Director: Gia Coppola
Cast: Emma Roberts, James Franco, Jack Kilmer, Val Kilmer, Nat Wolff, Olivia Crocicchia, Zoe Levin
Certificate: 15
Run Time: 100 minutes
Gia Coppola, the sixth director to emerge from the creative Coppola family, paints a realistic portrait of adolescence mired in insecurities and bored indulgence in her debut film PALO ALTO.
A filmmaker more in the vein of cousin Sofia rather than her grandfather Francis, Coppola’s written and directed adaption of James Franco’s collection of linked short stories titled Palo Alto, comes across on-screen like an evocation of old memories and moments.
And just like the artless simplicity of youth, Coppola has opted to show PALO ALTO with a societal veneer rather than delve further into her characters’ underlying problems and relationships with unobservant and irresponsible parental figures. Cinematographer Autumn Durald’s highlights and deflects these highs and lows nicely with the use of selective focus and soft lighting, coupled with lingering close-ups and textured Palo Alto cityscapes.
The story itself, weaves in and out and round and round like the veritable teenage merry-go-round of experimentation, hormones and angst that it is. Teddy (played by Jack Kilmer, son of Val Kilmer who incidentally has an interesting cameo as video-game stoner step dad to April) likes sweet, virginal soccer player April (Emma Roberts) but doesn’t know how to tell her how he feels. Instead, he chooses to get a blowjob from Emily (Zoe Levin) who has never been in love before. Because of this inexperience, she also offers herself to Teddy’s friend Fred (superbly played by Nat Wolff), who is also struggling emotionally but channels these emotions into reckless and illegal pursuits. With an irresponsible, pot-smoking father at home who propositions Teddy, Fred also uses Teddy’s naivete to his advantage by getting him in to trouble with the law and keeping him away April. April likes Teddy but doesn’t know how to tell him of her affection. She also has a crush on her soccer coach Mr B. (played by James Franco) who takes advantage of inexperience and vulnerability. Phew.
What it boils down to is a sophomoric story of drunken experimentation and escapades interspersed with teenage angst, all wrapped up in an unpretentious bow. There’s a couple of moments in the film that will make you question ‘What was that for?/What’s the point of that inclusion in the film?’ but the performances by it’s relatively unknown cast are definitely worth viewing.
[usr=3] PALO ALTO is available to buy on DVD on February 9th.
