Palo Alto (2014)

hyped garbage

A Masterpiece!

Entertaining from beginning to end, it maintains the spirit of the franchise while establishing it's own seal with a fun cast

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

Palo Alto is a high school coming of age drama, and like other coming of age films starring mainly teens, this film is quite similar with nothing much different or anything new to offer. Based on a novel, in which this film has the feel of a novel based upon it's characters and overall tone of the film. The plot of the film is quite thin and not something to watch for if you are looking for a deep complex plot. It is more so just a portrayal and 'real life' concept of teenagers and their everyday life and struggle, involving typical issues such as smoking, drinking, partying, depression, and peer pressure. James Franco is the headliner of the film being from the book of which this film is based on, though he only plays a small supporting character. Emma Roberts is the lead character in a role which she has played many times before (the shy, depressed, lonely teen girl). The other leads are two best friends, Teddy and Fred. Both have different backstories and appear very different in personalities yet are portrayed as best friends. Nothing too original or refreshing about this film. And in the end, we are wondering what the real point of the film was. Palo Alto reminded of several films by Harmony Korine, though his films have a more refreshing outlook in life, plot, characters and are overall more entertaining and interesting. Would recommend watching his films as opposed to Palo Alto.

It's been a long time since I watched movies and I have to say that this kind of movies has reminded me of the reason why I watch movies. The difference between books and movies is that books are so much easier; the reader could imagine and project anything they want from their own experiences onto the books. Movies, on the contrary, are often frowned upon because the screenplay is the director's vision, thus, there is much less left for fantasy for those dreamers who want to enjoy the movie in their own way. As a person getting out of high school, I fully relate to this. Even though I live in a remote part of Asia and could not experience such wild events as in the movies, somehow, I could understand the message. Despite a great many of their unreasonable actions that would seem unintelligible to older generations including self-destructive behaviors done out of self-hate, insecurities, they crave love and want to contribute something meaningful to their own life. Judging from their own circumstances, it was understandable that they were under too many pressures, both from within and without; hence, they couldn't realize what was wrong and what was right. By putting themselves out there, facing their problems, these youngsters have been courageously transforming every aspect of their life and as a result, become a better person. The process may take a long time and may not promise an easy route but I believe that with determination, these kids will succeed. Gia Coppola have done an amazing job in depicting what is happening with the young nowadays, striving to live in a world full of turmoil and struggling to find a purpose of their life.

The worst movie I have ever seen... James Franco I love you, but your character was a pedophile. Nat Wolff, I love you , but... You were an idiot, I like the scene in which the girl breaks the bottle in your head. I really like your jogging suit in that part. Jack Kilmer... I never saw you in other movie, but... You are beautiful! You play the fool, and still, I admire you. Talking about the movie itself, it is a movie for teens...And I already got over this stage of my life. The film is to entangled and the problems are not really solved at the end. I hope Gia Coppola realizes that being the granddaughter of Francis Ford Coppola does not mean you are great... Rethink of what you do and leave the space to someone who really has the talent and passion.

As aimless as the teens it portrays, Palo Alto see's yet another Coppola enter into the movie making business, this time Gia, Francis's (The Godfather) granddaughter and Sophia's (Lost in Translation) niece who in adapting James Franco's collection of short stories of the same name has created an at brief times realistic and insightful look into modern day teenage hood yet stumbles in actually saying anything of merit in a tale that starts depressing and ends there to.Palo Alto clearly wants to be a showcase for the Los Angeles brackets of teenagers, the type that party first and study later and the type that have fun by chopping down trees with chainsaws late at night. Palo Alto actually feels like more of a fever dream of a cautionary tale or look into this life as to be honest it never really connects on a level that feels wholly realistic. There type of films work best when scenarios and characters feel real or relatable and while Palo Alto can for brief moments do this, a majority of situations and players either do things that feel utterly ridiculous (like a lot of teens do, just not to this level) or downright unbelievable. This would largely stem from the source novel from Franco, who seems to make his business in being weird/alternate but Coppola shows enough here to suggest that he could've done more to make the material better.What Coppola does succeed in is in her direction of her young cast, while supports Nat Wolff and Zoe Levin don't do a lot to suggest they've got a career ahead, with Wolff in particular an incredibly annoying presence (how his been cast in so many movies since this effort is beyond me), young leads Emma Roberts and son of Val, Jack Kilmer show a real talent in their field. Roberts has long been a talent to watch (and much more bearable than her relative Julia) and her portrayal of confused April is a great piece of work while Kilmer as similarly wondering Teddy suggests he may one day to achieve the success of his father, with hopefully his father's weight gaining fall. Author of the novel himself Mr. James Franco also makes an appearance in what is on face value an on screen version of himself as creepy older guy looking to gain a much younger girlfriend.There are some nice touches to this film by Coppola, a keen eye for a nice shot makes you think she has a career ahead of her and some great lead turns by Roberts and Kilmer, but nothing could help such a cold and un-relatable piece of work ever become anything more than acceptable. We've been blessed over the years to have countless and memorable entries into the young teen/coming of age drama catalogue and with Palo Alto you're much better off to find one of these, instead of watching this instantly disposable offering.2 Grand Theft Auto playing Val Kilmer's out of 5