Kajillionaire

Last updated
Kajillionaire
Kajillionaire poster.jpeg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Miranda July
Written byMiranda July
Produced by
Starring
CinematographySebastian Winterø
Edited byJennifer Vecchiarello
Music by Emile Mosseri
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release dates
  • January 25, 2020 (2020-01-25)(Sundance)
  • September 25, 2020 (2020-09-25)(United States)
Running time
106 minutes [1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$1.6 million [2] [3]

Kajillionaire is a 2020 American crime comedy-drama film written and directed by Miranda July. The film stars Evan Rachel Wood, Debra Winger and Richard Jenkins as members of a petty criminal family whose relationship becomes frayed when a stranger played by Gina Rodriguez joins their schemes.

Contents

Kajillionaire had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 25, 2020, and was released in theaters on September 25, 2020, followed by video on demand on October 16, 2020, by Focus Features in the United States, and by Universal Pictures internationally.

Plot

Emotionally stunted woman, 26-year-old Old Dolio Dyne is in a manipulative relationship with her con artist parents. They treat her as an accomplice to their petty thefts and scams rather than as a daughter. The family owes $1,500 of back rent on their apartment in Los Angeles, which is actually a leaking office space attached to a soap factory.

Old Dolio concocts a scam in which they fly to NYC using tickets they won in a contest. Her parents will take her luggage at the baggage claim and she will claim the airline has lost it. Old Dolio will then collect on the travelnsurance she purchased, which will cover their rent.

After an uneventful trip, Old Dolio and her parents return home. She is surprised to find them chatting with Melanie, a friendly young woman in the seat next to them. Then she is even more surprised when they reveal their scam to Melanie and have her pretend to be their daughter as they pick up the luggage. Old Dolio reports her "lost luggage", but learns it could take six weeks for the check to come, so the family looks for alternative methods to obtain the money.

Melanie proves surprisingly amenable to their way of life and reveals she lied about being a physician's assistant and is actually a clerk at an eyeglass store. She introduces the family to one of her elderly clients, from whom they steal a blank check and cash it for $650.

A second client, who is dying, asks the family to pretend to be his family as he passes away. Old Dolio is shaken by the experience and hurt when her parents rush to comfort Melanie while ignoring her. Arriving home, Old Dolio finds the insurance check in the mail.

Old Dolio's parents try to initiate a threesome with Melanie, but she reacts badly. They are interrupted by Old Dolio, who is heartbroken to hear her mother call Melanie "hon" and offers her mother the entire travel insurance money to do the same to her.

Old Dolio's mother refuses, but Melanie accepts Old Dolio's offer and takes her to her apartment. Rather than simply call her "hon", Melanie offers a "full-service" treatment, fulfilling emotional needs that Old Dolio's parents failed to meet.

Old Dolio's parents turn up at Melanie's apartment, telling Old Dolio they love and miss her and giving her 17 birthday presents, promising the 18th one (though she is 26) at dinner the next night. She and Melanie show up to the restaurant, although they suspect it is another scam.

Old Dolio's parents give her a necklace and swear they will change. They return to Melanie's apartment and tuck Old Dolio into bed. Melanie, who has hidden the insurance money in her fuse box, tells her that if her parents steal the money they are monsters and do not love her. While Old Dolio says if the money is still there, it is proof her parents have changed. She also comes up with a third possibility: that her parents will have left behind $525, her share of the cash, signifying that they love her but will never ever be able to offer her anything more. To Melanie and Old Dolio's surprise, the cash is all there.

The next morning, Melanie and Old Dolio awaken to find that Melanie has been robbed; all removable objects and furnishings, including the cash in the fuse box, are gone. The only things left are Old Dolio's 17 presents. Realizing they are refundable, Old Dolio and Melanie take them to be returned.

The total refund is $485.05, until Melanie realizes they forgot to return the necklace, bringing the total to $525, Old Dolio's share of the insurance money. Old Dolio and Melanie kiss in the store.

