King of California

Reviewed by:
Pete Hammond

The plot is simple in this small, extremely entertaining and human story about a man (Michael Douglas), just released from a mental facility, who returns to live with his daughter (Evan Rachel Wood) and becomes obsessed with the idea of going after some Spanish gold he is convinced is buried under a neighborhood Costco store. The slight tale revolves around her compassionate frustration in trying to deal with her dad's Quixote-like quest while also making an effort to build a relationship with a man who in many ways is a complete stranger. When he actually enlists her to help put his plan in action, the film not only becomes a lot of fun, but also poignant as we watch a true eccentric teeter triumphantly on the edge of sanity. This is one of those tiny character-driven movies discovered at Sundance that is being released slowly by a small distributor, surprising only because the star is two-time Academy Award winner Douglas, a staple of big-studio projects who seems to be finding his footing once again as a real actor. This is his best and most engaging screen work since Wall Street and Romancing the Stone, with a pitch-perfect performance that is a hidden treasure itself. Like the character Douglas plays, you may have to search to see this hidden gem yourself, but it's well worth the hunt.