Palmetto

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

1998 1h 54m EN

😐

6.0

MID

★6.0TMDB · 148

CrimeMysteryThriller

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

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.

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

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Cast

Woody Harrelson
Harry Barber
Gina Gershon
Nina
Elisabeth Shue
Rhea Malroux
Rolf Hoppe
Felix Malroux
Michael Rapaport
Donnelly
Chloë Sevigny
Odette
Tom Wright
John Renick
Marc Macaulay
Miles Meadows

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Volker Schlöndorff
Writers: E. Max Frye
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America, Germany

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

28 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: United States of America, Germany.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Volker Schlöndorff, shot by Thomas Kloss. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Original score by Klaus Doldinger. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Peter Przygodda shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Woody Harrelson and Gina Gershon and Elisabeth Shue carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "In a town this bad, it's no use being good.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0120782 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Volker Schlöndorff directs. Thomas Kloss behind the camera. Klaus Doldinger scores. Peter Przygodda cuts. Produced in United States of America, Germany. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

128 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2International production across 2 countries: United States of America, Germany.
3Directed by Volker Schlöndorff, shot by Thomas Kloss. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Klaus Doldinger. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Peter Przygodda shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Woody Harrelson and Gina Gershon and Elisabeth Shue carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "In a town this bad, it's no use being good.".
8IMDB entry: tt0120782 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Classified under 17 themes, including "based on novel or book", "kidnapping", "cigarette", "femme fatale".

The technical file

Cinematography: Thomas Kloss
Original score: Klaus Doldinger
Editing: Peter Przygodda
Production design: Claire Jenora Bowin
Costume design: Terry Dresbach
Makeup / hair: Lynn Barber
Stunt coordinator: Tim Trella
Runtime: 114 min · 1h 54m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Box office: $5,878,911
Original language: EN
Certification (US): R
IMDB: Palmetto (1998)

Also by

Volker Schlöndorff

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Community reviews

What people are saying

Movies12342017-08-07
★ 8/10
Liked everything about this movie. All the main players, Woody Harrelson, Elisabeth Shue, Gina Gershon and Chloë Sevigny were very good. Good story with a few twists and just a touch of comedy. And the scene with Harrelson and Shue in the bungalow was hot. I give it a 8/10.
JPV8522024-07-01
★ 7/10
Effective enough modern film noir that excels mainly for the cast, especially Woody Harrelson and Elisabeth Shue. I had seen this before many years ago and my opinion pretty much remained the same. 3.25/5