Palmetto (1998)

With a foreigner's revitalizing influence, German director Volker Schlondorff turns this standard potboiler (based on the novel Just Another Sucker by British pulp writer James Hadley Chase) into a beguiling exercise in genre classicism. Woody Harrelson stars as a former journalist, just released from serving two years on a trumped-up charge, who is drawn into a troublesome mock-extortion scheme by the scheming wife (Elisabeth Shue) of a dying Florida millionaire. The movie's got style to spare and plenty of humid Florida atmosphere, but it's built on a series of improbable developments and is too low-key to generate riveting momentum. But Schlondorff occupies this tawdry territory with a keen sense of necessary mood and pace, maintaining adequate internal logic and awareness of the story's vintage roots. Subplots involving Shue's stepdaughter (Chloë Sevigny) and Harrelson's girlfriend (Gina Gershon) provide enjoyable distractions from the story's implausibilities. The movie's better suited to the fertile pulp mills of cable TV. But with an absurdly twisting plot to hold your interest, it's fun to watch how Schlondorff builds a bridge between traditional film noir and a more contemporary approach to sultry intrigue. --Jeff Shannon Amazon.com

 EXCELLENT SERVICE
A PROMPT SERVICE UNLIKE BEING CHARGED BY CUSOMS FOR SENDING OUT 2 FILMS TOGETHER CAUSING EXTRA PAYMENT OF £11=00 WHICH YOU DID SENDING TOGETHER [ON MOONLIGHT BAY] AND [BY THE LIGHT OF THE SILVERY MOON] April 19, 2008

 A Very Underrated 'Neo Noir'
I think this is one of those modern-day film noirs (neo noir) that went under the radar. It is excellent, and few people know about it.

It had an interesting and unpredictable story with some very neat twists. I'm not really sure I liked the very ending, but I sure enjoyed the rest of it. The film sports a couple of sexy female leads, played by Elisabeth Shue and Chloe Sevigny and I loved the wonderful colors in this movie. Not only was the cinematography great, so was the soundtrack with some solid blues tracks.

The movie was labeled by some national critics as a "poor man's 'Body Heat.'" Well, that's fine with me because I liked "Body Heat" a lot, too. If you liked that, you should like this movie, too.

Yes, there are a few holes in the story but nothing that damaged the storyline to any degree. Woody Harrelson was good in the lead and Gina Gershon and Michael Rapaport provided solid performance in supporting roles. September 20, 2007

 A Tale of Modern Noir---A Roach is a roach is a roach!
I won't go into the plot for this review because it looks like everyone else has beaten me to it.Anyway, let's begin: What this movie has is hot women. There's Elisabeth Shue and Gina Gershon. The former I like for her healthy rear and the latter I like for her sexy fish lips. Also, they both know how to manipulate men in that special way.Second, Harrelson plays a convincing role as an I-don't-care-about-the-world ex-con. He's your typical stoic tough guy who knows what he wants and will do what he needs to get it. Well, within reason. He still maintains whatever moral center he has left that prison life or the city of Palmetto didn't take away from him. He's one cool dude.Third, you'll see a number of scenes where Palmetto bugs are crawling here and there. Give me a break here! A fancy name for roaches! Palmetto bugs are "roaches." That's it. A different kind I'm sure than your average NYC variety but essentially the same. The Palmetto bugs in the movie symbolize something, but you got me as to what that might be. It was late when I saw it and today, as I'm writing this review, I just don't feel up to snuff to kickstart my brain for an analysis. I'll leave that up to you, my fellow readers.Third, what this movie has is murder, deception, sex, cheating, lying--all the necessary ingredients to a great film noir flick.Lastly, buy or rent this movie. Either way, I'm pretty sure you'll enjoy yourself. However, see the movie at night when the sky is black. After all, it is a film noir. August 10, 2007

 wonderful
perfect, reminds me of manatee county, which is home. all kinds of weird things like this happen in florida everyday..... March 8, 2007

 Neo-noir with twists that works
This is an movie that has the twists to keep you interested. Good casting with an even better atmosphere. You will enjoy this one. February 17, 2007

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