Cast

Production

In March 2018, it was announced Miranda July would write and direct the film, with Jeremy Kleiner and Dede Gardner producing for Plan B Entertainment, as well as Youree Henley and Annapurna Pictures. [4] The same month, Evan Rachel Wood, Richard Jenkins, Debra Winger and Gina Rodriguez joined the cast. [5] In June 2018, Mark Ivanir joined the cast. [6] Principal photography began in May 2018. [7]

Music

Emile Mosseri composed the soundtrack, which includes a track with Angel Olsen covering Bobby Vinton's "Mr Lonely". [8]

Release

The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 25, 2020. [9] Shortly after, A24 was announced to be in negotiations to acquire its distribution rights, [10] but Focus Features acquired worldwide rights, with its parent Universal Pictures distributing the film internationally. [11] [12] [13] It was released in theaters on September 25, 2020, followed by video on demand on October 16, 2020. [14] It was previously scheduled to be released on September 18, 2020, and June 19, 2020. [13] [12]

Reception

Rotten Tomatoes lists an approval rating of 90% based on 206 reviews, with an average rating of 7.4/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Whether you see Kajillionaire as refreshingly unique or simply bizarre will depend on your cinematic adventurousness—and fans of writer-director Miranda July wouldn't have it any other way." [15] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 78 out of 100, based on reviews from 35 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [16]

Kajillionaire was nominated for a 2021 GLAAD Media Award. [17]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clea DuVall</span> American actress (b. 1977)

Clea Helen D'Etienne DuVall is an American actress, director and screenwriter. Her film appearances include The Faculty (1998); But I'm a Cheerleader; Girl, Interrupted ; Ghosts of Mars (2001); Identity;21 Grams ; The Grudge (2004); Zodiac (2007); and Argo (2012). On television, DuVall starred as Emma Borden in Lizzie Borden Took an Ax (2014) and its miniseries spinoff, The Lizzie Borden Chronicles (2015). Her other credits include Carnivàle (2003–2005), Heroes (2006–2007), American Horror Story (2012–2013), Better Call Saul (2015–2017), Veep (2016–2019), and The Handmaid's Tale (2018–2022). She also voiced Elsa on Fox's HouseBroken, which she co-created, from 2021 to 2023.

<i>Thirteen</i> (2003 film) 2003 film by Catherine Hardwicke

Thirteen is a 2003 teen drama film directed by Catherine Hardwicke, written by Hardwicke and Nikki Reed, and starring Holly Hunter, Evan Rachel Wood and Reed with Jeremy Sisto, Brady Corbet, Deborah Kara Unger, Kip Pardue, Sarah Clarke, D. W. Moffett, Vanessa Hudgens, and Jenicka Carey in supporting roles. Loosely based on Reed's life from ages 12 to 13, the film's plot follows Tracy, a seventh-grade student in Los Angeles who begins dabbling in substance abuse, sex and crime after being befriended by a troubled classmate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riley Keough</span> American actress (born 1989)

Danielle Riley Keough is an American actress and the eldest grandchild of Elvis Presley. She made her feature film debut in a supporting part in the musical biopic The Runaways (2010), portraying Marie Currie. Keough subsequently starred in the independent thriller The Good Doctor (2011), before being cast in a minor role in Steven Soderbergh's comedy film Magic Mike (2012). She appeared in her first big-budget release in the action feature Mad Max: Fury Road (2015).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evan Rachel Wood</span> American actress (born 1987)

Evan Rachel Wood is an American actress. She is the recipient of a Critics' Choice Television Award as well as nominations for three Primetime Emmy Awards and three Golden Globe Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catherine Hardwicke</span> American filmmaker (born 1955)

Helen Catherine Hardwicke is an American film director, production designer, and screenwriter. Her directorial work includes Thirteen (2003), which she co-wrote with Nikki Reed, the film's co-star, Lords of Dogtown (2005), The Nativity Story (2006), Twilight (2008), Red Riding Hood (2011), Plush (2013), Miss You Already (2015), Miss Bala (2019), and Prisoner's Daughter (2022).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miranda July</span> American performance artist, musician, writer and filmmaker

