KAJILLIONAIRE : Tuesday 3rd November 2020.

'KAJILLIONAIRE' which I saw at my local independent cinema earlier this week, is an M-Rated American crime comedy drama film Directed and Written by Miranda July in only her third film making outing following 2005's 'Me and You and Everyone We Know' and 2011's 'The Future'. This film saw its World Premier screening at the Sundance Film Festival back in late January this year, was released Stateside in late September before going on VoD in the US from mid-October, having taken US$973K so far and garnered generally favourable Reviews. 

Two con artists, Robert Dyne (Richard Jenkins) and his wife Theresa (Debra Winger) have spent 26 years training their only daughter Old Dolio (Evan Rachel Wood) to swindle, scam and steal at every turn in Los Angeles. The parents treat their daughter more as an accomplice to their petty thefts and scams rather than as a daughter with the family taking pride on being skimmers and scammers and living on the bare minimum income, unlike other people who worship money and try to be 'kajillionaires'. Whatever money they do scam gets split evenly three ways, and that's the way it's always been for as long as Old Dolio can remember. 

After a spate of bad luck, the family owe three months of back rent on their US$500 a month apartment, which is actually an abandoned and dilapidated office space attached to a soap factory. Fortunately, for them the owner of the soap factory, Stovik Mann (Mark Ivanir) and the adjacent office space seems fairly understanding and amenable to the family coming up with the back payments by this Friday, which then becomes Friday in two weeks time. 

This seems to be largely because the office space is in such a state of disrepair and because every day soap bubbles leak from the ceiling down the walls, which the family of three have to mop up with buckets and a tarp covering the floor. However, as time passes the family are unable to come up with rent money owing, so Old Dolio hatches a scam where they will travel to New York City, using tickets they won in a contest, and her parents will take her luggage, allowing Old Dolio to claim the airline has lost it, and so receive a US$1,575 insurance claim payout, which in turn will cover the rent. 

Following a fairly uneventful trip, Old Dolio and her parents return home on their scheduled flight. She is surprised to find them chatting and laughing with Melanie Whitacre (Gina Rodriguez), a young woman sat in the seat next to them, and even more surprised when they reveal their scam to her. At the baggage claims desk Old Dolio completes the necessary formalities for making a claim for her lost luggage, only to be told that it could take up to six weeks to process. She returns home and finds Melanie there too. 

Melanie proves to be more than accepting to their way of life and tells the family that she is an opticians assistant. She introduces them to her elderly and seemingly trusting clients, whom they rip off for small sums of cash in the form of cheques on which Old Dolio is adept at forging signatures. This goes awry when a dying man asks the family to pretend to be his family as he passes away alone at home. Old Dolio is shaken up by this experience, and is hurt when her parents immediately rush to comfort Melanie while ignoring Old Dolio herself. Using the money they have scammed from two of Melanie's aged clients, Robert decides to purchase a US$9,000 hot tub with all the bells and whistles for just a US$100 down payment. Back home, realising that Melanie has served her purpose as a partner in their schemes, the parents decide to initiate a threesome with Melanie in the hot tub (which is not plumbed in) which she reacts badly to. They are interrupted by Old Dolio, who is heartbroken to hear her mother call Melanie 'hun', which Theresa has never called her daughter by that term of endearment, and offers her the entire travel insurance money (which has subsequently come through in the form of a cheque from the insurance company) to do the same to her. Theresa refuses, but Melanie offers to call Old Dolio various terms of endearment in exchange for the US$1,575 which is accepted and so off the pair go to Melanie's apartment.

Instead of simply calling Old Dolio 'hun', Melanie offers the 'full-service' treatment to fulfil the emotional requirements which Old Dolio's parents had failed to meet down through the years. Some time later there is a knock on the door, and Old Dolio's parents have left her seventeen birthday presents outside the door to Melanie's apartment, with a note promising the eighteenth one at dinner the next evening. Old Dolio and Melanie attend dinner in an upmarket restaurant where Old Dolio's parents present her with a gold necklace and pendant and Robert stands up and gives an impassioned tearful speech and swears they will change their uncaring unloving hurtful ways

After their dinner, they return to Melanie's apartment and tuck Old Dolio into bed. Melanie, who has hidden the US$1,575 cash from the insurance money in her fuse box, remarks to Old Dolio that if her parents have stolen the money they must be monsters, 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 in that her parents will have left behind US$525, her third of the cash, signifying that this is the only way they can demonstrate their love for her. To Melanie and Old Dolio's surprise, the cash is all there.

