Kajillionaire, from writer/director Miranda July is as oddball as you would expect if you are familiar with her work. What might be surprising is how sad it is. While on the surface it's funny, with the humour delivered filled with layers by the strong cast, it is the sort of humour that is pregnant with tragedy and pain. Kajillionaire is one of the sadder movies I've seen in a while.
Evan Rachel Wood plays her rather heavily touched character straight, and finds little ways to round her out and give her a depth that is hard to see under her crazy costumes and effected voice. Opposite Deborah Winger and Richard Jenkins who both work similar magic on their characters.
But it is Gina Rodriguez who stole the movie for me. Her bubbly optimist with a darker side and a sense of kindness that is unexpected is a rich and well played character who is a joy to watch. In fact her story is also sad.
July crafts one of those stories where you don't know what will happen next and if you try to guess you'll be wrong. The story wouldn't work in the hands of someone less able to bring this sort of madness to life. It all works. And then amongst all the sadness there are these small moments of joy. It is those moments that make this film so engaging. It is like nothing you've seen before and likely won't see again.
Kajillionaire
Starring: Evan Rachel Wood, Gina Rodriguez, Richard Jenkins, Deborah Winger
Writer/Director: Miranda July
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