Miranda July is an American film director, screenwriter, actress and author. Her body of work includes film, fiction, monologue, digital presentations and live performance art.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kaitlyn Dever</span> American actress (born 1996)

Kaitlyn Rochelle Dever is an American actress. She became known for her roles in series such as Justified (2011–2015), Last Man Standing (2011–2021), Unbelievable (2019), and Dopesick (2021). She earned Golden Globe Award nominations for Unbelievable and Dopesick, in addition to a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Dopesick.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Annapurna Pictures</span> American independent media company

Annapurna Pictures is an American independent media company founded by Megan Ellison on April 2, 2011, and based in Los Angeles, California. It is active in film, television and theatrical production, film distribution, and video game publishing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gina Rodriguez</span> American actress (born 1984)

Gina Alexis Rodriguez is an American actress. She is known for her leading role as Jane Villanueva in The CW satirical romantic dramedy series Jane the Virgin (2014–2019), for which she received a Golden Globe Award in 2015.

<i>Private Life</i> (2018 film) 2018 film by Tamara Jenkins

Private Life is a 2018 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Tamara Jenkins and starring Paul Giamatti and Kathryn Hahn, with Kayli Carter, Molly Shannon, John Carroll Lynch, Desmin Borges, and Denis O'Hare in supporting roles. The film focuses on Richard and Rachel, a middle-aged married couple of New York City creatives, who are desperately trying to have a child by any means possible.

<i>Bad Education</i> (2019 film) 2019 film directed by Cory Finley

Bad Education is a 2019 American crime drama film directed by Cory Finley and written by Mike Makowsky. It is based on the 2004 New York magazine article "The Bad Superintendent" by Robert Kolker, about the true story of the largest public school embezzlement in American history. It features an ensemble cast including Hugh Jackman, Allison Janney, Geraldine Viswanathan, Alex Wolff, Rafael Casal, Stephen Spinella, Annaleigh Ashford and Ray Romano.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michaela Jaé Rodriguez</span> American actress and singer (born 1991)

Michaela Antonia Jaé Rodriguez, formerly known as Mj Rodriguez, is an American actress and singer. Born in Newark, New Jersey, Rodriguez attended several performing arts schools in her youth before being cast in a theater production of Rent as Angel Dumott Schunard, winning the 2011 Clive Barnes Award for her performance.

<i>Miss Bala</i> (2019 film) 2019 film directed by Catherine Hardwicke

Miss Bala is a 2019 action thriller film directed by Catherine Hardwicke and written by Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer, based on the 2011 Mexican film of the same name. The film stars Gina Rodriguez, Ismael Cruz Córdova, and Anthony Mackie, and follows a woman who trains to take down a Mexican drug cartel after her friend is kidnapped.

<i>Diary of a Future President</i> 2020 American comedy television series

Diary of a Future President is an American comedy-drama television series created by Ilana Peña for Disney+. Gina Rodriguez serves as an executive producer through her company I Can & I Will Productions, which produces the series in association with CBS Studios.

<i>The Old Guard</i> (2020 film) 2020 American action-fantasy film

The Old Guard is a 2020 American superhero film directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood and written by Greg Rucka, based on his comic book of the same name. It stars Charlize Theron, KiKi Layne, Matthias Schoenaerts, Marwan Kenzari, Luca Marinelli, Harry Melling, Veronica Ngo and Chiwetel Ejiofor, and follows a team of immortal mercenaries on a revenge mission.

<i>Unpregnant</i> 2020 film by Rachel Lee Goldenberg

Unpregnant is a 2020 American female buddy road comedy-drama film co-written and directed by Rachel Lee Goldenberg, based on the novel of the same name by Ted Caplan and Jenni Hendriks. It stars Haley Lu Richardson and Barbie Ferreira, with Alex MacNicoll, Breckin Meyer, Giancarlo Esposito, Sugar Lyn Beard, and Betty Who.

