Californication
2007
Original language: English
- comedy
- drama
The story
A self-loathing, alcoholic writer attempts to repair his damaged relationships with his daughter and her mother while combating sex addiction, a budding drug problem, and the seeming inability to avoid making bad decisions.
What it’s like
Sun-bleached Los Angeles in saturated golden hour, with palm-lined boulevards, Malibu beaches, sleek West Hollywood interiors and the glassy haze of hotel rooms, all shot in bright digital clarity that gives everything a slightly glossy, lounge-y sheen. The camera is loose and conversational, often lingering in medium close-up on a face mid-confession, and the soundtrack leans on mellow indie rock and classic guitar-driven cuts that fill quiet scenes and turn bars and parties into easy, hazy backdrops. The vibe is wry, sun-warmed melancholy with a rueful, self-aware edge, the kind of thing that suits a lazy weekend afternoon, a late-night binge after a long week, or a comfort rewatch with a drink in hand. Pacing is brisk and talky, with sharp dialogue and quick cuts between chaos and tenderness. Sex is frequent and explicit in tone, though mostly played for comedy and awkwardness rather than titillation; there is heavy drinking and drug use, some raw arguments and emotional cruelty, and occasional sharp language, but violence is minimal and nothing is graphic. Its arc follows a flailing, charming man slowly, reluctantly trying to become a better father and partner, and it is best for viewers who enjoy adult, irreverent comedy-drama about messy people trying to change.
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