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Palmetto

Palmetto

Crime · Mystery · Thriller · 1998

After being released from prison on a bum charge, Harry Barber is out for payback to regain his lost two years. He's hired by Mrs. Malroux to fake the kidnapping of her stepdaughter (the daughter of a dying millionaire). He discovers that he is being set up on multiple levels and will soon face a longer sentence if he doesn't prove the truth.

Movie details

Palmetto

“In a town this bad, it's no use being good.”

1998 Crime · Mystery · Thriller 1h 54m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.0 / 10

Community rating

After being released from prison on a bum charge, Harry Barber is out for payback to regain his lost two years. He's hired by Mrs. Malroux to fake the kidnapping of her stepdaughter (the daughter of a dying millionaire). He discovers that he is being set up on multiple levels and will soon face a longer sentence if he doesn't prove the truth.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Palmetto?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Volker Schlöndorff

Written by

E. Max Frye

Woody Harrelson

Woody Harrelson

Harry Barber

Gina Gershon

Gina Gershon

Nina

Elisabeth Shue

Elisabeth Shue

Rhea Malroux

Rolf Hoppe

Rolf Hoppe

Felix Malroux

Michael Rapaport

Michael Rapaport

Donnelly

Chloë Sevigny

Chloë Sevigny

Odette

Tom Wright

Tom Wright

John Renick

Court is in session

Put Palmetto on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Cool Ironist

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.