The next day, Old Dolio wakes and goes into the lounge room to discover that Melanie has been completely robbed, with the entire furnishings of the apartment gone, except for the possessions in the bedroom. The only things remaining are Old Dolio's seventeen presents spread out on the floor where they were left, and, the US$1,575 is gone too. Realising the gifts are refundable because they all came from the same shop and all of the gifts still have the price tags intact with the barcode, Old Dolio and Melanie take them to the store to be returned. The total price of the items is US$485.05, until Melanie notices the gold chain and pendant hanging around Old Dolio's neck. She removes it and hands it over too for a refund, bringing the total to US$525, Old Dolio's share of the insurance money. Old Dolio and Melanie kiss as the film fades to black.

'Kajillionaire' is a quirky, whacky, unconventional and at times quite bizarre coming of age petty crime comedy film that poses more questions than it answers. For example, why did they choose to raise their only daughter without any connection, emotional attachment or endearment other than the purely transactional; why did a nice girl like Melanie stoop down to the depths of this family of no-hope grifters; why do the family live in a run down office building kipping in sleeping bags on the floor between the partitions and with soap suds running down the walls every day, and why give you only child a moniker like Old Dolio FFS???? I was frustrated by this film that goes round and round in circles until the emotional payoff at the end which felt undercooked and fails to deliver any real sense of closure. And, the film is short on laughs too. Wood is on top form here and is barely recognisable as the slant shouldered, track suit wearing, long haired and mumbling Old Dolio, and both Jenkins and Rodriguez more than hold their own in their supporting roles, but Winger is lost in the mix and for the most part sits on the periphery with little by way of contribution. One couple sat in the theatre with me at the time of my viewing walked out within the first twenty minutes never to return, which is something you don't see very often and I guess tells me that this film isn't for everyone, a fact also reinforced by the chatter I overheard as I was walking out from a group who had also sat through the film. 

'Kajillionaire' merits two claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a potential five claps.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 22nd October 2020.

The American Film Institute (AFI) Fest launched on 15th October and runs until 22nd October, and this year, like so many other film festivals, has chosen to go with a virtual format because of the ongoing impacts of COVID-19. The festival opened with the World Premier screening of Julia Hart's 1970's influenced crime thriller 'I'm Your Woman' and is followed by a line up of 123 other films including fifty-four feature films, and sixty-seven short films. AFI Fest is a world-class event, showcasing the best films from across the globe to captivated audiences in Los Angeles. With a diverse and innovative slate of programming, the eight-day film festival presents screenings, panels and conversations, featuring both master filmmakers and new voices. Each year, the festival showcases films in several exciting sections which include Galas, Special Screenings, New Auteurs, Documentary, World Cinema, Cinema’s Legacy and Shorts. The closing night feature is the documentary 'My Psychedelic Love Story' Directed by Errol Morris which explores the story that led Timothy Leary, the High Priest of LSD, to seemingly sell out the millions he urged to 'turn on, tune in and drop out' and become a narc in 1974, as recounted through the eyes of Leary’s lover, the Swiss-born, Paris-raised free spirit Joanna Harcourt-Smith. The highlights contained within the main feature film sections are shown below.

Special Presentations Section - from first-time Directors and established masters to fiction and nonfiction to series, these outstanding and highly anticipated films affirm the vitality and creativity of our resilient film community. Included in this section are the following :

* 'The Father' - Directed by Florian Zeller, this British and French Co-Production stars Anthony Hopkins, Olivia Colman, Mark Gatiss, Imogen Poots, Rufus Sewell and Olivia Williams.

* 'Fireball : Visitors from Darker Worlds' - Directed by Werner Herzog and Clive Oppenheimer, this is a British documentary that seeks to unlock the mysteries inside the flaming balls of rock debris that have bombarded our planet from the far reaches of space for millennia. 

* 'I'm Your Woman' - Directed by Julia Hart this USA film stars Rachel Brosnahan, Marsha Stephanie Blake, Bill Heck and Arinze Kene. Opening night film. 

* 'My Psychedelic Love Story' - Directed by Errol Morris, this US documentary stars Timothy Leary and Joanna Harcourt-Smith. Closing night film.

* 'Pink Skies Ahead' - Directed in her film making debut by Kelly Oxford, this USA production stars Jessica Barden, Henry Winkler, Rosa Salazar, Marcia Gay Harden, Mary J. Blige and Odeya Rush. 

* 'The Reagans' - Directed by Matt Tyrnauer this four part series focuses on the rise and reign of America's ultimate power couple - Ronald and Nancy Reagan. Episodes one and two are screened as part of this section.

* 'Really Love' - Directed, Co-Written and Co-Produced by Angel Kristi Williams in her film making debut, this American feature stars Kofi Siriboe and Yootha Wong-Loi-Sing.

* 'A Suitable Boy' - Directed by Mira Nair and Shimit Amin, this British and Indian Co-Produced television series runs over six episodes with all six screened in this section. Starring Tabu, Ishan Khatter, Tanya Maniktala and Mahira Kakkar.  

