Palo Alto
Director: Gia Coppola Run Time: 100 min. Format: DCP Rating: R Release Year: 2014
Starring: Chris Messina, Christian Madsen, Emma Roberts, James Franco, Nat Wolff, Val Kilmer
An unflinching portrait of adolescent lust, boredom, and self-destruction, PALO ALTO is a teen movie for the ages.
Shy, sensitive April (Emma Roberts) is the class virgin, torn between an illicit flirtation with her soccer coach Mr. B (James Franco) and an unrequited crush on sweet stoner Teddy (Jack Kilmer). Emily (Zoe Levin), meanwhile, offers sexual favors to every boy to cross her path — including both Teddy and his best friend Fred (Nat Wolff), a live wire without filters or boundaries. As one high school party bleeds into the next — and April and Teddy struggle to admit their mutual affection — Fred’s escalating recklessness starts to spiral into chaos.
Palo Alto is an astonishing debut feature from writer-director Gia Coppola, based on the book “Palo Alto: Stories” by James Franco and featuring new music from Devonté Hynes (Blood Orange).