<i>The Forty-Year-Old Version</i> 2020 film by Radha Blank

The Forty-Year-Old Version is a 2020 American comedy-drama film written, directed, and produced by Radha Blank, in her feature directorial debut. It stars Blank, Peter Kim, Oswin Benjamin, and Reed Birney.

<i>Dick Johnson Is Dead</i> 2020 documentary film by Kirsten Johnson

Dick Johnson Is Dead is a 2020 American documentary film directed by Kirsten Johnson and co-written by Johnson and Nels Bangerter. The story focuses on Johnson's father Richard, who suffers from dementia, portraying different ways—some of them violent "accidents"—in which he could ultimately die. In each scenario, the elderly Johnson plays along with his daughter's black humor and imaginative fantasies. The film premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Special Jury Award for Innovation in Non-fiction Storytelling. It was released on Netflix on October 2, 2020.

<i>Emily the Criminal</i> 2022 film by John Patton Ford

Emily the Criminal is a 2022 American crime thriller film written and directed by John Patton Ford in his feature directorial debut. It stars Aubrey Plaza as the titular character, alongside Theo Rossi, Megalyn Echikunwoke, and Gina Gershon in supporting roles. The film follows Emily Benetto, a young woman saddled with student debt and locked out of the job market due to a criminal record, who gets involved in a credit card scam that pulls her into the criminal underworld of Los Angeles.

<i>Phoenix Rising</i> (American TV series) 2022 American TV series or program

Phoenix Rising is an American documentary miniseries directed and produced by Amy J. Berg. It follows Evan Rachel Wood as she tells her story of domestic violence and her campaign for justice. It aired on March 15–16, 2022, on HBO.

References

  1. ↑ "Kajillionaire". Sundance Film Festival . Archived from the original on December 11, 2019. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
  2. ↑ "Kajillionaire". Box Office Mojo . Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  3. ↑ "Kajillionaire". The Numbers . Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  4. ↑ McNary, Dave (March 15, 2018). "Miranda July Sets Family Drama Movie With Plan B, Annapurna". Variety . Retrieved June 2, 2018.
  5. ↑ Kit, Borys; Galuppo, Mia (March 29, 2018). "Evan Rachel Wood, Gina Rodriguez to Star in Miranda July Heist Feature (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved June 2, 2018.
  6. ↑ McNary, Dave (June 7, 2018). "Film News Roundup: Eddie Murphy to Star in Biopic 'Dolemite Is My Name' for Netflix". Variety . Retrieved June 11, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Filming in May: Miranda July to Direct Upcoming Untitled Heist Film in California This May". Production List. May 13, 2018. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
  8. ↑ Martoccio, Angie (2020-09-16). "Angel Olsen Drops Gorgeous Rendition of 'Mr. Lonely' for 'Kajillionaire' Soundtrack". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  9. ↑ Siegel, Tatiana (December 4, 2019). "Sundance Unveils Female-Powered Lineup Featuring Taylor Swift, Gloria Steinem, Abortion Road Trip Drama". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  10. ↑ Donnelly, Matt (January 29, 2020). "A24 Closing In on Miranda July's Sundance Player 'Kajillionaire' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety . Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  11. ↑ Donnelly, Matt (February 6, 2020). "Focus Features Closing Deal for Miranda July's 'Kajillionaire' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  12. 1 2 Pedersen, Erik (March 10, 2020). "'Kajillionaire' & 'Come Play' Get Release Dates From Focus Features". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  13. 1 2 D’Alessandro, Anthony (May 27, 2020). "'Kajillionaire' Will Now Cash In This Fall At Theaters". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  14. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (August 28, 2020). "'Kajillionaire' Cashing In A Week Later This Fall With PVOD Soon After – Update". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  15. ↑ "Kajillionaire (2020)". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango . Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  16. ↑ "Kajillionaire Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  17. ↑ Ramos, Dino-Ray (January 28, 2021). "GLAAD Unveils Nominees For 32nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards; Deadline's New Hollywood Podcast Honored With Special Recognition Award". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.