World Cinema Section - featuring a collection of diverse narrative feature films from celebrated storytellers across the world. Included in this section are the following :

* 'Farewell Amor' - Directed, Written and Co-Produced by Ekwa Msangi, this American feature film stars Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine, Zainab Jah, Jayme Lawson and Joie Lee.

* 'Hopper/Welles' - Directed by Orson Welles and discovered in 2017 this film features a conversation covering a vast array of topics from two masters of Old Hollywood and New Hollywood - Orson Welles and Dennis Hopper. 

* 'I Carry You With Me' - Directed, Co-Written and Co-Produced by Heidi Ewing, this US and Mexican Co-Production stars Armando Espitia and Christian Vasquez. 

* 'My Little Sister' - Directed and Written by Stephanie Chuat and Veronique Reymond this Swiss feature film stars Nina Hoss, Lars Eidinger and Jens Albinus. 

* 'Sound of Metal' - Directed and Co-Written by Darius Marder, this American feature film stars Riz Ahmed, Olivia Cooke, Lauren Ridloff and Mathieu Amalric.

* 'Tragic Jungle' - Directed, Co-Written, Co-Produced and Co-Edited by Yulene Olaizola this Mexican, French and Colombian Co-Produced film stars Indira Andrewin and Gilberto Barraza. 

* 'Uncle Frank' - Directed, Written and Co-Produced by Alan Ball, this American produced film stars Paul Bettany, Peter Macdissi, Steve Zahn, Sophia Lillis, Judy Greer and Carson Holmes. 

* 'Under the Open Sky' - Directed and Written by Miwa Nishikawa this Japanese film stars Kofi Yakusho, and Taiga Nakano. 

* 'Wander Darkly' - Directed and Written by Tara Miele, this American production stars Sienna Miller and Diego Luna. 

New Auteurs Section - presenting a platform for new voices and new stories, these exciting narrative works push the boundaries of contemporary cinema. Included in this section are the following :

* 'Apples' - Directed, Co-Written and Co-Produced by Christos Nikou this Greek, Polish and Slovenian Co-Production stars Aris Servetalis and Sofia Georgovassili. 

* 'The Boy Behind the Door' - Directed and Written by David Charbonier and Justin Powell this American  thriller stars Lonnie Chavis and Ezra Dewey.

* 'Jumbo' - Directed and Written by Zoe Wittock this French, Belgian and Luxembourg feature film stars Noemie Merlant, Emmanuelle Bercot and Sam Louwyck. 

* 'Luxor' - Directed, Written and Co-Produced by Zeina Durra this British production stars Andrea Riseborough,  Karim Selah, Michael Landes and Shereen Reda.

* 'Nine Days' - Directed and Written by Edson Oda this American feature film stars Winston Duke, Zazie Beetz, Benedict Wong, Tony Hale and Bill Skarsgard.

* 'Shadow in the Cloud' - Directed and Written by Roseanne Liang this New Zealand produced film stars Chloe Grace Moretz, Callan Mulvey and Nick Robinson. 

* 'Wildland' - Directed by Jeanette Nordahl, this Danish film stars Sandra Guldberg Kampp and Sidse Babett Knudsen. 

For all the latest news on the 2020 AFI Fest, you can visit the official website at : https://www.fest.afi.com

And so this week we have five latest release new films that give you an excuse to venture out to your local Odeon. Starting off we have a comedy drama about a Mum, a Dad and their mid-twenties year old daughter who are all career petty criminals, grifters and confidence tricksters who seize upon an opportunity to befriend their next mark, with far reaching consequences for them all. We then turn to an action thriller which sees a career thief turn himself and his ill gotten gains in to the Police all in the name of love, only to be double crossed by two bent cops, and so what does this man with a very particular set of skills do . . . ? Next up we have a New Zealand offering about a young couple expecting their first child together, but the couple have very different views on pending parenthood and how this is going to change their lives and their spirit of adventure. This is followed by an Aussie comedy drama about a bunch of retired war vets who broke out of their Vietnam PoW camp who now face the daunting prospect of breaking out of their retirement home, and we wrap up the week with a Polish film about an incarcerated young man who discovers God while inside and upon release fakes his way into becoming the Priest of a small town with far reach implications for all those around him.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the five latest release new movies as Previewed below, or those doing the rounds currently on general release or as Reviewed and Previewed in previous Blog Posts here at Odeon Online, you are most welcome to share your movie going thoughts, opinions and observations by leaving your relevant, succinct and appropriate views in the Comments section below this or any other Post. We'd love to hear from you, and in the meantime, enjoy your big screen Odeon outing during the week ahead.

'KAJILLIONAIRE' (Rated M) - is an American crime comedy drama film Directed and Written by Miranda July in only her third film making outing following 2005's 'Me and You and Everyone We Know' and 2011's 'The Future'. This film saw its World Premier screening at the Sundance Film Festival back in late January this year, was released Stateside in late September before going on VoD in the US from mid-October, having taken US$621K so far and garnered generally favourable Reviews. 

