Customer Reviews

Kalifornia (Widescreen/Full Screen)

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

What particularly amazed me was the way the movie manages to convey the full extent of Early's psychotic nature, but at the same time enticing you almost to warm to him. The "older brother/younger brother" relationship that develops between the two men, and the "girl friend" relationship that develops between the women, create a fine balance with and path towards the final conflict. The consequences of meddling in other people's relationships are also subtly and disturbingly illustrated.

Duchovny and Forbes are adequate placeholders, but Brad Pitt and Juliette Lewis excel. Pitt is terrifyingly convincing as the swaggering psychopath with an earthy charm. Lewis's childlike character has been justly praised in other reviews.

This is certainly a movie that defies genres - for all the violence (which is much less than you'd expect) it has a dark and subtle charm to it.

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 antagonisms along the way. Dominic Sena knows how to build a tense and dark atmosphere here, providing some terrific direction and original camera-angles to increase the growing suspense. Brad Pitt shines as the primitive, feral killer, delivering one of the best performances of his career in a role that`s nothing like the ones he usually makes (it also proves that he can act, creating a strong, believable and intriguing character). Duchovny is also great as his smooth, smart and calm "friend", providing a subtle and interesting performance as well. Juliette Lewis and Michelle Forbes are adequate and convincing enough as the duo`s girlfriends. Although the plot is somewhat familiar, it flows in an unique way and the character development is surprising and very well-handled. "Kalifornia" is an underrated and offbeat movie that deserves its cult status and is one of the best "sleepers" of the nineties.
An enticing cinematic experience.

This is the best movie Brat Pitt has being in. He does a really good job at acting like a white trash killer. The first time i sow this movie i did not know Brad Pitt was in it untill around the end. He just does not talk or look any thing like Brad Pit. Veary good movie.
p.s The punk band Kiddstir rocks

bobb07

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. His girlfriend and photographer Carrie Laughlin (Michelle Forbes) mentions to him that she wants to take off for California and with this idea Brian decides that they will drive to California and stop at sites where serial killers once murdered their victims. In order to make the road trip more affordable they post a note that they want someone to share the expenses with and as a result ex-con Early (Brad Pitt) and juvenile Adele (Juliette Lewis) end up with them on the road trip. The certain danger that is looming ahead seems predictable, however, in this story it serves as a tool for driving the suspense toward ultimate climax. In turn, this leaves the audience with a chilling, yet terrific, cinematic experience.

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. Everyone is solid. The plot is odd, but not unbelivable. Pitt does a good job of being creepy, dangerous, and unpredictable. An interesting look at another segment of the population. As well, how you can be changed by those around you.

Highlights: Performances are all-star, especially Brad Pitt, who rules every scene; gradually developing dread is successfully compelling; locations become more and more detached, along with the film's ambiance.

Lowpoints: Might seem gratuitous at times; some prolonged sequences drag.

Conclusion: The miraculous thing about this film is that it was directed by Dominic Sena, who later went on to produce cash-making trash like Gone in 60 Seconds and Swordfish. In Kalifornia he showcased his ability to direct an essentially eminent motion picture, dripping with trepidation and fascination for murder. Controversial, edgy, Kalifornia will make viewers wish Pitt and Sena thought as much about their future choices as the viewers did about the ideas of Kalifornia.

SEE THIS IF YOU LIKED: Natural Born Killers; From Dusk Till Dawn, Bonnie and Clyde, Thelma and Louise.
DON'T SEE THIS IF YOU LIKED: Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, the X-Files, Rat Race.

Plot: Guy with writers block (David Duchovny) and photographer girlfriend (Michelle Forbes) must car pool in order to afford a road trip to California. The people who show up for the car pool are a murderer (Brad Pitt) and his girlfriend (Juliette Lewis). Needless to say, the road trip turns out BAD.

Analysis: Great change for Brad Pitt. In this movie, he is very scary and very ugly. Character development for pretty much all the lead characters is pretty low. Brad Pitt's character is over the top. We never really learn why he kills. Juliette Lewis' character is very annoying (but, then again, she is very annoying). She is very immature and allows herself to be abused by Pitt. I truly don't understand their mutual attraction. Pitt & Lewis were dating at the time (Brad has an eclectic taste in women--Lewis, Paltrow, and Aniston.). David Duchovny's character becomes friends with Pitt's and I don't know why (they are soooo different). Only Michelle Forbes' character catches on. She is the only one I can relate to.

The movie looks good and moves. The tension level is sustained throughout the movie. The movie begins with Duchovny's character narrating. I adore David Duchovny but after watching all those X-Files episodes--listening to him and Scully droning on and on in the opening of many of the episodes--I almost screamed "NO MORE!!!" There are two versions: R and NC-17. The NC-17 version has more explicit sex and violence (what a surprise!).

Aesthetics: As I said before, Pitt looks [bad]. I never thought he was all that hot even when he is all cleaned up. Lewis, well there's not too much you can do with Lewis. Duchovny and Forbes make an attractive couple. Duchovny looks very young. ...

This movie is a definite must for Pitt & Duchovny fans