Review of Palo Alto (2014) by Deandra L — 30 Nov 2014

This movie left me feeling a lot of emotions, and it's taken a few days to process whether I loved or hated it. In the end it's probably one of the better movies I've seen this year, and I'll probably watch it again once it's released on Netflix.

The movie follows a group of teenagers navigating through high school, figuring themselves out, and who their friends are. Franco plays basically himself as a soccer coach who preys on his young players.

There are certain parts that seem like Gia Coppola was trying to seem artistic rather than actually being artistic, but there are some really terrific shots and directorial choices throughout as well. The film captures what it's like to be a teenager really well. There's the girl who let's guys walk all over her because she's insecure, the guy who hangs out with the type of friends who get him in trouble, but can't seem to get away from them and everyone else you were or knew in highschool.

The only thing that was missing was the amount technology plays in teenagers' lives now. That's one big issue I've noticed in quite a few films that really ages the filmmaker. It appears that nobody who grew up with Facebook or smart phones really understands how they're used by this generation.

But it's a very stylistic film, and the stories are intriguing and you can really feel for the characters. The acting is phenomenal, especially by the young actors. Emma Roberts is absolutely stunning and her acting is outstanding. I'd highly recommend this movie if you're looking for a new and unique type of high school drama.