Two con artists, Robert Dyne (Richard Jenkins) and his wife Theresa (Debra Winger) have spent 26 years training their only daughter Old Dolio (Evan Rachel Wood) to swindle, scam and steal at every turn in Los Angeles. During a desperate and hastily conceived scam related to lost luggage insurance, the parents meet with an attractive young woman, Melanie Whitacre (Gina Rodriguez) whom they view as a potential mark into joining them as a means of gaining her trust. However, things don't go quite according to plan and following an earthquake, a confession, and another rip off they all have their worlds turned upside down.

'HONEST THIEF' (Rated M) - this American action thriller is Directed, Co-Produced and Co-Written by Mark Williams in only his second film making outing following 2016's 'A Family Man', although he has twenty-nine Producer credits to his name and three as Writer. Released Stateside last week, the film has so far grossed US$5.7M and has garnered mixed or average Reviews so far. Calling him the 'In-and-Out Bandit' because meticulous career thief Tom Carter (Liam Neeson) has stolen US$9M from small-town banks while successfully managing to keep his identity a secret and therefore keeping the Police authorities at bay. But after he falls in love with the bubbly Annie Sumpter (Kate Walsh), Tom decides to make a fresh start by coming clean about his criminal past, and turning in all the money he has stolen in exchange for a reduced sentence. But when he is double-crossed by two ruthless FBI agents - John Nivens (Jai Courtney) and Ramon Hall (Anthony Ramos) he goes on the run to clear his name and bring those no good cops to justice. Clearly this is Liam Neeson doing what he does best with his very particular set of skills! Also starring Robert Patrick and Jeffrey Donovan. 

'BABY DONE' (Rated M) - Co-Written and Directed by Curtis Vowell and Executive Produced by Taika Waititi this New Zealand film is only the second feature film offering by Vowell following his 2013 film 'Fantail'. Here, when Zoe (Rose Matafeo) and Tim (Matthew Lewis) find out they are having a baby, they are determined to not let parenthood change them. Tim runs towards being a dad, while Zoe runs away from being a mum. Terrified that her life won’t be her own anymore, Zoe is still determined to tick off her bucket list their wildest dreams before the baby arrives. Zoe’s increasing denial about her impending birth pushes her, and her relationship, to the limit.

'NEVER TOO LATE' (Rated M) - is an Australian comedy drama film Directed by Mark Lamprell whose previous directorial outings include 'My Mother Frank' in 2000, 'Goddess' in 2013 and 'A Few Less Men' in 2017. Filmed in Adelaide, in South Australia, this film saw its Premier screening at Adelaide's Young at Heart in February this year and was released on digital in the US in July so far having taken US$15K. Here we have four former prisoners of war who famously broke out of their camp during the Vietnam War and who are all now residents of the same retirement home for returned veterans. They may have lost their memory and speed, but these renegades prove it’s never too late for new adventures, even if you have to break rules to break free in an attempt to fulfil your individual dreams. Starring James Cromwell as Jack Bronson a former special forces soldier, and his fifty year long love interest Norma McCarthy (Jacki Weaver) who is resident in the Hogan Hills Retirement Home for Returned Servicemen and Women, with Jeremiah Caine (Dennis Waterman), Angus Wilson (Jack Thompson), and James Wendell (Roy Billing) with Bruce (Shane Jacobson) playing James's estranged son. 

'CORPUS CHRISTI' (Rated MA15+) - this Polish drama film is Directed by Jan Komasa which saw its Premier showing at 2019's Venice Film Festival, was also shown at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival and was selected as the Polish entry into this years Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film. Released in its native Poland in October 2019, the film has since gone on to win fifty awards and a further twenty-one nominations from around the awards and festival circuit and has recouped US$8.6M from its initial US$1.3M budget outlay. Based on a true story, Daniel (Bartosz Bielenia) experiences a spiritual transformation while serving a sentence for second-degree murder in a youth detention centre. Although his criminal record prevents him from applying to the seminary once he is released, he has no intention of giving up his dream. Upon his release he is assigned to work in a sawmill in a small town, and while visiting the local church, he pretends to be a priest. The vicar of that church meets Daniel wholly believing his lie, and leaves him in charge of the church while he goes to rehab for a medical condition. Daniel begins performing all the duties of priesthood, and enjoys it. Initially his unorthodox methods are met favourably by the townsfolk, but ultimately the truth will out! The film has generated largely positive Press. 

With five new release films this week to tempt you out to your local Odeon, remember to share your movie going thoughts with your other like minded cinephile friends afterwards here at Odeon Online. In the meantime, I'll see you sometime somewhere in the week ahead, at your local Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-