Overview
Two con artists have spent 26 years training their only daughter to swindle, scam and steal at every turn. During a desperate and hastily conceived heist, they charm a stranger into joining them, only to have their entire world turned upside down.
I have long been a fan of Miranda July’s movies (particularly Me and You and Everyone We Know and Madeline’s Madeline) and I had been looking forward to this movie since it was announced. Thankfully it didn’t disappoint. As per usual July cooks up a fascinating character study. Early in the film we meet a family (two parents and a daughter in her 20’s) of small-time crooks. The family lives in an office next to some kind of factory and they are very late on the rent. What is more striking is that the family has harsh views (usually expressed by the parents) on people and life. They are fearful of becoming like other… normal?… people and live their life in a rigid, loveless and seemingly joyless manner to avoid becoming someone else.
Through it all you can see the daughter start to crack. The introduction of another woman into the movie begins to convert the story that felt cold and dark into something with some light. The film really spoke to me personally as I was raised in a household without love and affection. At different points in my life I felt like the daughter did when she opened the door that morning. The final scene is perfect on so many levels.
It is interesting to see that on RottenTomatoes.com the audience rating is half of what the critical rating is. I noticed the same for several of her movies. I think July’s work is so unique that I think that a lot of people just don’t understand what she is going for.
IHATEBadMovies.com reviews Kajillionaire
Movie title: Kajillionaire
Movie description: Two con artists have spent 26 years training their only daughter to swindle, scam and steal at every turn. During a desperate and hastily conceived heist, they charm a stranger into joining them, only to have their entire world turned upside down.
Date published: 2020-10-16
Director(s): Miranda July
Actor(s): Evan Rachel Wood, Gina Rodriguez, Debra Winger, Richard Jenkins, Mark Ivanir, Madeleine Coghlan, Steve Park, Challen Cates, Betsy Baker, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Brandon Morales, Jeffrey Nicholas Brown, Nikki Castillo, Ben Konigsberg, Ethan Josh Lee, Ian Casselberry, Andrew Hawkes, Wylie Small, Tabitha Brownstone, Rachel Redleaf, Jason Catron, Trent Walker, Samantha Cardona, Randy Ryan, Micah Cohen, Rebecca Lee Robertson, Matthew Foster, Michael Twaine, Zena Leigh, Michelle Gillette
Genre: Crime, Drama
My Review
I have long been a fan of Miranda July’s movies (particularly Me and You and Everyone We Know and Madeline’s Madeline) and I had been looking forward to this movie since it was announced. Thankfully it didn’t disappoint. As per usual July cooks up a fascinating character study. Early in the film we meet a family (two parents and a daughter in her 20’s) of small-time crooks. The family lives in an office next to some kind of factory and they are very late on the rent. What is more striking is that the family has harsh views (usually expressed by the parents) on people and life. They are fearful of becoming like other… normal?… people and live their life in a rigid, loveless and seemingly joyless manner to avoid becoming someone else.
Through it all you can see the daughter start to crack. The introduction of another woman into the movie begins to convert the story that felt cold and dark into something with some light. The film really spoke to me personally as I was raised in a household without love and affection. At different points in my life I felt like the daughter did when she opened the door that morning. The final scene is perfect on so many levels.
It is interesting to see that on RottenTomatoes.com the audience rating is half of what the critical rating is. I noticed the same for several of her movies. I think July’s work is so unique that I think that a lot of people just don’t understand what she is going for.
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My Review - 9/10
9/10