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.

---

Plot Keywords:

based on novel | 

---

Taglines:

All is fair in love and real estate.

---

Genres:

Drama

---

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.

---

Connections

Remake of The Bostonians (1984)

---

Soundtracks

Open Escrow
Music and Performed by Seth Asarnow
Copyright (c) 20004 Seth Asarnow and Parker Film Company
Used by permission. All rights reserved.

User Reviews

Politically Inspired Environmental Romance

If John Muir were alive today, he might make a movie like The Californians. Gavin Ransom (Noah Wyle), an avaricious real estate developer and land exploiter has a twin sister, Olive Ransom (Illeana Douglas) who is a passionate environmentalist and vegan. Their diametrical philosophies illuminate the intricacies of hypocrisy. Olive discovers a mellifluous vocalist, Zoe Tripp (Kate Mara), whose pro-ecology ballads are reminiscent of Joan Baez. Soon Zoe is offered a recording contract, which excludes her guitarist-accompanist father, Elton Tripp (Keith Carradine), and the lyrical import of her songs is threatened by commercialism, as many species are threatened by builders and human population growth. A romance develops between Gavin and Zoe, despite Olive's opposition, as Gavin loses his way on the road to quick riches, and finds other values aside from money.