murder sites with his girlfriend phtographer, Carrie (Michelle Forbes). To share expenses on the trip and liven things up, they take along a trailer trash couple named Early (Brad Pitt) and Adele (Juliette Lewis). Unfortunately for all involved, Early is a serial murderer himself.
There's a lot going for this movie, particularly the performances by Pitt and Lewis. They get so immersed in their characters, you can almost smell them. Pitt is outstanding. He ain't just a pretty face (in this movie, he's nearly unrecognizable); he acts the hell out of his role. Some critics might say it doesn't take a lot of talent to play a moronic dirtbag, but check out all the nuances Pitt gives Early, and you'll disagree. It's easily one of the best performances of his career, and certainly the most disturbing.
Lewis, for her part, is often accused of "always playing the same character," but this is not true. For all her childlike foolishness and pitiful gazes, Adele is a sad, complex creature who becomes the movie's emotional core. Indeed, Adele would have a major struggle on her hands just trying to complete the first grade, and her voice and behavior might annoy the socks off of us (not to mention Brian and Carrie), but are there people in the world like her? Yes. They put us in the awkward position of earning our sympathy while making us uncomfortable. Then we feel guilty that we're uncomfortable. Courage and independence come easily to some people, just as lies and deceit are the natural tools of others. But Adele posesses none of the above. She is simply an innocent, dealt a rotten hand in life, and Lewis's ability to make this clear proves her acting talent. It's a tricky role, but she pulls it off beautifully. There's a world of difference between Adele and the character Lewis plays in "Cape Fear."
Duchovny (who, with his dry monotone and sparse facial expressions, has always been an acquired taste) does well in the role of Brian. He is repelled by Early and Adele, but won't admit it. He also makes the mistake of regarding them as an amusing curiosity. Forbes does a good job too, but with the marathon of excellent acting going on around her, she won't be the character you'll remember the most.
Thematically, some might find the movie a little shaky. Suffice to say, it's violent enough to put off many potential viewers, but that's not what I mean. Some have criticized Pitt's portrayal of Early as not in-depth enough, that is, why is Early a serial killer? Do we get "inside his head"? Is it enough to justify his crimes simply because we need them for the plot? Let me tell you what I think. Early kills for two reasons: opportunistic impulse, or to escape capture. Technically, this makes him NOT a serial killer. He's more like Charles Starkweather, not Jeffrey Dahmer. It's rather fitting that Brian, after all his theorizing about "the minds of serial killers" and preaching about "treatment, not punishment", should be faced with someone who kills out of small-minded necessity, not sadism or sexual desire.
All in all, a very good movie, if you can stomach the violence. It gives you a lot to think about, as well as a couple of significantly underappreciated performances to amaze you.

Well Brad Pitt Hollywood pretty boy kills that image in this great film.Brad Pit is Early a white-trash,Serial killer.Pitt
gets the image down cold,the hair,beard,accent,tatoo's he is a
blast to watch.Juliette Lewis is great to as Early' girlfreind
who's harmless and terrified of Early.David Ducovany(X-files)is
his usual yuppy self but was right for the part.I can't decide
witch on the road killing spree movie I like more Kalifornia or
the classic Natural Born Killers.Both are going head to head
Watch both and you'll see what I mean both are aquirred taste
and if your not into violence for pleasure and dark humor avoid
both but if you like violence for pleasure and are into just flat
out guilty pleasures watch on.Although Kalifornia is a more real
-istic violent Natural Born Killers is action violent.See both now.All hail Brad and Woody.Mickey and Earlyt

When this movie opened back in 1992, I skipped it (too graphic! too bloody!). When it came out on video, I skipped it (Brad Pitt, David Duchovny -- pretty boys who think they can act, forget it!). Then, one rainy evening when everything else had been rented out at the video store, I finally sat down and watched this movie. What a surprise. These guys can act. Especially Brad Pitt. Playing completely against type, he shows that there really is a brain and talent underneath all of that "Interview with a Vampire" hair. With Juliette Lewis and Michelle Forbes giving great supporting roles, this movie actually kept me guessing about the ending (not an easily accomplished goal). A good addition to any collection of those who like suspense movies.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Yes, Brad Pitt Can Act
For those who doubt that Brad Pitt can act, consider this: he is one of the four main characters in this film, and it took me half the movie to figure out who he was. Read more

Published on May 26 2004 by voodoobunny

4.0 out of 5 stars Gripping Suspense
Brad Pitt, David Duchovny and Juliette Lewis star in this excellent road movie/thriller/drama about four very different people who are on the road and have to deal with their... Read more

Published on Mar 28 2004 by gonn1000

5.0 out of 5 stars Brad Pitt at his best
This is the best movie Brat Pitt has being in. He does a really good job at acting like a white trash killer. Read more

Published on Feb 3 2004 by Robert Cameron Palin

4.0 out of 5 stars A chilling cinematic experience...
Brian Kessler (David Duchovny) has received an offer to write a book about serial killers, but struggles with the difficulty of actually writing the book. Read more

Published on Jan 1 2004 by Kim Anehall

4.0 out of 5 stars A wild ride to California
Brad Pitt is the best looking scruffy killer I've ever seen, that is for sure! :-) Juliette Lewis is terrific as a silly, immature, uneducated girlfriend of Pitt. Read more

Published on Nov 18 2003 by Alicia Walker

4.0 out of 5 stars ALEXS CAPSULE MOVIE REVIEWS
Highlights: Performances are all-star, especially Brad Pitt, who rules every scene; gradually developing dread is successfully compelling; locations become more and more detached,... Read more

Published on Nov 15 2003 by boxingelena2000

3.0 out of 5 stars Duchovny is the better looking babe in this movie!
Plot: Guy with writers block (David Duchovny) and photographer girlfriend (Michelle Forbes) must car pool in order to afford a road trip to California. Read more

Published on Jun 20 2003 by mugsy1963

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the funniest movies ever, and that's no joke
Ignore all this talk of serial killers, character growth and deeper psychological shadings. This movie is just flat out hilarious from beginning to end. Read more

Published on Jun 10 2003

5.0 out of 5 stars Brlliant, shocking film
I loved this movie I was so intrigued about the depth of the story and all of the characters. Bradd Pitt plays, what I think is one of his best roles of all times, because he... Read more

Published on May 6 2003 by Nick

4.0 out of 5 stars Kalifornia
Meet David Duchovny -- pre X-files. Meet Brad Pitt. Yes, that scummy looking guy really is one of the most gorgeous men in the world. I know it's hard to believe. Read more

Published on Jun 16 2002 by M. Hanson

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