Palmetto

R

Released Feb 20, 1998

1 hr. 54 min.

Mystery & Thriller

List

39%

36 Reviews

Tomatometer

31%

2,500+ Ratings

Audience Score

Harry Barber (Woody Harrelson) is a good guy who tries to go bad but can't. Two years ago Harry was set up and went to prison for being honest. Recently released, bitter and disillusioned, the only thing keeping him in the town of Palmetto is his girlfriend, Nina (Gina Gershon). That is until he meets Rhea Malroux (Elisabeth Shue), who offers him a deal he finds hard to refuse.

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Audience Member

This is very average film noir set against the Hot & Humid Florida backdrop. Woody Harrelson doesn't give one of his best performances and the voice over work by him is cringe worthy. It still has some nice twists and keeps the viewer guessing a little bit all the way up to the end.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/26/23

Full Review

ronald h

Did you ever notice that in Florida noir films, regardless of the era, there is apparently no air conditioning? The men are all sweaty in the heat and humidity, while the women are always mysteriously cool and dry. Also, in spite of the blazing sunshine, nobody has a tan. Palmetto contains all these cliches, and many more. The women strut around in sexy dresses, swinging their hips like good femme fatales, and Woody Harrelson's protagonist dresses like a guy out of a Raymond Chandler novel: suit pants, long sleeved shirts, and suspenders in the 90 degree heat. No shorts and T shirt for him. That wouldn't be "noir." Both Elizabeth Shue and Chloe Sevigny demonstrate their inability to act. Harrelson is really the only skilled actor in this film. He's in great form. Of course, in film noir, there are no "good" guys. But he's so hapless, we root for him in spite of his stupidity. The plot is clever enough to keep us watching. It gets absurdly twisty in the last third, but I shamelessly hung in there for the final payoff--and it's a good one, rather self-satirizing. South Florida (Anna Maria Island, Fort Myers, and Palmetto) looks appropriately steamy, and several palmetto bugs make cameo appearances (seriously). I haven't read the book the film is based on, Just Another Sucker by James Hadley Chase, but after seeing Palmetto, I'd like to.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Didn't rewatch so fudging the rating, had the VHS

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

08/02/17

Full Review

Audience Member

I had fond memories of this sweaty Southern Noir from the old video store days, and I was very pleased that the revisit paid off. Woody Harrelson plays an ex-con who gets fished into a faked kidnapping that quickly turns real, leaving him in a world of trouble, and it's a fun ride. Well worth a look if you haven't seen it.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Great Film Noir......

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

Full Review

william s

Just droans on and on without really stating much.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Volker Schlöndorff

Director

Woody Harrelson

Harry Barber

Elisabeth Shue

Mrs. Donnelly

Gina Gershon

Nina

Rolf Hoppe

Felix Malroux

Michael Rapaport

Donnely

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Mike Clark

USA Today

It's indicative of how crazy matters get when ex-journalist Harrelson gets hired to run the police press office as his caper disintegrates.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jan 9, 2018

Full Review

Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: B+

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Globe and Mail

Rated: 2/4

Apr 12, 2002

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

The surprises may be minimal, but there’s still plenty to like about this zesty neo-noir.

Rated: 3/4

Oct 24, 2023

Full Review

Dan DiNicola

The Daily Gazette (Schenectady, NY)

The film's plot doesn't always hang together and is hampered by unlikely surprises.

Rated: C

Jan 19, 2023

Full Review

Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

The tone is inconsistent and baffling; if we’re meant to take the plot seriously, we don’t, and if it’s meant to be funny, it isn’t.

Rated: D

Sep 2, 2022

Full Review

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Synopsis

Harry Barber (Woody Harrelson) is a good guy who tries to go bad but can't. Two years ago Harry was set up and went to prison for being honest. Recently released, bitter and disillusioned, the only thing keeping him in the town of Palmetto is his girlfriend, Nina (Gina Gershon). That is until he meets Rhea Malroux (Elisabeth Shue), who offers him a deal he finds hard to refuse.

Director: Volker Schlöndorff
Executive Producer: Al Corley, Eugene Musso, Bart Rosenblatt
Screenwriter: James Hadley Chase, E. Max Frye
Production Co: Columbia Pictures, Castle Rock Entertainment
Rating: R (Some Violence|Sexuality|Language)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 20, 1998, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2009
Box Office (Gross USA): $5.8M
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Surround, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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