The Californians (2005)

Slick, smug developer Gavin Ransom has a dream: make millions by blanketing the coastal hills of northern California with flamboyant, mini mansions. His sister Olive a raving ... See full summary »

Director:

Jonathan Parker

Writers:

Jonathan Parker, Catherine DiNapoli,

Stars:

Noah Wyle, Illeana Douglas, Kate Mara

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Noah Wyle	...	Gavin Ransom
Illeana Douglas	...	Olive Ransom
Kate Mara	...	Zoe Tripp
Cloris Leachman	...	Eileen Boatwright
Joanne Whalley	...	Luna
Keith Carradine	...	Elton Tripp
Valerie Perrine	...	Lenora Tripp
Jane Lynch	...	Sybill Platt
Michael Panes	...	Marion Pardon
Erika Luckett	...	Mary Ann
Will Marchetti	...	Mayor
Charles Martinet	...	City Councilman
Richard Gross	...	Contractor
Jarion Monroe	...	Architect
Elisabeth Nunziato	...	Real Estate Broker

Storyline

Slick, smug developer Gavin Ransom has a dream: make millions by blanketing the coastal hills of northern California with flamboyant, mini mansions. His sister Olive a raving environmentalist, thinks otherwise, and aims to stop her brother's land gobbling plans. When Zoe Tripp a striking beautiful folk singer, joins Olive's cause, Gavin gets thrown for a loop, falling hard for the striking young woman with the golden voice. Caught between Olive's righteousness and Gavin's affection, the idealistic and innocent Zoe, coached by her parents and a maternal environmentalist must choose between a cause she's grown up supporting, or the affections of a man who stands for everything she believes is wrong.

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Plot Keywords:

based on novel

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Taglines:

All is fair in love and real estate.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for mild thematic elements and brief language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 October 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

A kaliforniaiak

Filming Locations:

Kentfield, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Parker Film Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Activist: Gavin Ransom, when will you stop cutting down trees?
Gavin Ransom: When people stop living in houses.

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Connections

Remake of The Bostonians (1984)

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Soundtracks

"The Californians"
(Title Song)
Performed by Craig Carothers

User Reviews

Bostonians and Californians

One has to wonder how did Henry James novel "The Bostonians" inspired Jonathan Parker into re-telling it using themes of ecology, greed and love in the Californian landscape of Marin County. The basic problem with the film is that it throws a lot of ideas around, but eventually none of them come to be realized.

The idea that a young woman, Zoe, the daughter of progressive parents that are into the environment and that falls for the greedy developer, Gavin,is something that doesn't pan well. The same goes for Olive, the sister of Gavin who is opposed to all his big plans to create a gated community where multi-million dollar homes are going to built.

The only interesting thing in the film is the cast that Mr. Parker attracted. Noah Wyle, Ileana Douglas, Kate Mora, Joanne Whalley, Keith Carradine, Cloris Leachman, and Valerie Perrine, are among the players of this satirical film that doesn't live to its premise.